Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-08-09
For the Herald.
PRAIRIE DU CHEN. w. TT
August 4. 1915.

member OF the Legislature of Wisconsin Ter
lritory. The resolution formed, on entering
the new sphere of action in which / had to
move, was, to avoid all political questions
which agiiated the assembly at that tine. not
even 10 express an opinion or drop word in
relation to them, but to let the Legislature
manage its own affairs in the way il pleased.
and to conine myself strictly to the wants of
Crawford County, which had the honor to
represent in that assembly. This was just
such resolution as any other man, who had
found himself in the same situation. and who
had fell his want of influence among strangers,
would have made. Bu. it appears tina, my
evil destiny was preparing for me path far
more rough than | had any reason to antici-
pate.
II may be remembered, perhaps. that the
contested election from this district, which &C.
CURED that year. was not decided till about the
tenth day Of Feb. AZ, and it was consequent
ly nearly at the close of the session that took
the seat which Mr.. Brunson had occupied du-
ring the first part of tina. winter. During the
short ten days which remained of that session,
II appears that did not vote righ,-not even
once-upon any question which came up: for
the severity with which every word had
said and every vote ! had cast were scru,inized
by my constituents, and the vltuperation and
the lnsolence encountered on my return home,
surpass all nay feeble powers of description
Although more disguised than ever with poll.
tics and more firmly resolved than ever TO SHIN
them as l valued my tranquility. personal in
dependence and happiness, was nevertheless
forced 10 60 back she sext winter to Madison
and begin another seige of Troy and encoun-
Ter Oh my return home tho redoubled fury Of
my constituents. Finally ,he winter subse.
Iquen, was compelled to resign, and l believe
my friends were as glad as l was tina, did
so. But these events are not now with me
the paramount objects of reflection and i, 10
not my intention to enlarge upon them in this
place.
Among the many questions upon which
was required to vote during the first session
that l attended the assembly, there is one
which i wish TO notice in this letter. II is
tina! in relation TO Gov. Doty's Treaty with
the Dakota Indians. The member from ST.
Croix county, Jos. r. Brown. drew up me-
mortal to Congre 70, praying for the ratification
Of that Treaty. was requested TO vote for it.
l knew nothing Of the Treaty. had mover
seen it. Rumor, as usual, was contradictory
upon the subject. Having DO, lately retnrnsd
to this pan Of the country, knew little or
nothing of the relations existing at tina. mo-
ment between the United States and the Indi-
an Tribes on this frontier. l was resolved to
confne my views 10 the local affairs of the
county / represented, as have before obseIv-
ed. l reflected tina, the United States had
heretofore made what treaties they pleased
with the Indians; and thai they nigh, swallow
the whole continent, at one gulp. and all the
Indians with il. and Gov. Doty's Treaty be-
sides. as a wash-down; for aught cared. l
reflected further, that he Congress of the u.
States ought to be sufficiently enlightened to
know and Judge whether Gov. Doiy's Treaty
was good or bad one; and for my part.
was willing 10 leave the matter entirely to
their decision. Lastly. ! was connected with
party which opposed all Of Gov. Doty's
measures. These reasons at that time and
under those circumstances were sufficient and
satisfactory TO my own mind. and | voted a.
galnst Mr.. Browns memorial.
When l speak of Gov, Do,y's Treaty. do
no, mean tho Treaty for the purchase of the
Sioux Half Breed tract on Lake Pepin--for
am interested 10 the latier--and remember
that sn effor: was made to connect them both
in Browns memorial. under the general de-
nomination of Dakota Treaties. SO that could
not vote against The memorial without seeming
TO vote sgsins, the contract which / myself
had signed. But viewed this only as a STRAIT
agem to make me vote for the Sioux Treaty;
and my interest in the matter was too piiiful,
and even if il had been far less so, is would
not have been sufficient TO make me forego the
pleasures of my independence, stoop TO all The
servil,y,a and endure all the bUffe,ings which
foressw l mus, necessarily submit, to for the
sake of few dollars.
Such, then, were the reasons. and all the
reasons. and the only reasons which led me TO
vote as ! did upon that subject, If there were
any others aside from those have here sta
ted. they were of such nature as TO be still
more intimately connected with my own feel
ings, and consequently much less apPlicabls TO
the subject, and less adequate to reach the mer-