Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-02-07

| liquidation. Now, sir, if this is left to
the discretion Of the Superintendent
of Public Property to prosecute these
suits or not, | think there must be
something rotten at the bottom; but if
the Superintendent has acted under in
structions Of the legislature, then |
think it is high time that an end was
put to it.
/ am informed, sir, that there are
bills for attorneys fees, now before the
joint committee on Territorial Expen-
ditures, TO the amount at least OF two
thousand dollars; and il is impossible
to tell how much cost of that nature
has accumulated, for bills are coming
in almost daily, nor are these fees more
than an item Of the expenses growing
out of these suits.
would ask, sir, where is this to
end? According to Judge Miller, If
permitted to 60 on as heretofore, 1t
will end when the world ends. Even
though we should gain judgment, |
believe there is no prospect of ever
collecting anything. AS representa-
tive of the people upon this floor. |
feel at liberty to speak frankly and fear
lessly, and l wish this subject fairly in
vestigated. If FIVE have men in author
ity who act solely with a view to make
money out of the Territory, now is the
time, and we are the men whose duty
it should be..to probe the matter to the
bottom.
Sir, this course of doing business re-
minds me Of what our Chief Magis-
trate said in his last annual message,
about the mineral lands, which was,
as near as can recollect, not having
the document before me, that there had
been received for rents about six thou
sand dollars, and it had cost the gov
eminent about twenty thousand to coli
lcct it. do not know that the Super
intendent Of Public Property and the
attorneys and Others engaged in these
suits are leagued together for the pur-
pose of procrastinating these suits, and
thereby making money out ofthe Ter
ritory, but | must confess that the at
mosphere about the subject looks very
much like Indian summer.
1t has been remarked to me, here,
sir, without casting any reflection up
on our predecessors, that it has been
heretofore believed that there was
something wrong in the prosecution
of these suits, but that no one liked to
take the responsibility of moving in
the matter. | am proud to say, sir,
that shrink from no responsibility
that comes in the way of my duty. |
have no reputation as legislator to
lose, as ] have not yet won any. i
am not legislating for the next fall
election, but for the good Of my con-
stituents and the Territory at large
1t is said, sir, that ! shall be branded
as Doty man for taking this course or
meddling with these suits. For that
care not; my democracy is well known
where | am known, and am willing
to leave that with my constituents and
all honest men. You may infer from
the last remark that l. do not include
attorneys; most certainly not those, if
any, that are combined to fleece our
Territory. should be very sorry TO
cast reflection upon any man or set.of
men that are innocent, but it does ap-
pear to me if there has been no inten-
tional wrong, to give the subject the
most favorable construction, there has
been gross neglect or great lack of
Judgment in commencing and conduct
ing these suits.
1t has been said to me, by attorneys,
that it is important to bring these suits
to final decision, in order to settle
principle, and show to the world that
the Territory is entitled to judgment
though il cannot be collected when OBJ
tanned. That it is also important TO the
profession to settle certain law ques-
tons that have arisen in connection
with them. do not feel willing that
the lawyers should get their knowl-
edge at the expense of my constituents.
Though not in its proper place, |
will here introduce one item in the
account presented by Moses NJ.
Strong.
Wisconsin Territory,
To Moses NJ. Strong; DR..
1913; May Term-Profes-
sional services in the suits