Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-01-17
LANCASTER, SATURDAY. JANUARY II. 1886

our leTriloridi aPPiopiia1ons Do oh'ai
as possible.
The representatives of the people
coming Immediately from their con
stituents, know their wants and wishe.
upon all subjects of legislation; they
know the state Of the Territorial debt
and the means of discharging it, and
the resources of those whose interests
they represent.
The spirit of the age we live in, as
well as the humanity Of our laws, are
opposed to capital punishment, except
for the highest grade of crime. The
great purpose Of criminal law is refor.
nation. This purpose is the founda-
ton of the Penitentiary system, which
combines with Imprisonment, hard la.
Dor, and course of moral dicipline
suited to reclaim offenders to the paths
Of rectitude and virtue. This effect
cannot be produced in county jails,
where the convict has no employment.
But the continuance Of his confinement
is calculated to prepare his mind for
the commission of higher offences.
recommend the memorializing OF
Congress on the subject of the sale OF
the United States lead mines and re-
served mineral lands. The occupation
Of the United States lead mines under
the present leasing system has hereto
fore been and continues to be, source
of much litigation in the courts OF
justice, improbable to the government
and expensive and harrassing to the
citizens of the Territory. From a
statement made by the Register of the
Land Office for the Wisconsin land dis
trict, there appears to be reserved from
sale, as lead mines, or timbered lands
for smelling purposes, in that land dis
trict, one hundred and one thousand
acres. This reservation was made by
the Superintendent of the lead mines
more than ten years since. and en-
braces desirable portion Of the miner
al region of-country. The larger
proportion Of the reserve is land well
adapted to agricultural purposes
These lands have been entirely unpro-
ductive to the Government, and are
Iessened in value from the fact that
much valuable timber has been taken
from them.
The relation of landlord and tenant
should not exist in this Government a;
between the Government and its Cit.
zens; it is certainly contrary to the
spirit of our free institutions. The
present leasing system of the United
States lead mines, makes the lessee {
tenant at the will of the agents of the
Government, unless he pays the stipu
lated rent, agreeable to the condition:
of the lease. The rent is direct tas
or tribute, paid the Government, or
the labor Of the miner, which hal
proved unproductive to the Govern
ment, and unjust in its effects on th'
mining interests. There can be nj
doubt but that the true policy of The
Government is to sell the lead mines
extending the right of presumption &c
resident miners and settlers; they will
then be open to individual enterprise
there will be an increased quantity o
lead manufactured: affording the PEG
pie of the United States a cheap anc
abundant supply of that article, and .
surplus for expectation.
The commerce Of Lake Michigan
has increased within few years in, ;
ratio far exceeding any other INLAND
waters in the United States. Congress,
has made appropriations for the con
struction of harbors in the towns o
Milwaukee, Racine and Southport, OF
the western shore Of the Lake, which
have been expended under the direc
ton Of the War Department, in thu
prosecution of these works. Accord
ing to the established usage of the gov
eminent, additional appropriations MAJ
be expected until their completion.
Estimates have been made unde
the direction Of the War Department
for harbors at the mouths of the She
boygan and Manitowoc rivers, whert
towns have been commenced, and are
increasing in commercial importance
and the country settling rapidly in the
interior with enterprising inhabitant
who merit all the aid that can be de
rived from the most secure navigation
Of the lake. From the extent Of the
lake coast, between Milwaukee anC
Green Bay, and the great advantage tc
be derived from the construction oil
harbors at the mouths of the rivers re-
ferred to, in a commercial point o