Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-02-10

toWn III haCine cOuntys III iasoui vi uc pas
sage ofsuch law as the bill contemplated,
and not single remonstrance has been
received from any portion of the Terri
tory.
Since [ wrote you last, another new coun-
ty has been erected by the name ofJackson
il is composed of parts Of Jefferson and
Dodge; it is provided howeveT, that the e.
lec,oIs within the limits Of the proposed
county of Jackson, shall determine by vote
at the next annual election whether they
will be erected into a separate county
This makes the third new county created
during the present session.
In accordance with the Recommendation
of the late territorial educational convention
held at the capitol, Mr.. Croswell introduced
bill INTO the House, providing for the e.
lection of Superintendent of Common
Schools; making it the duty Of said Super
intendent, TO visit az far as practicable the
common schools throughout the Territory
to give suitable advice TO teachers and 9th
ers; TO gather statistical facts on the subject
Of education; and to promote the interest OF
education generally. The bill proposed to
allow the aforementioned Superintendent a
SALARY of $500 per annum. The counc 10
day took up the consideration of this bill,
and after short discussion, the question
was taken on ordering it to the third read
ing, and the bill was lost; ayes 4, noes 8.
The principal objection urged against the
measure, was that the territory could not
afford the expense. Now l presume had
this been proposition TO allow some lawyer
four or five hundred dollars for the prose
cution Of ''territorial suit'' against some
worthless and peniless vagabond, this legal
body would have put it through with rush
Thus it goes; every thing for the law-ev.
cry thing to crafty the rapacity obligation,
and pamper The profession, and nothing for
the cause ofeducation and the more peIma-
nent good Of the country.
AS is usual, the creditors, or pretend ed
creditors of the territory, are pressing theil
claims upon the Legislature with ifpossible
more zeal than ever. It's true the territory
owes debts which ought TO be pad; but
there are many large claims now brought a
gainst the territory, growing principally out
Of Milwaukee and Rock River canal tran
sactions, and which are unjust, and which
the territory is under no legal obligation
whatever to pay. Yet as unjust as these
claims are, they are, nevertheless press
ed by powerful lobes, and find advo-
Gates in the legislature. To-day the claim
of John Doughty of $1,000 and interest
some five years, was prevented from pass
ing the council by only tie vote. The
claim of John Anderson Of $4,000 for
building dam, to create the water power
at Milwaukee, has been postponed until
Monday, and e:erv effort will be be nude
TO force it through. Moses NJ. Strong has
-'-~..~ az. nlabs.ed report in favor of pay
Ing this claim, and Marshall NJ Strong, be-
fore he left Madison had drawn up a report,
exhibiting the worhlessness of the claim.
Ii is proposed 10 pay these claims out Of the
proceeds arising from the sale of canal lands.
1t is estimated that the sales oft the lands,
granted by congress for the construction of
the Milwaukee and Rock River canal, will
amour, the coming year TO fifty or sixty
thousand dollars. Here there is nice sum
for some body to grab, and every ingenuity
is being exercised by designing persons to
get hold of it, Now every one knows that
the canal lands were granted by congress
for specific purpose, viz: the construction
of,he Milwaukee and Rock River cana, land
the territory agreeable 10 the act Of congress
is liable for every dollar of this mony which
ii appropriates TO any other use. The con-
s.ruction Of the canal is abandoned, and
hence the only safe way for the territory to
keep out Of difficulty is, not 10 take dollar
oil the funds, arising from the sale of the
lands. That part of the act Of congress 10
which lallude reads as follows:
"That the said State of Wisconsin shall be
held responsible to the United States, and
for the payment INTO the treasury thereof
the amount Of all monies received upon the
sale OF the whole or any part of said land at
the price at which the same shall be sold,
not less than two dollars and fifty cents pei,
acre, if the said main canal shall not be
commenced within three years, and CON-
pleted within ten years,pursuant to the pro-
visions Of the act creating said canal corpo-
ration.
have alrcdy extended this letter 20
great length, but cannot conclude without
saying few words Oh the subject of our
teri indebtedness. believe that the ac-
tual amount of debt which the territory owes
has been greatly magnified. The territorial
tax raised in The several counties last year
amounts in all TO over $1l 900; this sum is
applied TO the payment ofouts.anding debts,
or rather, warrants against the territory TO
the aforesaid amount, were cancelled in