Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-10-27
MES. AGE

and House If Representatives..
In accordance with the laws OF the territory /
have deemed it my duty to convene a special ses-
sion OF the Legislative Assembly, to enable the rep
resentatses OF the people 10 take such action III the
early organization OF state government aS will
meet the wants and wishes of their constituents
At the last census OF the inhabitants OF tie lie
rltory,h population was one hundred and ty-;ye
thousand; and from the inc. eIzed nm grafton since
tlat period, her present population may now he
estimated TO exceed two hundred thousand
BY the official returns made to the office of the
Secretary OF the Territory, o! the votes given ".or
and against State Government ii appears hat a
large majority OF the people ale in favor OF tate
GoNern ent.
The preparatory steps il w )uld seem, can be Ia
ken for the election 0! en'!on 10 form a con-
stituton and submitting it to the people of the Ter.
rltory, well as TO the Congress of the United
States, at their next session III time for the adms-
son OF Wisconsin an independent State OF this
Union as the next is the commencement OF a new
Congress, and long session o. that body. In that
event the state OF Wisconsin will give her electoral
vote at the next Pres dental election in 1915
The admission OF Wisconsin as a State Will pro-
mote the best interests OF her people; they Will
have a representation IN both Houses of Congress:
they will participate IN all tie advantages OF gON
eminent created by themselves founded on the equal
ghts OF all, and when the expressed voices OF the
people will be the supreme law OF the state. The
donation of 100000 arIes of laud lIic the
ture State of Wisconsin will be entitled under the
provisions OF an act OF Congress entitled an act to
appropriate the proceeds OF sale of the public
lands, and to grant prc-emption right. approx ell
| September 4h 1872, will be greatly lcsseucd in
value before Wisconsin becomes a STATE as the
choice lands have already been sold and the le US
lands will remain, from which the selection will
be made unless they are located north OF the Wis
cOnsin river.
The lands granted by Congress for schools and
a university will not be allable until after the
admission # W lsconsin tate. FiNcl er cen;-
um on the net proceeds of the sales of the public
lands sold at the land offices in this territory, to
Which tie State OF " Isconsn will be entitled on her
admission into the Unon would have paid the cx-
peIscs OF the Sta e Government for the last five
years.
Tie PEOPLE of this Territory have paid into the
United states treasury since the organization OF the
Territorial Gov ernneht near four millions of dol
lars in payment for the public lands and the amount
appropriated by Congress for the impro, emen of
halbors and roads, &c. in the Territory is one hun
d ed and sXty-se,en thousand dollars This state
OF things will remain long as the Territorial
Government exists
The states OF Illinois and Missouri were admit
ted members OF the Union when the population of
those StateS ala not exceed one hundred and thirty
thousand inhabltantans. In the admission of all
OF the eetern States. none of them had a popula
ton OF the Territory of Wisconsin. The future
State OF Wisconsin will combine as many adyanta-
gcs as any other portion of the United States her
great extent OF territory the fertility OF her soil the
salubnty OF her climate, with commercial advan-
tages, unsurpassed on inland seas AMI naygable
rivers; her ineXhaustible mineral wealth, conpos-
ed of lead iron and copper mines with the most ex-
tensNe pine lumber region in the United States
with an intelligent, enterprising popuaton-may
We not confidently hope that Wisconsin will be the
happy abode OF millions of treamen, and that her
march viii lie onward until she fills the high dest
ny that awaits her.
The present Legislative Assembly having been
convened for special purpose, have not deemed
the present an appropriate occasion to make any
suggestions except in relation TO the organization
OF State Gov ernment.
&c assured, fellow-citizens. Won VIII have my CO.
operation in the supper of all such measures as
will promote the good OF the people you repre-
sent. HENRY DODGE
EXEcUTIyE DEPARTMENT,
October Is, 1917.