Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-01-13

| Sou'HpoTt WHICH passed Inc houses ana
although The appropriations for Racine and
Souihpor; were stricken out Of the bill i'm
The Senate, and St. Joseph, in Michigan,
aud Chicago, in Illinois, inserted, The bill
passed that body with amendment, and
became law. Du.ing the 2Sth Congress,
bill reported by the Coml,ee on Roads
and Canals 10 theHouse ofRepresen:atlves,
making appropriations for harbors at the
towns Of Racine and Southport, passed
both Houses Of Congress and became law.
have mentioned the course observed by
Congress, when lcgisllting ior this Terri
toy alone, on separate bills, for specific
objects, disconnected from others.
would respectively inv lite The attention
lion Of the legislative assembly to the sell
tiers on the line Of the s'Rock River and
Milwaukee Canal" BY law of this terri
tory, approved February oath, / 8 Is, all the
unsettled portions Of the lands granted by
the United States, (lhe odd secions) are to
be sold until the whole tract is disposed OF
under the direction Of the register AID re.
ceiver OF the canal fund. The sales repor
ted TO the Office Of the executive, by the
register and receiver on the frs, Of June,
1919, and the Goth Of October, 1916, are
twenty thousand TWO hundred and thirty
acres Of land sold for the sum Of twenty
five thousand TWO hundred and thirty dol
lars and ninety two cents. The l7th sec.
ton Of 4 the law OF the Oath Of February,
1916, states, elf Congress shall approve
this act, then the foregoing provisions shall
be in full force, and, The land shall be sold
at the minimum price Of one dollar and
twenty-five centspe acre;- bu.if Congress
does not d;sneprove Of this act, then the
lands shall be sold at the minimum price
Of two dollars and fifty cents per acre; one
half Of such bid 10 be paid in cash on the
day of sale, and the purchasers shall exc
cue mortgage upon the land so purchas.
ed, to the territory of Wisconsin, for the
use Of the future state Of Wisconsin. in a
sum of money equal 10 The sum which shall
be equal TO the difference between the e.
mount of money thus paid upon such lands
and the amount the same would be if the
same had been sold al Two dollars and fifty
cents per acre; if the money so paid shall
not equal such amount, conditioned to pay
the same in case the United Slutos shall
require the future state Of Wisconsin TO
pay more than the sum of one dollar and
twenty five cents per acre, otherwise such
NOR gage shall be void"
Ths present is short session Of congress
and do not believe there will be any &C.
ton on the subject Of the canal lands du-
ring the session, nor during the existence
of The territorial government. And as an
act Of justice to the settlers, | recommend
a repeal Of the law Of the Oath Of Februa-
~ 1915. All sales Of land, on the line of
the canal should cease, in my opinion, I'M
the final action of congress upon the claims
of the settlers, under the state government;
when, believe, they will have the right Of
pre- empton extended to lhem,and the land
a, the minimum price OF the public lands
Proceedings Of public citizens on the line
ofthe canal, were forwarded to me before
the sale Of the canal lands in April last, re-
questing a suspension of the sales until the
action of congress upon their claims; they
considered theselvss nggrievsd by being O.
bliged TO pay The minimum price OF the
government lands at the time Of the pur>
chase, and TO mortgage their claims for an
equal amount. 1t was urged that many of
the settlers on the ne Of the canal were
not prepared to pay for their claims at
forced sale of them; that the law regulating
the sale Of the canal lands was oppressive
in its operation, and would become q fruit
full source of strife and vexatious litigation
between those who might have conflicting
Interests, Which would lead to the most Sc
rious results.
From the disorganized state Of the mill
tia Of the territory for several years past,
and an entire omission, on the part Of ma
ny Of the mil tia officers, to perform the du.
ties Of them by law, deemed a reorganiza
ton Of them necessary 10 their effic ency
On the 2ls, Of May last, an order was issu
cd from the Office Of the adju,ant general
requesting meeting of the citizens in the
several counties liatle by law 10 perform
military duty, at a time designated, to rec
ommend, by election, suitable individuals to
fill The Offices of colonies, lieutenant colo
nels and majors. In some Of the counties
elections were held, and the field officers
commissioned; in others, there were no
uhCe''ilSS Vi tiIo tlllZeiS. L ne militia OF
tho territory have been formed into three
divis ons and SIX br'gades; the division and
br gade general officers have been commits
stoned. The regiments, separate ba,talions,
and companies, will be formed and desig
mated as early as renrns can be obtained
from tho several commanding officers Of
counties. The early enrolment of the mi
liza Of the territory, and return of them TO
the office ofthe adlu,ant general of tie U.
States Army, is required 10 enable the ter
riory 10 receive from The United States
her quota Of arms, under the act Of Con-
gress of 1903, according TO her Numerical
strength, and which would enable tie ex-
ecutive ofihe territory to furnish The vol
unteels who have formed themselves into
companies, with suitable arms and equip,
ments necessary 10 their complete organi-
"a ion.
Many Of our most patriotic citizens be.
Hevcd that the regular troops having been
Withdrawn from the frontier military posts
in the Territory, would have a tendency to
embolden the Ind ans on our EXTENDED and
exposed frontier, and that the influence of
u foreign power might induce them 10 make