Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-01-16
LANCASTER, sATURDAY. JANUARY l6 ls47.

two bundled and thirty acres of land
sold. fslrAthe sum stwents-five thous.,
and two hundred and thirty dollars and
ninety-two cents. The 18th section
of the law OF the cath of February
lS45, states, "if Congress shall sp-
prove this act, then the foregoing
lands shall be sold at the minimum
price of one dollar and twenty. five
cents per acre; but if Congress does
not diSapprove, or shall fail to APP
prove, of this act. then the lands shall
be sold at the price of two dollars and
fifty cents per acre; one half OF such
bid to be paid in cash on the day OF
sale. and the purchaser or purchasers
shall execute a mortgage upon the
land so purchased. to the Territory Of
Wisconsin. for the use of The future
Stale of Wisconsin, in sum of money
equal to the sum which shall be equal
to the difference between the amount
of money thus paid upon such lands,
and the amount the same would be if
the same had beer sold at 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 States shall require the
future State Of Wisconsin to pay more
than the sum of one dollar and TWEEN
ty-fivc cents per acre. otherwise such
NOR gage shall be void" The pres
ent is a short session Of Congress and
do not believe there will be any ac-
ton on the subject Of the canal lands
during the session, nor during the ex-
istence of the Territorial government
And as an act of justice to the settlers
| recommend repeal of the law Of
the cath Of February, 1916. All
sales of land, on the line of the canal
should cease, in my opinion, until the
final action Of Congress upon the
claims Of the settlers, under the State
government; when, believe, they
will have the right Of pre-cmption cX-
tended to them, and the land at the
minimum price of the public lands
Proceedings of public meetings OF
citizens on the line Of the canal, were
forwarded to me before the sale Of the
canal lands in April last, requesting
suspension of the sales until the ac-
ton Of Congress upon their claims;
they, considered themselves aggrieyed
by being obliged to pay the minimum
price Of the government lands at the
time Of the purchase, and to mortgage
their claims for an equal amount. 1t
was urged that many of the settlers
on the line of the canal were not pre-
pared to pay for their claims at forced
sale Of them; that the Law. regulating
the sale of the canal lands was OPP
prcssive in It's operation, and would
become a fruitful source Of strife and
vexatious litigation between those who
might have conflicting interests, which
would lead to the most serious results.
From the disorganized state of the
militia Of the Territory for several
years past, and an entire omission, on
the part Of many Of the militia officers,
to perform the duties required of them
by law, deemed a reorganization OF
them necessary TO their efficiency -
On The 2lst Of May last, an order was
issued from the Office Of the Adjutant
General, requesting meeting of the
citizens in the several counties liable
by law to perform military duty, at a
time designated, to recommend, by
election, suitable individuals to fill the
! field Offices of Colonies, Lieutenant
Colonies and Majors. In some Of the
counties elections were held, and the
field officers commissioned; in others,
there were no meetings Of the citizens.
The militia Of the Territory have been
formed into three divisions and SIX
brigades; the division and brigade
general officers have been commission
ed. The regiments. separate batial-
| lions, and companies, will be formed
and designated as carly as returns cln
! be obtained from the several command
/ ing officers Of counties. The carly
enrolment OF the militia Of the Tern
tory, and a return Of them to the OIL
fee OF the Adjutant General OF the
United States army, is required to en-
able the Territory to receive from the
United States her quota Of arms, IN
der the act Of Congress OF 1908, ac-
cording TO her numerical strength; and
which would enable the Executive oil
the Territory to fnrnish the volunteers
Who have formed themselves into
companies. with suitable arms and
equipments necessary to their complete