Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-01-16
Governors Message.
Fello,c Ciii-ens,ofHe Council
and House Of REPRESENTATIVES

ana f1OUSe " HePfeoe"'s~~o
We are assembled to perform the
/ high and responsible duty of making
laws for the people of Wisconsin,
Sound principle, disintcrested motives
and a spirit Of patriotism, should d.
rect our course and be our rule Of ac-
ton. Equal rights and equal laws
are at the foundation of our free insti-
tutions, and are in the keeping of the
people themselves; the lewest and
simplest laws suited to their state and
condition. consistent with the great
objects to be obtained, will be tie most
salutary and acceptable to them, that
Legislation which makes equal the tax
es and burthens of government, and
extends the same encouragement to
the enterprise and industry Of all, in
every situation and employment, Sc
curing no special privileges TO any,
will be the means of diffusing pros
pcrity throughout the whole commu-
nifty. To confer favors upon classes,
or localities, by legislative. enactment,
produces competition destructive TO
profitable industry.
| In accordance to the provisions of u
law passed at the last session of the
Legislative Assembly, the Conven-
ton, elected by the people Of the Ter
ritory, have assembled and framed a
Constituton for the State of Wiscon-
sin, which has been submitted by them
to the Congress of the United States,
and to the people of the Territory for
their acceptance or rejection. The
admission Of Wisconsin as State in
to the Union will be the means Of
promoting the best interests of the peo-
! pic - from Territorial dependence,
they will assume the powers OF SOW
ereign State; they will be represented
lin both Houses Of Congress, where
they will have a voice and vote in
the Councils Of the Republic. They
will participate in all the advantages
of a Government created by them
selves founded on the equal rights Of
all when all public functionarics
will be Immediately responsible to
them-and when their expressed will
at the ballot box will be the supreme
law Of the State. The donation OF
100000 acres Of land, 10 which the
State will be entitled under the pro-
visions Of an act Of Congress, entitled
Gan act to appropriate the proceeds Of
the sales Of the public lands, and to
grant presumption rights approved
September a, ls4l; also five per cent.
on the nett proceeds Of the public
lands lying in the State, to which she
will be entitled on her admission into
the Union-with the lands granted by
Congress for schools and university
If properly applied will add greatly
to the prosperity Of the State.
At the organization ofthe Territori-
al Government, of Wisconsin, in 1886,
her population was twelve thousand
three hundred souls, east Of the Mis-
sissippi; at the late census, taken to the
/ first of June last. her population was
composed of one hundred and fifty
five thousand, and before the organi-
cation of the State Government. her
increased population would entitle
her to three Representatives on the
floor Of Congress, agreeable to the
present ratio of representation fixed
by that body. No Territory of the
United States has been populated with
the same rapidity, in the same period
of time.
When we take into view the natur-
al advantages and resources of Wis
consin--the salubrity of her climate
and the fertility of her soil--her in
exhaustble sources of mineral wealth,
composed of lead, copper and IRON
with the most extensive pine forests in
the United States--with her inland
sea, Lake Michigan, on the east, the
'.Father of Rivers" on the west, with
several navigable rivers running thro'
the Territory-with a population, in
telligeni. Industrious and enterprising
may we not anticipate that Wiscon-
sin viii be one Of the most populous
States in the Union? In truth, it can
be said that immigration has rapidly
swelled our population; the forests and
prairies have been subdued; and cult
vated fields have taken their place;
furnishing towns and villages have
heen built; capital has found profitable
employment in the exploration and
working Of our mines and in the nav
ieation of our inland sea and rivers. =
49,. ....-Iol 49, r,o~kar;c