Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1848-02-18
COVERT 0R'S MESSAGE.
Felio1c Citizens of the Council
and House of REPRESENTATIVES

Fello1c Citizens of the Council
and House of Representatives.
Since the organization of this Terrific
rial government, her legislative assembly
have never convened under circumstan-
ces more highly calculated to excite feei-
ings of gratitude to Him who holds the
destiny of nations In his hand, and exalts
| or depresses them at his will. The great
AGRICULTURAL resources of Wisconsin are
being developed; abundance has been the
reward of the husbandman the past sea
son, and in no portion of the United
States have the people been more exempt
! from disease. Twelve years ago, Wis
consin's fertile plains lay almost untouch-
cd by the hand of agriculture - where
| then stretched wild and unbrol1en praries
now can be seen waving fields with every
variety of grain where the wigwams OF
the savage smoked, now are to be seen
populous towns and villages-the savage
war dance is changed to the song of CIV
ilization and its blessings and the mu-
sic of the stream on whose banks the In
dian sought repose,s now lost ID the hum
of machinery. While millions in other
countries are suffering for bread and trem-
bling at the approach of death, we have
an abundant supply for all our wants, aud
a surplus TO alleviate the wants OF others.
Wisconsin, in a few years, will be one of
the great granaries of the west.
The people of the Territory will be call
ed on, at an early day, TO vote for their
acceptance or rejection of the constItu-
tion submitted to them by the late conven-
ton. The preparatory steps having Deea
taken for the early organization OF the
state government, | have not deemed 1t
proper to submit to the Legislative assem-
bly, any subject of general legislation.
Under the state government, the hrst
legislature will no doubt appoint board
of revision, to condense and revise the ex-
listing laws in force. From the great ac-
cession to the population, the last two
wears, it may be necessary 10 pass laws
during the present session, of a local char
acter, suited to the present wants and con-
dition of the people of the Territory
THE chief end and tendency of all leg
! istation should be to protect each citizen
in his person, his property, and his lndI.
vidual rights, giving to every man and
every interest, protection under the laws,
but exclusive privileges to none. =
'Showering its favors as Heaven doth It's
rains, alike on the high and the low, the
rich and the poor"
Harbors located at suitable points on
the western shore of Lake Michigan, for
the protection of the greatly increased
commerce of the lake, as well as for the
security of the lives of thousands engaged
in IFS navigtion, is a subject OF vital I'M
portance to the people of Wisconsin.
Congress having appropriated ninety
thousand dollars for the commencement
of harbors at the towns of Milwaukee,
Racine, and Southport, and the amount
appropriated for that object having been
expended. under the direction of the w al
Department, by the established usage OF
the government. additional appropriations
! for the prosecution of the works on the
/ harbors commenced, were expected until
/ their completion.
/ During the 9th and 2Sth Congress.
/ bills passed the House of Representatives
appropriating, at different sessions, two
/ hundred and sixty-two thourand seven
/ hundred dollars for these harbors: and
/ during the 29th Congress, bills passed
| both the House and the Senate, making
appropriations for the same object. The
| Typographical engineers, who made the
/ SURVEYS and estimates for the three dit
/ ferent harbor locations, reported their es-
Inmates to the War Department, as about
| two hundred and twenty thousand dollars.
| have always entertained the opinion
| that harbors on the western shore OF Lake
/ Michigan. within the limits OF this Ter
/ ritorv. were works ola national character
/ In that opinion | have not changed
/ Harbors are not only necessary for the
protection of commerce and the security
I of the lives of thousands, but are of the
/ first Importance in a military point oil
view. to afford protection, TO the citizen:
of the Territory should state of wal
I exist and to afford that protection, safe
+ and convenient harbors should be estab
/ lished by the United States, where the
necessary troops and munitions of wal
could be landed. for the security and safe
I tv of the lake towns, as well for the pro
lection of the lake border settlements
as the whole extent of the northern from
tier. The territorial limits of Wiscon
sin are bounded by a British province
both by land and on the lakes. Durln!
the last war with Great Baitain, she con