Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-02-19
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
Feaor Citizens Of the Council
and House Of Representatives.

~ ~
and House Of Representatives.:
Since the organization of this Territorial
government, her legislative assembly have
never convened under circumstances more
highly calculated to excite feelings of graft
t,iae 10 Him who holds the destiny y ma
tions Iii his hand, and exalts or depresses
thenf&t his WILL The great agricultural re-
so1rces Of Wisconsin are being developed;
abundance has been the reward of the hus-
baiitlinan the past season, and in no portion
of the United States have the people been
more exemptfrofh diseases. Twelve wears
ago, Nyiscnasil's fertile yIlains lay almost
untouched bv the hand Of agriculture
where then stretched wild and unhroken
prairies. now can be seerwaving fields with
every variety Of grain7-w here the wigwams
of the savage smoked, BOW are to be seen
populous towns and villages-the savage
war dance Is changed to the song of civiliza-
ton and its blessings; and the music of the
stream on whose banks the Indian sought
repose. is now lost in the hum of machl-
merry. While millions in other countries are
suffering for bread and trembling at the APP
proach of death, we have an abundant sup
ply for all our wants, and surplus to allie
yiate the wants of others. Wisconsin, in a
few years, will be one Of the great granarles
of the west.
The people of the Territory will be call
ed on, at an early day, to vote for their ac-
centance or rejection of the Constitution
submitted to them by the late Convention.
The preparatory steps having been taken
for the early organization of the State gov
eminent, have not deemed it proper to
submit to the legislative assembly any sub
iects of general legislation. Under the State
government, the first Legislature viii no
doubt appoint board of revision, to con-
dense and revise the existing laws in force.
From the great accession to the population,
the last two years, it may be necessary to
pass laws during the present session, of a
local character, suited TO the present wants
and condition of the people Of the Terrific
~. ssThe chief end and tendency of all
legislation should be to protect each citizen
in his person, his property, and his individ-
ual rights, giving to every man and every
interest, protection under the laws, but ex-
elusive privilege to nome" Showering
its favors as Heaven doth its 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 COM
merce of the lake, as well as for the securi-
Nv of the lives Of thousands engaged in ifs
navigation, is subject of vital importance
to the people of Wisconsin.
Congress having appropriated ninety thou
sand dollars for the commencement of har-
bors at the towns Of Milwaukee, Racine,
and Southport, and the amount appropriated
for that object having been expended, under
the direction of the War Department, by
the established usage of the government,
additional appropriations for the prosecu-
ton of the works OH the harbors com
menced, were expected until their compile
ton.
During the 9th and the 2sth Congress,
bills passed the House of Representatives,
appropriating, at different sessions, two
hundred and sixty-thonsand seven hundred
dollars for these harbors: and during the
29th Congress, bills passed both the House
and the Senate, making appropriations for
the same objects. The Typographical en-
gineers, who made the surveys and estimates
for the three different harbor locations, re-
ported their estimates to the War Depart
ment at about two hundred and twenty
thousand dollars. ] have always entertain
ed the opinion that harbors located on the
western shore of Lake Michigan, within
the limits of this Territory, were works of
a national character. In that opinion have
not changed. Harbors are not only neces-
sary for the protection of commerce and the
security of the lives of thousands, but are
of the first importance in a military point of
view. to afford protection to the citizens of
the Territory, should state Of war exist;
and to afford that protection, safe and con-
venient harbors should be established by the
United States, where the necessary troops
and munitions of war could he landed, for
the security and safety of the lake towns, as
well for the projections Of the lake border
settlements, as the whole extent of the
northern frontier. The territorial limits of
Wisconsin are bounded by a British prov
ince, both by land and on the lakes. Du-
ring the last war with Gfeat Britain, she
commended with the Unit & States for the
command of the lakes; ard our first naval
victory was gained on Lake Erie by the
gallant and Iamented Commodore Perry
The British government has always exer-
cised the most unbounded influence over the
Indian tribes on'our northwestern frontier.
We are now in a state of peace, and from
the great extent Of our unprotected frontier,
il would seem lhaf the necessary prepare
tions should be made to guard against the
sleepless vigilance, of that government,
should our present relations with it ever be
changed TO a STATE of war.
The commerce of Lake Michigan bas IN
creased in a proportion, it Is believed, far
exceeding that Of any other inland waters
in the United States. There has been ex-
ported, during the past year, from the best
information have been able to obtain, from
the ports of Milwaukee. Racine, and South
port, in the article Of bread sfu6s alone, one
million one hundred aud niEe thousand six
hundred and twenfy-seveB, bushels of wheat,