Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-01-20

having been elected under the constitution
and laws, it will become his particular duty /
TO have a general supervision over the sub
ject of schools, and TO collect such facts and /
make such recommendations as the inter- |
ests Of the school system may seem to re-
quire; which have every confidence to be- |
lieye will be faithfully performed.
The benefits resulting from geological
survey and examination of the State, in |
promoting and developing its agricultural
and mineral resources, will be of immense
value TO our people. Very little is known
of our State in geological point of view,
and reference is made at this time to the
subject more for the purpose of directing
public attention to It's importance than to
recommend any legislative action on the
subject at this session. The State of the
finances will not at present admit of it.
The building of good harbors on our
lake borders and the Improvement of the |
rapids of the great father Of waters are of
such acknowledged commercial impor-
lance to the State and the whole Union, that
it will only be necessary to refer you to them
to insure such legislative action on your
part as will tend to their accomplishment.
submit for the information Of the legisla-
ture, communication from Mr.. Alexander |
Vattemare on the subject Of international
the governor of Virginia as the agent of
that State. respectfully invite your atten-
ton to the consideration Of this subject.
The Improvement of the internal commu-
vocation of the State is worthy of yonr at
tention. While our constitution has denied
to the legislature the power to engage in
such Improvement, except in particular ca
ses, the main object of investigation in con-
nection with the subject is the manner and
means of accomplishing it. The right of
the general government to establish a sys-
TEN Of this kind, or TO collect money and
distribute it among the States for such an
object being denied, It's power to donate
lands for any useful purpose to the States
wherein il lies, has never been seriousiy ques-
toned, and can he maintained upon ration
al principles. New States are admitted in
TO the Union upon an equal footing with
the original States, but no such equality
can exist until the new States, possess as
well the ultimate right of soil as of iurisdic-
ton, and the right also to tax the whole do
main within her limits. As some equva-
lent for this inequality. it is but right that
the general government should surrender,
NJ least, portion of her domain to the
States 10 which it may lie, TO be appropria-
ted TO beneticent purposes
therefore suggest that this subject be
presented to Congress by me legislature,
and that it be asked to grant TO tho State
such quantity of land within its limits, either
alternate sections or otherwise as will be
sufficient TO construct our most important
works of internal communications Such
grants can he made with much proprietv in
the unsettled parts of the State III the north
where settlements viii not be interfered
with the construction Of railroads, connec-
ting the waters Of the St. Croix river with
those of Lake Superior, and one extending
from some poiuG on the Mississippi near
the mouth Of Black river, through the Wis
consin pinery, to Green Bay, has been sug-
gested rs feasible and well worthy of the
liherality of Congress. Among the most
important works of the kind, requiring at
tenton. is the construction of such road
south OF the Wisconsin and Fox rivers,
connecting Lake Michigan VITA the hiissis-
sippi These and the subject in general is
commended TO your notice. If we do not
ask we shall not receive.
The present manner Of disposiug Of the
national domain in unlimited quantities has
become a striking evil. In many parts of
our State individuals, and some are not even
citizens or residents of the United States,
have purchased large quantities of the best
lands, and the settlement Of the country
has been thereby greatly retarded. Settlers
have been compelled TO pay an advanced
price for their homes and to increase BY
their labor the value of the wild lands of
non-resiients without any corresponding
benefit TO the holders, and the investment
in many cases is Improbable. To show
ths extent to which this monopoly of the
public domain reaches, wonld state that
in one county a single individual, who is
81 l.
wards of 10000 acres entered in the early
settlement Of the State. Such monopolies /
are truly great evils, and inducements should /
not be held ont by enlightened and free gov
erEments to create them. The propriety |
of Representing this subject TO Congress, /
and Of urging it to restrict the disposition |
of the public lads to actual settlers and in
limited quantities, IS respectfully common /
ded for your action.
The amicabls relations which were in /
terrupte,l between our government and an
adjacent republic, have been restored, and
we may now congratulate our common coun- I
try that we are at peace with all the world. +
While we rejoice over the happy condition
OF our foreign intercourse, the exciting do +
nestle question that has grown out of the I
acquisition of territory in the treaty with
Mexico should not be overlooked, and should +
ne approached IN spirit OF harmony and /
compromise. The sentiments of the leg
islature Of this state y ere expressed on the (
question Of the extension If the institution 4
of slavery over the recently acquired terri
tory, 1T u.s. last session, in resolutions nStrnc-
ting our representatives 10 both houses of
Congress 70 net against such extension. II .
is believed that these sentiments correspond .
with the views of the great body OF the
people, ana ail constitutional means should
DC used 10 restrict the further progress of
Shis great social AHA political evil. E.xci-
ling aud threaming as this question IS in