The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-05-07
Wit in Wisconsin.

Democrat, contains document styled
d" Message Of the Peoples GOVERNOR" in
which some views Of legislation are gwen
which ARE worthy of consideration among
those who would tinker the times and be
satisfied with nothing short Of perfection
in social and political institutions. The
Democrat gives the following account
the custom in accordance with which
the Peoples Governor holds forth an>
nually.
Some ten years since-we believe
when Senator Dodge was Governor
during the territorial organization when
The people had no voice in selecting the
Governor, the people assembled at Mad.
olson during the session Of the Iegisla>
ture, called meeting Of the people or
soyerelgns, as they styled themselves,
aud elected a Governor who held his
court, delivered his message, made ap>
pointmeuts and removals, with all the
formalitY that distinguished the admins
s,ralion of Gov. Dodge. His message
was take off" Of the Territorial
Governor and a hit at men and things
generally, at Madison and lhrouehou
the territory.
Since that time. the people attendant
on tho Legislature. about the second
week ofthe session, have annually chus.
en- Peoples Governor, who has deliv,
cred message TO the assembled sover-
eigns and spectators, in the Assembly
Chamber. Latterly the message has
been the prncipleattraction, the chief
object of the Peoples Governor being to
hit as many persons and things sharply
as possible, in the best humor. The
lreest license is allowed, it being UNDER
stood that every thing is said jealousy,
and though sharp moral may point
each stroke of wit, no one has any right
to take exceptions to any hits in the Gov
ernor's message. Some of the illusions
will doubtless be Greek to many of our
readers, but they are well understood at
the Capital.
We have not the Message of the Peo-
ple's Governor in full, but find extracts
enough in the New York Commercial,
to give some idea of his Excellency' 5
style and general views of policy.
The following suggestion is brought
to the notice of the Legislature so hap
PLY and with SO much force that we can
not doubt lis favorable reception
An act of Congress. approved Sept.
%. 1850, granted to Wisconsin all the
swamp and overnowed lands unsold in
the State, aud as the commissioner Of
the General Land Office, in commune
cation to your Executive, has decided
; that when the major part Of any subdi-
vision is wet and unfit for cultivation,
the whole shall be registered as swamp
; lands, it is clearly for our interest, by
means Of our lakes aud rivers, TO make
the public lands as wet and swanpy as
possible. have been informed that the
whole Northern and. Northwestern por-
ton of the State could be oyerfiowed al
a trlfling expense, and recommend that
for this purpose the acting commissioner
of the Board of Public Works be en-
powered to dam the Wisconsin River as
efiectually as he has dam-ed the Northern
improvement.
"A melancholy casually is announced
in the message. II appears that of the
three commissioners appointed To inquire
: into the Fox and Wisconsin River inn
provements. two only have reported The
) third while exploring new mail route
, for canal TO conrect Winnebago Lake
: with the Mississippi, strayed away from
his mules; and although the Sergeant.at'
arms has made diligent search for him,
, nothing has been heard from him. 1t is
supposed that he is still initiating the
! example of Saul the son of Kish, seek
ing the lost asses. The Governor, under
e the circumstances, recommends that al
expedition be fitted out to hunt up the
u missing commissioner and inform hin
- that all The donkeys but one have re-
S turned.
i, The condition Of agriculture istreaieC
of. The enormous increase OF 'smal
o potatoes at the seat Of government is al
admitted evil for which there seems L
e he no remedy except in improved mode
o Of culture, with more attention 10 tn
better sorts of plants. The great sub
> jec, of education is Of course too i'm
1t portant to be overlooked by such Gov
d ernor as his Exccllenoy. lie highl, aP