Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-09-18
A VOICE FROM THE PoTAToE PATCH"


Under this caption farmer, who is of the opin-
ion that the agricultural part of community are
interested in the results OF the present canvass,
writes 10 the Pdtriot a few facts. from which we
clip the following
Now the official records of the State reported
TO the last Legislature show the following state OF
facts:
They show that State DEBT of near 100000
was accumulated last year, over and above the
whole revenues derived from taxation-and that,
too, without any pretense OF any extra emerSen
cy warransing the expenditure. This 1t was, that
required State tax OF S33oOoO
They show that over 40u,o00 acres oil Scheoi
Land were in market for sale on me Isl OF jam
ary 1854 and that one year thereafter II had all
been sold and about thirty or forty spectators
too.
They sLov that 900 acres of this land were
sold in body to spectators at ten shthtnes on
acre on thirty years time-and that although tin1-
bered and pine lands, that, no portion o. me Prpi
opal ,caterer ,oas required to be paid at the tia OF
purchase
They show that in at least one case the Com
missioners, with the advice and consent OF WIN
A. Barstow Governor OF the State, wiihdre" all
the unsold lands from market for about SIX weeks,
to allow one favored SPECTATOR Jas Luduiilston)
to send agents and hunt up the best tracts, 10
the amount of about 10000 acres and that while
this was going on emigrants and actual settlers
compelled TO stand aside
They show that in all the new counties i'm
mense tracts have been absorbed, nearly all by
the Governors special and particular supporters,
thus nfctng stab the property OF those
new counties which half century viii not Grad
icate.
They show that in all such entries, and especi-
alIy in all cases of forfeited improved farms, that
the clerks, deputies. and assistants about the caps
t itol largely, and often exclusively made the en-
tries in their own names, but for whose interest
does not appear,
! They show in addition to such frauds in the
sale of lands that VIM. A. Barstow, drew and us
4 ed nearly $4,000 for contingent expenditures
| and ge-and that full much more OF con
] finsent bills were thrust on the last Legislature
/ for payment
They show that VIM. 4. Barstow, on a salary
! of 81 $50 fixed by the Constitution, drew and US
ed, without rendering any account, the sum OF
! 1850
They show that near the hour of midnight in
! the month of September last VIM. a. Barstow,
| Governor OF this State, was present and aided IN
opening at the Capitol the signal bid OF Andrew
| Proudft for building Lunatic Asylum-that the
same was awarded to ProuGft, and a contract
made with him, on which was written approved,
/ VIM A Barstow"-ag Feeing that the State should
paw the sum of half million dollars (S452,
O0O) under a law authorizing an expenditure OF
+ sz3 900 only for that purpose.
These are bat few of the lnIqultles which the
( records sh0W-afd whenever lney are teiiet OF
disputed by any 3arstow press editor, pledge
myself to show their strict truth, citing the evi>
dence of record in proof.
| Such then are samples of the doings Of this
! State Administration. The democracy and The
! people at large were very naturally indignant at
| such outrages. They desire change in the pro
! gramme-and that new ticket made up OF hon
est men, should be presented Tor their support this
| fall.
| What has been the result? At the breaking up
/ of the Legislature VIM. A. Barstow dispatched
number of agents through the northern counties
of the State, al expense to the School fund of
50 per day each, ostensibly to select apparise
lands-Teay to get Barstow delegates to the State
Convention The State Central Committee made
up of Barstow men, in violation OF all past usage
and OF every feature preence of justice issued
a call which would allow these agents to get into
the State Convention representatives. of terrific
cy only. The Convention met, and creature OF
The Governor having been thrust into the chair,
by the order of his superior, allowed :inetcen of
their bogus delegates ID vc.c upon the question
of their OWE :'.it to seats overriding every mos
:ic.. 10 allow the legal delegates to vote by ayes
and noes on the question. Having worked them
in the next move was TO vote out with an excep
ton two every anti Barstow delegate whose
seat contested, and to MI every vacancy with
lawniHg and hired sycophants. The aggregate
of his Legitimate and fraudulent infusion was
80 votes which added to the undisputed Borstow
strength gave him 1O7 being within OF that
great majority his retainers brag so much about.
That one was a simple delegate from Walworth,
who was promised support for the office of State
Prison Commissioner for his vote
This is the manner that Barstow secured n res
nomination-by the violation of every pretence
of party usage-by forged basis of representa-
ton-and by trampling upon every recognized
rule of parliamentary bodies, and every appear
ance of fairness or justice
And this is called DEMOCRATIC STATE
CONVENTION !!