Tribune and telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1855-1856, 1856-03-06
Madison Correspondence.
MANSON Feb 90 1875

! MADISON, Feb. 90, 1856
/ The difficulty which existed earlier in the ses-
sion of want of business exists no longer
There is any amount of business new on hand
but its interest has not increased a PARTICLE
/ 1t is generally local in its character the incor-
poration of rail road companies, of cities. laying
out highways, authorsing the erection of bridges
and ten thousand things of similar character
! If the legislature were confined entirely III its
legislation, as it ought to be- but as it rM not be-
to matters of general interest, its session would
be very short one. Laws lhave been passed
to confne certain matters to local boards but
members come up here with their pockets stuff
fed with these interdicted propositions, and
hitching teams, put them Though. At the be-
| ginning of the session, the Senate refus ed to
] listen to any proposition to change names, or
wake children or heirs for people, because there
were legitimate means nearer home to attain
! the results. But the members, one after anoth-
er receiving solicitations from some unhappy
constituents to do something for them in some
/ of these departments. one after an other caved
| in, and now all such propositions are put thro'
under suspension of tho rules. l apprehend
all other attempted reforms in this respect
I would share a similar fate. The error is radi-
cal and one that time alone will cure
| The strife for a division of counties yet con.
tHues, While write, within very inconve-
nient ear-shot, is a large lobby boring the com.
mittce on town and county organizations for
and against the division of Dodge county. TIE
point in dispute is whether Dodge county has
| 40 acres more or less than 900 square miles it
being very important point, for the Constitu-
ton interposes various difficulties in the way
of dividing counties which have not more than
go square miles. According to Government
survey Dodge has Just the number Of towns
necessary to make go square miles, but those
who urge the division Of the county, whilst mp
! on il that actual measurement proves the towns
fSrio
! to warrant the division. Rather small dodge
for the great county of Dodge. If it only had
Lake Michigan alongside of it 10 make up its
area, it would have dodge worthy of it.
Barnes has introduced in the Senate general
law authOrising towns and Incorporated cities
and villages to aid in the construction of rail
roads.
The latest swamp land project introduced is
to give the alternate sections to the counties in
which they be-to provide for the sale of the
remainder and make n fund for various objects
therein specified This would be unjust toward
the old counties whose swamp lands were
bought long ago from government. A better
plan wonld be TO sell the whole make general
fund of it for general state purposes, and let the
state build such public institutions as it wants
and support them out of the same general fund
] This idea that the swamp lands must go to build
upa lunatic asylum or for any other specific
purpose l do not believe in. Their sale will
make large fund and if properly husbanded will
do very much eventually towards bearing the
annual expenses of the government, and cores
pondingly diminishing the burthen of taxation
| In the Assembly Mr.. Alden from the majority
of the select committee madea lengthy report III
favor of the restoration of the Death Penalty.
The minority of the Committee will report
| In the Senate, Kelsey made minority report
from the Select Committee on Prohibitory
Liquor Law, in which he sustained the views Of
the Governor, and expressed lively confidence
| in that good time coming when the idea of coer-
Give laws to prevent crime would be abandoned.
This is refreshing faith, particularly SO, COM
I ing from fine source it did. There will be no ac-
tictn on that subject probably by this legislature
There seems to be disposition to let the law
become more fully perfected in those older states
es which have fairly entered upon It's trial that
we may avail ourselves of their experience.
| A preamble and resolutions, expressing sym
patty with the free side of the Kansas question.
and instructing our Senator's and requesting our
Representatives on the subject introduced by
Clement were finally after some discussion pas
scd this afternoon. The Democrats generally
voted against them, and l presume they will
never get through the assembly. l wish Wis
consin might send to the world good, strong
emphatic word on the right side of that ques-
ton, as it would not be without its effect, but
she will not this year.
To-day the argument was again resumed in
the Supreme Court on the contested Guberna
torial question. 1t is now upon the fnality of
the certificate of the canvassers. Carpenter, OF
Barstow's Counsel IS somewhat decately
situated on this question. 1t so happens that
he is engaged in contesting on his own behalf
the right of the District Attorney of ROck
County to his place. He is compelled therefore
| to hasten from his argument in Rock county to
prove the certificate of election is not. cannot,
and ought not, to be a fnalty, up to the Capital
to prove that it is and cannot i'll any respect be
interfered with. 1t is generally supposed the
Court will not regard the certificate tina!ity
although have heard good lawyers, and those
on our side of the house, express the opinion
that they would be compelled so to regard it.
No general opinion is entertained as TO when
the evil will conclude, if the Court goes behind
| the canvass.
, The time of the final adjournment Of the lcgs-
/ lature is very uncertain. hear nothing lately
rs to the progress of the committees of investl-
CATION either into the finances of the State or IN
| to the election frauds. An adjourned session
has been considered necessary to perfect the
investigation into the finances of the State, but
| it is intimated that our Democratic brethren,
fearing the discovery of great frauds will do
what they can to prevent the completion of the
investigation. don't believe this. | believe
the Democracy generally arc as ignorant OF the
real condition of the books as the Republicans,
and just AS willing and just as anxious to know
how the matter really stands. There is spirit
! OF opposition between paTteS, WHICH lcauS 1ncui
to oppose each other when it would puzzle eth
er one to give reason for it, and what the Re-
publicans propose the Democracy may oppose,
! and rice rsrsa without either side paying much
attention to, the real merits of the question, and
therefore the Democracy may oppose any ad-
journnent from mere love of opposition. Ifthe
country is to be saved through the wisdom Of
! legislative partisans, God help it.
! JUDGE DOCLITTLE, as you arc before this
aware, has resigned bis seat as Judge of the Dis
trict composed of the counties of kenosha, Ra-
cice, Walwcrth, Rock and Green. Insuficiency
of the salary the cause. Judge Dooltt!c was
generally conceded to be the best Circuit Judge
in the State, and presume the Circuit willpart
with him with regret. The salary is too small.
i To expect man of much legal ability to spend
all his time from home travelling about circuit of
U Sunoedxo S! 'IvoG Ied OGcIS ito epul!u5eru qous
great deal. 1t may do for man of small family
or no family, who can afford TO take the honor in
part payment for the duties, but for a man of
large family as is Judge Doottlc. which family
cannot be fed on the husks of brief authority, it
will not DO. The Judge has actually lost money
| by it, and retres TO save what little he has. he
policy of our constitution in many cases designa-
ting such small salaries, and in others, hedging
! salaries around so they cannot be increased, is
of doubtful policy. Take for instance, the pay
of member. of the Legislature. 1t was S2,o5
eight years ago, and is the same now. Then po-