Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1857-01-22

I'LL appropriation AoA VAL"
purpose, and also astanding approprla-
ton of such a sum as you may deem SUIT
ficient, for the purchase of such law and
miscellaneous works as should find a
placein permanent public library.
Great complaint has been made in re-
gard to the publication of the Session
laws. The legislature have now con-
vened prior to the publication and dis
position ofthose Of the last session. -
Some provision should be made for the
early publication and the more prompt
distribution of all general laws.
The time for the several State officers
to make their Annual Reports is now fix
ed by law on the first Monday in Janua-
~. This is so near the perior of the an
ual assembling OF the legislature, that it
is impossible to procure their publication
in a printed form, by the opening OF the
session. The legislature are usually
compelled, inconsequence, to wait sever
al weeks before they can be prepared to
act Understandings upon the inforna
ton and recommendations contained in
these documents. III therefore desi-
rable that an earlier day should be des-
ignated for making these reports, chang
ing the commencement of the fiscal year,
or that the time fixed for the meeting OF
the legislature should be postponed, SO
as to afford a reasonable interim for
their publication. Such change would
tend to facilitate legislative business.
There is universal complaint of the
present mode of assessing the taxable
property of the State, as defective, une-
quail and unjust. The statute requires
the assessor Of each town or ward to as
sess the taxable real or personal prop
erty in his respective town or ward at its
full cash value. Notwithstanding this
requirement, large proportion OF the
personal property ofthe State remains
unassessed, while real estate, on the av-
erage, is assessed at not over one-fourth
of its actual cash value.
! invite your attention to the subject,
trusting that you may be able to devise
some amendment to the existing statute
which will insure hereafter a just and
true assessment Of real and personal
property. Under the present SYSTEM Of
unequil and false assessment, a grossly
erroneous and inadequate idea is con-
vevcd of the actual wealth and resour-
ces Of the State.
The General Government has for sew
cral years past withheld the amount due
on the five per centrum of the net pro,
ceeds arising from the sale of govern
ment lands situated within this State,
alleging that there is an unsettled claim
against the State, growing out Of the
disposition of previous grant of lands
The amount thus withheld is estimated,
in ronnd numbers, ut S250,000. | would
recommend that the legislature memoir
ializc Congress on the subject Of pass
inc an act to release the State from the
alleged claim against it, in order that
we may obtain the money to which the
school fund is justly entitled, During
the past year, / made an earnest effort
to effect a settlement Of the matter, but
without avail, and am convinced that
some action, on the part Of the legisia-
ture: as here recommended, is the only
practicable method Of accomplishing
the object desired.
During the past year, I have made re
peated applications to the Commission
cr of the General Land Office, to cause
patcntsto be issued to the state for the
swamp and ovcrHOwed lands, in order
to perfect the title Of the state to the.
same. The result has been that patents
have been received at this Department,
chiefly during the past three months, for
l,477,55l 46 100 acres of such lands
The amount of swamp and overlooked
lands already selected is 10000 81
100 acres. The whole amount to which
the state will ultimately be entitled I'M
der this grant will not fall far short Off,
5OO,O 600 acres. have caused to be for
wardpd to the Registers of Deeds Of
several counties Of the state, descript-
i've list Of the swamp and overlooked
lands in their respective counties. a
portion Of these lands are equal in val
ne to amy in the state, and the grant, as
q whole, IS one Of the most munificent
ever received from the General Govern
ment
In disposing Of its lands, / deem it
advisable for the State, by every practi-
cable method, to give preference to ac-
tual settlers, and to usc'its influence. to
induce the General Government to
adopt a similar policy. The facilities
afforded spectators at present, for OBJ
tanning possession Of large tracts of wild
land, operates to the prejudice Of the
best interests of the state. 1t discour-
ages the migration Of the most desirable
order of Settlers-farmerS of moderate
means, who constitute the great produc-
tive class OF the country-and thus a
large extent of territory is often left I'M
cultivated and mproductivc for years
The experience ot'tho pastwould seem
to suggest the necessity Of protecting
the bailot-hoX, by the enactment gilmore
stringent penal laws for that purpose.
All persons detected in dcvising, man
ufacturing, or uttering forged or fraud
ulcnt election returns, or in any other
manner cudoayoriug, knowingly, to de-
feat the will ofthe majority of the elect
ors, constitutionally expressed through
the hallot-hoX. should be severely pun
ishcd. The security of the right of suf-
srage, to rich and poor, TO the weak and
the powerful alike, aud the maintenance
OF the ballot-boN as ~ genuine index of
the sentiments Of the majority, are mat
tiers of vital moment in Il government
Ike ours, ba~cdlPon The popular will,
and whose iirmest support Is in the af-
tte.ions Of the people. Lc. their conf
deuyc in the ballot-boX rs I'M exponent
oftho real will OF the majority, be des-
uoyod; and the most disastrous conse-I
queuccs would inevitably follow.
Al the last session Of the legislature.
an Act was passed, entitled, An act to|
secure the enlargement and immediate
completion ofthc Improvement of the
NJ l.rn1.nn Of III. EnN anl WISCONSIN