Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-03-14
rFor the Herald
- Trip to the state Capital.

having iSSSuliy ePShu ~ Nsst0 Ai0ss
agreeably among the magnates at Madison,
and feeling under the influence of a scrib-
bling mania, venture to jot down some
observations made upon men, measures and
things at the Capital, for the readers Of the
| Herald.
Madison seems to have been at stand
still, if not to have retrog8aded, during the
past three years. saw but one recent
business structure of any Importance, and
there are evidences of unthrift on every
hand. The State Capitol when completed,
will be magnificent building, built at less
cost to the State. in proportion to its real
worth, judging by the East Wing, than
any other public institution ever built oy
the State.
The Proudfit Lunatic Asylum Contract
seems to have impressed useful lesson
upon the State. This opened the eyes OF
the people, and the power of the old job
bers and jayhawkers, who had ruled the
State, was from thence broken and gone
Superadded to this, we have had about
three years of honest and competent official
administration by Republicans, which by
its contrast has rendered the restoration Of
the old Democratic regime almost impos-
sble. TO be sure, Gov. Bashford's
.pecuniary compliment of $4,000 in
Corruption Bonds, was hard blow upon
the Republican party, but even this noun
tain of disgrace could not restore the power
and prestige Of the enemy. Tie people
would not 90 back into the jaws of the
monster from which they had just escaped.
found in all the Departments the most
prompt and gentlemanly attention on the
part Of principals and clerks. The School
Land Department particularly CONTESTED
widely and most favorably with its manage
ment under former Commissioners. Then
the clerks looked a rakish set, and if an
applicant was known to be Of opposite
politics he was doubtless reminded Of the
fact by the circanalocution practiced upon
him.
/ No one can remain in an important Of
flee long, particularly if he handles public
money, without mourning suspicion, at
least, of having converted more or less Of
his trust to his own benefit. 4dristsdes
himself, under such circumstances, could
not escape this imputation, in modern days.
And why not? for the rule has been gem
eral and the exceptions few under Blu
chanan; but nevertheless, we venture to
predict with the utmost confidence, that
when the present State Treasurer, S. d.
Hastings, shall retire from the Office which
he honors, every dollar and every cent,
to which the State shall be entitled, will be
found IN its vaults. Who that knows his
great integrity and his high moral worth,
could think otherwise!
| The Legislature was in session only a
few hours during my stay-acting very
slowly, and yet, in the judgment Of your
humble correspondent, not wisety. The
famous Farm Mortgage Relief Bill was
under consideration, and the majority Of
the Assembly were infexibly determined
to swallow the bill, (bulD horns and all.
Our member, Mr. Clark, introduced very
able and proper substitute, yet the majority
discourteousIy voted not to print it. Mr..
Clark and a large portion, if not all, Of
the minority, favored the passage Of any
constitutional and consistent measure of
relief to that unfortunate class of citizens,
but the majority would accept nothing
short of what was, practically, reputation
and bad faith. They cssayed to make the
courts their instruments, and to PROSTATE
the good name and credit Of the State at
the feet of the mortgagors. We hope bet
ter counsels will prevail. Investigation and
delay on the part of the Assembly has al
ready put to shame the indecent haste and
precipitation Of the Senate, and we believe
that little more procrastination will mod
| ify if not remove the danger.
| had hoped TO find time to speak at
length of the great Union Meeting held at
! the Capital--under the lead or exclusive
management Of those sublime worthless
and pure patriots, Nose Strong, G. b.
! Smith, A. f. Pratt and Others of that ilk.
/ saw the labor of the mountain to wedge
off section of the Republican party for
amalgamation with the said disinterested
worthless under the name Of Union Party
ii. e., all that aoas Uisible, and was greatly
amused thereat. Saw our Senator, Virgin,
with much credit to himself decline the
partnership and the fraternal embrace Of
fered. Saw the mouse produced BY all
this travail, fall stilL-born into the arms Of
the attending nurses, and came away,
wonderfully impressed with the Protean
character, the inexhaustible resources and
the fertility of invention manifested by the
said Democratic wire workers and the
Forty-Thieves generally,
! Something was being done towards in-
vestigating matters connected with our
State Geological Survey, and we hope it
viii be pushed through and sifted to the
bottom. From six to eight thousand dol
lars have been drawn out of the Treasury
annually for three years by the said Com
missioner without any resulting benefit,
and it is time to stop il and to expose the
teaches. Ezra S. Carr, one cf the Com
missioners, has, in addition to receiving bis
$4,000 yearly as Commissioner, received
$1,000 yearly as Professor Of the State
University, and we do not believe that he
! has rendered tha State ono ,aartpla Of ser