The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-02-21
Editorial Corresponds nee.
MADISON, Feb. IA.
PEACE COMMISSIONER

Editorial Corresponds nee.
MADISON, Feb. IA.
PEACE COMMISSIONERS.
The measure of sending Commissioners to
Washington to assist in compromising our ma.
tional difficulties is apparently disposed. The
subject was indefinitely postponed in the House
yesterday, by q vote of SO to &C. This matter
has enlisted the attention of members, and eccu-
pied the time in the Legislature, during the
past two weeks, to the neglect of other matters
demanding legislative action. The friends and
the opponents ofthe measure were nearly equal
ly balanced, which impaired additional spirit
to the contest
ROCK RIVER CANAL COMPANY.
The Oldest settlers of Wisconsin will recol-
lect that the Rock River Canal Company was
organized in Territorial times, some twenty. five
years ago. The object of this Company was
the construction of canal from Milwaukee to
Rock River, and for this purpose grant of
land was obtained from Cangress on the route
of the proposed canal. 1t would require vol
umes for complete history of the canal COM
pany. Gen. VIM. R. Smith was employed sew
eral years ago by the Legislature, to write the
history of Wisconsin the Gen. devoted the
first and second volumes to ma tiers of our ter
ritorial history, which was satisfactory enough;
the third volume he applied exclusively to the
history of the Rock River Canal. Upon the
appearance of the third volume of Gen. Smiths
history, the Legislature perceived that he had
undertaken an endless task, and the conse-
quence was, that the Gen. was given to under
stand that the State would pay no more money
for history. Since that period, Smiths occu
patton as historian has been gone.
This Rock River Canal Company, or its rep
resen natives have nearly every session, for TWEEN
ty years past, presented some claim against the
Territory or State. A claim of this sort was
put in the present sessiOn, and after being dis
eussed for and against in the Senate was yes
tsrday disposed of by indefinite postponement
EXEMPTION.
An act has passed the House without oppo
sition, to exempt from execution certainquan
tity of seed grain to every farmer. This exemp
ton appears so reasonable that no one dispu.
ted the passage of the bill.
TAX SALE EXTENSION.
| bill has passed both branches of the Leg
islature, fixing the time for the sale of delin
quent lands for taxes in May, instead of April
as heretofore. The reasons for the change are
that the time between the return Of the dslin
quent lands by the town treasurer, and the pub
lication of sale as formerly required, is too
short it proves ineonvenient in many of thu
large and sparsely settled counties in the north
ern portion of the State. Besides, by extend
ing the time of the sale 10 May the county treas
urer has more time to collect in the delinquent
taxes, and thus the sale of delinquent land
will be lessened.
| RELIEF FOR KANSAS.
An appropriation of $4,000 for the relief o
the furnishing people of Kansas, has been sane
toned by both branches of the Legislature.
met with strong opposition in the Assembly
but prevailed by vote of Al to %. Ever.
Democrat in the House, except two, vote'
against the appropriation for relief.
SHALL THEY BE ALLOWED TO VOTE?
Notwithstanding all the railroad experience
during the past few years, there are q numbe
of towns in the State, now petitioning the. Leg
stature to be allowed to vote on ths question
of taking stock in RAILROADS. There are ofcours
new enterprises in. the counties now destitut
of railroads The question is raised, shall thes
people be allowed to vote? Or,in other words
may town be permitted to aid in the construc
ton of railroad, provided a majority of II
property holders signify by ballot their willing
ness so to do? There are many who belley
towns should not be authorized by the Legisla
ture TO exercise their discretionary power; tn
sense of the Legislature on this point will b
tested on the applications now pending
LENITY To BANKS.
A Joint resolution has been rushed with cor
siderable speed through both Houses of the Les
islature, authorizing the Bank Controller
withdraw calls on banks for additional secur
ties until the Legislature has time to devils
some plan to meet the exigencies in the case
The policy of this measure, is of course Var
ously regarded. 1t is said (whether true Q
not that one half the banks in the State woul
go to the wall, were the call for additional secu
rites in the present depressed state of the stoc
market, insisted upon to the full letter of tn
law. The question is, shall the rule of securi
ties be strictly enforced, and drive the bank
into general discredit, or shall the rules be re
Taxed for a time, so as to allow them to live
The Bank of Eau Claire is now being wount
up by the Controller; its securities will be soil
in few days. The bill holders may loose iron
eight to ten cents on the dollar
MADISON, Feb. 18th, 1861
| COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS.
There has thus far, the present session, beer
but little or no School legislation, either loca
or general, The State Superintendent of Pub
lie Instruction, with the advice of the Commit
| tee on Fducation has sent into tha T,epislatur