Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1862-06-06

stautly arriving some of our sick and
wounded soldiers, anxiously expecting to
find some agency from our State that will
aid them to get to their homes. Some
thing shonld be done to relieve these
poor, suffering men: many a life may be
saved, and many heart made glad. |
am confident that the proud state of Wis
consin will not remain behind her sister
states in that respect. Accompanying
this L lay before you copies of a few of the
many communications | have received
concerning tie necessity of appointing
State agents to look after The sick aud
wounded soldiers from Wisconsin.
Observation and reflection on my part,
in regard to the labor devolved upon our
Supreme Court for the past two or three
years, have induced me to urge upon you
the necessity of taking, at this session,
initiatory steps toward amending our Con-
stitution, in order to provide for an in
crease of the number of Judges of that
Court for the future For the three terms
of court held in the years 1856 and 1857,
| there were in the average argued and de-
cided, sixty calender causes and Twelve
motions, at each term. Since then the
business of the court has increased rapidly,
and since the June term, 1859, there have
been at each term, in the average, argued
and decided in that court, 1870 calendar
causes and fourteen motions Thus. the
labor Of the Judges for the last three years
has been more than double what it was
in 1856 and 1857.
Since the June term, 1859, the Judges
of the Supreme Court have been in SEES
sion, simply hearing arguments f1r one
hundred and thirty seven days, in the av-
erage, in each year, sitting seven hours a
day. But the hearing Of arguments of
causes brought before them, is the smallest
portion of their labors; studying and de-
Gliding the cases, and writing the opinions,
is by far the greatest part This labor is,
| am well convinced, too much for three
Judges, aad l would therefore urgently
recommend that the number of judges of
the Supreme Court be increased by two,
so that the labor of the court may be d.
vided by FIVE. When the constitution was
made. this State had population of about
$50, 900 inhabitants, while now it is lot
far short of 100000. In justice to the
state, the Judges Of that court, and the in
terests confided to them, the change |
have recommended seems to be imperi-
lively called for, aud | hope it will meet
with your appreciation and immediate ac-
ton.
The President Of the United States has
recently called upon our State for another
Regiment of Infantry, which is in process
Of organization. An act passed at the
present session, limits the extra pay which
| the State gives to the families of volun-
teers to regiments then in process of for
nation, which would exclude the goth
Regiment from the benefits of the State
bounty 1t would be but Justice that all
volunteers from our State should be pla ed
upon an equal footing. and that the State
should not discriminate in its generosity.
would recommend, therefore, that the
benefits Of chapter 8, of the General laws
of the Extra Session of 1861. as modified
by chapter ll2, Of the present session, be
extended to the goth Regiment.
1t is believed that this will be the last
Regiment that the general Government
will require from our State, and that wi h
the present efficient army, and the addi-
tons that will be made 10 it under the last
call, Government will be able to suppress
| the armed rebellion. Gradually, but
steadily, we see the proportions of it wane
as the army of the Union advances. We
may meet with occasional reversos, for
there is yet large and desperate army
contending against ours, but we all feel
that God will grant final victory to our
just cause. May the day of that victory
soon appear.
EDWARD SALOMON.
| MADISON, June 8, 1862.