Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-01-21

petJiste the memory and example of Vie no
BILE heroes from Wisconsin who have Taller
in defense of the liberties of the Nation A
suitable monument should be erected at The
Capital of the State, on which should be in
scribed their names. | doubt not theiI
names are registered in Heaven-let then
also De registered on earth. They should ever
be borne In remembrance by those for whom
they fought and died. Their families should
also receive our attention. The heroic dead
are gone-their orphan children are still with
US. Let us seek them out aud cherish then
as the children of that State and country fol-
whose benefit their natural protector offered
up his life.
Every effort has been made for the relief
of the sick and wounded soldiers, of which the
nature of the case, aud the means at my dis
posal would admit. But so extended has been
the field of military operations, and so nu'
merous and scattered the cases, that l have
found it impossible to meet the wants of all
as fully as would wish to have done. Much
has been done by correspondence, in obtain
ing furloughs, transfers, discharges, descrip-
tive rolls, and otherwise assisting them.
have personally visited them in Hospitals, SO
far as time and attention to other duties oil
my Office would permit. l have also sent
agents to them, and through these means
many who were lingering in Hospitals, and
who could be of no further use to the Gov
eminent, have been discharged and returned
to their families. Many others have been
provided with comforts, which have tended
20 soften their Affections and materially aid
in their speedy recovery and return to duty.
Great credit is due our citizens generally for
their Vforts in behalf of our sick and wound
ed soldiers. From nearly every hamlet and
village all over the State, have gone forth
comforts for them. To the Ladies' Aid So
cieties especially is great credit due for the
assistance they have rendered in caring for
them and their families. They have with
timely aid alleviated much suffering, and have
doubtless been the means of saving many
valuable lives. The thanks of grateful peo-
pie, the gratitude of the brave soldier, the
destitute orphan, wife and mother, are their
rewards.
Hospitals have been established at Madi-
son, Prairie du Chen and Milwaukee, and
Wisconsin soldiers are enjoying their benefits
so far as l have been able to get them trans
ferred or ordered to report to these Hospitals.
/ have urged upon the War Department the
importance of providing Hospital accommo-
dations, and sending all our sick and wounded
soldiers into our own State, where they might
receive the benefits of our bracing and in
yigorating atmosphere, and be accessible to
their relatives and friends, whose kind care
and attention would aid much in restoring
them to health and usefulness. The claims
of the sick and wounded soldiers should re-
ceive careful consideration at your hands
Ample provision should be made for their
wants, and for the wants of the families of
all Wisconsin soldiers now engaged in this
great struggle.
l am informed that many citizens who
have enjoyed the protection of the Gov
eminent, and whose property, in some instan.
ces, is still protected by it, have, to avoid
doing their duty in the field, ignomini-
ously fed to foreign countries. would sug-
gest to the Legislature the propriety of taking
away from such men rights they will not aid
in defending.
took occasion one year ago, at the open
ing of the legislative session, to call the
special attention of your predecessors to our
agricultural, mining, manufacturing and com
mercial interests. | desire to impress upon
you, also, the necessity of fostering these
important interests, as upon them largely de-
ponds the substantial wealth of our State !;
but you too well understand their importance
to require further notice from me. | will
only refer YOU to my remarks upon these sub
jects in my last annual message.
The condition of our State Prison has been
greatly improved during the last year, and its
expenses largely reduced.
The present efficient Commissioner is en-
titled to great credit for bringing about this
result. am of the opinion that still greater
reduction in the expenses of the prison may
be effected by change in our system. While
in many other States the prisons are self
supporting, and in some instances produce
revenue to the State. Wisconsin has been
paying from twenty to forty thousand dollars
year for the support of her convicts. l am
aware that this great difference in expense
may be accounted for, in part, by the fact
that our prison is new, and a great part of
the labor has been necessarily employed in
erecting permanent Improvements; yet, from
a careful examination of the prisons in sew
eral of the older States, am satisfied that
the difficulty lies, in part, in the system we
have adopted. Instead of buying raw ma
terials, manufacturing and selling the manu-
featured articles, experience has taught other
States that it is much more profitable to let
the labor of the convicts by contract to indi-
viduals, 1.-THE labor to be performed within
the prison yard, under the control of the
Prison COMMISSIONER these individuals fur
nishing the raw material, taking the articles
manufactured, and paying the State for the
labor bestowed upon them; thus relieving the
State of the outlay for raw material, the labor
in obtaining it, keeping accounts of purchases
and sales, and of other expenses necessarily
attending the sale of the manufactured arti-
cles. Whether the labor of our conyicts may
not be so organized and systematzed as to
make it pay the expenses of the prison is
subject worthy of your careful consideration,
and as such | commend it to you.
The number of prisoners confined in the State
prison since its organization, is 906; number
discharged from prison since its organization,
1856; number in prison Oct. LIST, 1864, 100.
For further details you are respectfully refer
red to the report of the Commissioner, here
with presented.
Your attention is invited to the able and
interesting report of the Superintendent of
Public Instruction. This report contains
many valuable suggestions concerning the
management of our schools, and is evidently
the result of much care and thought. And
especially would call your attention to the
views expressed therein upon the subject of
Normal Schools. Our system of common
schools is, perhaps, not surpassed by any but
common school systems can have but little
vitality without competent teachers to carry
them into execution. Many of those who
have heretofore been engaged in teaching
cur common schools are now in the military
service of the Government. Others have
sought employment in different directions,
and there seems to be at this time, special
necessity for the adoption of some means to
supply their places The measure proposed
by the State Superintendent of establishing
a State Normal School, at which advanced