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

Our benevolent Institutions, our churches
and our public schools, like the guide-post
that tells the traveller how far be has ad
ranced on his journey, are the great land
marks of our peoples progress, BY which We
may judge of their advancement in good
ness morality, intelligence and true great
ness
The number of rupils attending the In
stitutiOn for the Blind during the last
| year was ........... ................ Sc
Amount expended for salaries of officers
and teachers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. s2,574 o.
Amount expended in repairs on heating
app ratus ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ESQ OF
Amount expended in repairs on building 81 ,Sss 6s
Current expenses. So, $50 u
| Amount expended IN erection of work.
shop 49,: $500. ................. ss,s55 OC
expenses ..................... s4.so7 70
| me numb OF pupils attending the In
| stitution for the education of the Deaf
/ and Dumb during the last fiscal year
4 WdS. 50
/ The amosnt expended FIR the support of
| the Institution for the education ofthe
| Deaf aud Dumb, during the fiscal year
was .......................... $500. Sls,S1l sc
The law authorizing soldiers to exercise
F! the elective franchise at other places than
| their residence, should be thoroughly revised
and amended, SD as more effectually to guard
| against fraud az corruption. The privilege
of exercising this sacred right should also be
4
number who by the present law are deprived
of it, in consequence of being on detached
| duty, or confined in hospitals.
Section three of article four of the consti-
| tuition of our State, devolves upon the Legis-
| lature the duty of providing for an enumera-
| ton of the inhabitants of the State during the
present year. The assessment of property is
taken in the early part of summer This emu.
meration can doubtless be made more readily
| aud cheaply at that time, than at any other
Ii is important also that this duty should be
performed at an early day, in order that
the. returns may be made out and COM
piled in time for the use of the next leg
| islature. For these reasons, and that the
Secretary of State may have ample time to
prepare and distribute proper blanks to the
different towns of the State, l would urge
upon you the Importance of early action up
on this subject.
The attention of the legislature is earnest
ly solicited to the subject of removing the
rowing bands of Indians from the northwest
ern portion of our State. Since the depre-
dations and murders committed by them n
Minnesota, feeling of insecurity has existed
among our citizens in the sparsely settled
north western counties, to such an extent as
in some instances, to cause them to abandon
their homes. Several murders have been
committed by Indians, and much property
destroyed by them within our State during
the last year. Their presence tends to retard
settlement, and thus prevents the development
of the country. Their ignorance and their
wild and rowing natures unfit them for res
idence among civilized people.
| am satisfied that the good of the State,
and especially the good of our citizens resid-
ing in portions of the State freduented by
hp nf ha Ind
themselves, demand that these natives of the
forest be sent beyond the limits of Wiscon-
sin. have several times during the last
year called the attention of the officers of
the General Government to Indian depreda-
tiOns and murders within our borders Some
action has been had, but it would seem that
nothing short of removal will allay the just
fears, or meet the just demands of our peo-
pie.
l am aware that this is subject coming
properly within the jurisdiction of the Gen
erel Goverhment,yet may not this Legislature
do much TO bring about the desired object,
by memorialiZing congress and making such
a representation of the case, as will induce
speedy action? l would recommend that the
memorials be prepared upon this subject at
an early day in the session, and that such
other action be taken as the nature of the
case would seem to demand.
1t has seldom been the lot of the historian
to record a greater calamity to any people,
than the calamity of civil war. When broth
er meets brother in civil strife, sad indeed
is the spectacle. 1t was this against which
the old hero of New Orleans and the Father
of his country issued their solemn warnings.
They knew full well the character of the
American people. They knew full well the
great sacrifice which must be made, and the
great interests which would be at stake when
civil war should be inaugurated. If the de-
parted dead are cognizant of events trans
piring in this world, there is no one thing up
OH this earth which tends more to disturb
the old patriots in their graves to-day-which
would sooner induce them to return again TO
earth to take part in the affairs of men, than
the civil strife which has been inaugurated
by traitors to overthrow this Government.
But sad as is the spectacle, deploraolo as is
the necessity that prompts, nay compels
all good citizens to take up the sword in
defense of the Government, still greater ca
lamity might and would befall mankind, were
we to cease to defend our rights and thus
, permit the downfall of our free institutions.
Inasmuch as the interests of the many are
greater than the interests of the few, as the
interests of the world, of our children, and
the people of all coming time, are greater
than the interests of the people now en-
gagged in this struggle, would the calamity
of the downfall of this Government, be great
er than that of the present civil strife. Duty
then admonishes us to defend the Govern
ment, to draw the sword in self-defence. /
will not at this time go into discussion of
the righteousness of our cause. It has al
ready been too fully discussed, too well estab-
lished, and is too well understood to require
comment from me. No right thinking man
at home or abroad, denies,or attempts at this
day to question, that it is our duty to sustain
the Government, and put down the rebellion.
How then stands the case? Some one must
lead in this great work. 1t is the people of
the United States that are now Immediately
Interested; they must greatly suffer if we
fail. They will enjoy the blessings if the
Government is preserved. Who then so
largely interested, at the present time, as the
people of the United States? The people
composing this Government have selected
their Commander-in-c chief, and said to him go
forward and do your duty; select the means
and put down the rebellion. He has gone
forward, has selected what he deems to be
the proper means, and is striving with all his
power, and all the power at his command, to
accomplish the work. Few will be found l
think who have the hardihood at this day to
deny the integrity of the pilot now at the head
of the nation. But whether they do or motif
is unquestionably true, that the chief execu-
tive authority of this nation has been placed in
pure and patriotic hands; that the great end
and aim of Abraham Lincoln is the salvation
of the Government, and the protection of the
rights of the neople But this commander