Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-02-03
OUR MADISON LErrER.
Relative TO a State gis.
Iative, lCongressionaI and Personal
Matters--Ec., &c, &c.

MADISON, Jan. %, 1870. 4
One'of the noblest of our state iusti-
buttons and one which should be a source
Of just pride TO every citizen of the com.
monwealth, is the
STATE HISTORICAL SOC IETY.
Its elegant rooms occupy the second floor
of the south wing Of the capitol, and
contain among the collections almost ey
eryihing rare and unique in literature,
and trophies and relics relating to the
early history of the state and the lar.
dy pioneers who first settle. its SOIL
Theneed of such an institution wa. first
brought 70 the attention of the public,
we believe, away back in territorial times
by Mr.. G. c. BRITT, who was then con-
nected with a paper here in Madison,
which at that time was a mere village
Mr.. B. is now resident of Portage
City-while haired and rich in the plen-
titude of years. The idea he advanced
was afterward more fully Developed by
others and an organization perfected in
January, ls49. In 1853 the legislature
granted a charter, bat the society did not
prosper, and was finally disorganized.-
In 1854 the organization was revived
and re-chartered by the legislature, and
since that time has continued to grow
and develop in usefulness until now is
acknowledged to be second to none in
the country. AT the time of its second
incorporation the the society had in its
possession SO volumes of scellaneous
works; but by donations, etc, etc, the
collection has since oeen swelied TO the
magnificent proportions of $4,000 vol
umes, as shown by their report for 1870
The largest donation was by Mrs. OrTo
TANK, of Depere in this state, widow of
a wealthy Holiander, who gave a libra
ry of 5000 volumes. The pleasure,
however, of visiting these Historical
Rooms is not alone in rummaging among
written history and biography, or litera-
nv works of the sixteenth and seven
teenth centuries, for on every side, on
shelves and in corners, are objects full of
interest which, could they speak might
tell us stories of sea and laud-of an
Gent Egypt and of our own time. All
around the rooms are elegant life-size
portraits and busts of early settlers and
men who have been prominent 10 the
history Of the state and nation. Here
is piece of rock broken from Sphynx
at Phebes, Egypt-aud there,
breastplate with fearful grape shot
hole in the ceuter) taken from the body
of rebel colonel killed at the battle of
Corinth; here on shelf is a piece of
wood from the tree under which Pocha.
hantas is supposed to have saved Capt.
Smiths life, and by its side is a war
club from the Fejee Islands-old flint
lock muskets used in the revolutionary
and Indian wars-a withsrei and black.
ened baud Of an Egyptian mummy
which points US to period three thous.
and years down the avenues of Time,
when it, perhaps was as fair as your
hand. lady reader. Hanging here, and
moving in the iszy air is line of saucy
looking rebel flags captured by the I'm.
ion boys-and so might tell Of the
thousand and one things of interest,"
But I'll desis:, and recommend the rea-
ders of the JOURNAL to visit these rooms
should they ever have the opportunity.
LEGISLATIVE.
On the 18th inst. there was introduced
in the e,sembly, bill to codify tie laws
of lie state relating to the elections of
all officers except those elected for mu-
nicipal purposes. 1t requires the secre-
tary of state to publish in book form all
such laws, together with the necessary
forms and instructions for notifying, can
wasting and conducting elections as will
secure uniformity in such matters. The
decided incolerency which often charac-
terizss election returns, calls loudly for
some such form-book as this.
A general bill has been introduced
prohibiting the forced incubation of re-
ligious tenets in our public schools, as
being inconsistent with the principles of
free government.
A bill has been introduced exempting
from seizure for payment of debts, house
hold appurtaDances to the amount of not
over 5000. In addition to the above,
the bill provides that heads of families
may also have real estate or personal
property to the amount of 50 900 ex
empt from attachment on any final pro.
cess. f
The assembly has under consideration
q hill nrovid;nc, for tho ruroboea &C ,uo