Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1870-01-27
Editorial Correspondence
OUR MADISON LETTER.
MADISON, Jan. IA, 1870

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The people of Pierce county ought to
feel thankful that they live so far from
Madison, if the weather we have had
here for the last four days is Characters
tic of the city. Almost every graduation
and variation of atmospheric change
usually experienced, from clustering au-
tumD to talmy spring, has been ours
since last Tuesday. Rain, snow, sombre
clouds, and occasional glimmerings of
sunshine have alternated. Friday it
blows, SHOWS and freezes-to-morrow it
will probably rain.
Wednesday, at II o'clock NJ, the two
Legislative bodies convened 10 their re-
spective chambers. The senate was call
ed to order by Lt.-Gov. Thad. c. Pound.
The new senators were Immediately
''swo;n in" when the election Of chief
clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms was proceed
ed with. L. b. Hills was re elected
chief clerk and E. NJ. Rogers was made
Sergeant-at Arms.
The House was called TO order by E
W. Young, chief clerk of the last assem-
bly,. In the election of speaker, ]. NJ
Bingham, of Jefferson, was voted for en-
masse by the republicans, and A. S. San
burn, of Dane, by the democrats. Mr..
Bingham was elected, of course. Mr..
Young was reelected chief clerk and
Ole c. Johnson, of Dane, a prominent
candidate for State Prison Commissioner
before the republican state convention
last fall, was elected Sergeant-at-Arms.
Thursday at II A. N. the two Houses
listened, in joint convention, to the Gov
ernor's Message. The document is emf
nently clear and practical one-plain
and honest with every point touched up
on. As The message will probably be
reviewed elsewhere in the JOURNAL,
will not 90 farther into detail.
TIE state officers held reception in
the Historical Rooms last evening. Those
good men and their ladies good natured
" allowed them selves to be bored for
two or three hours by the usual hand
shaking and stereotyped phrases of con-
graduation. Afterward, very pleasant
dance was given in the Assembly Cham
Der, which was attended by the I" youth
and beauty" of the city, and by many of
the members of the legislature with their
wives. In the afternoon the Light Guard
band of Milwaukee came up, with de-
tachment of the Light Guards under
command Of Gen. Starkweather. This
morning the troops were reviewed by the
Governor aud state officers. These holi-
day soldiers looked very gay, dressed in
fine clothes, bespsngIed with gold lace
and tinsel, with weapons FURNISHED
bright aud no smell of burnt powder
about them, but it seemed almost like a
burlesque on the brave boys who few
years since were here. on their way to
battle and to death. Theirs was not the
pleasure trip of day, but before them
were long, weary marches, and all the
stern duties of war.
Yesterday the committees in the Sen.
ate, were announced. Senator Ives has
aplace on three of them, viz: Railroads;
Roads, Bridges and Ferries; and Con-
tingent Expenditures. The Assembly
committees will probably be announced
Monday evening, or Tuesday morning at
the fartherest. l have no doubt Hon.
o. s. Powell, from our county, will OBJ
tain a place on the Railroad committee
in this branch, as very properly be
should.
At 10 o'clock to-day the two houses
adjourned till Monday at z p NJ. Many
of the members have gone home and the
capitol is comparatively quiet.
A joke perpetrated by a number of Ia
dies of the city on their liege lords, is
creating a considerable amusement here
Mt present, and / may be psrdoned for
giving The substance of it. II seems
that about dozen of the most promi-
nent men of the city arranged for a
sleigh ride and oyster supper about ten
miles out of the city a few evenings since
which was 10 be very exclusive--no fem
mines. The ladies in some way learned
ab on II, and determined to circumvent
the selfish fellows. So they followed
them to the rendezvous and while they
were in the parlors, enjoying their wines
and cigars, the neglected wives, having
taken the landlord into their confidence,