La Crosse County, Wisconsin - The whole text, 1881 (part 4 of 16)

The military officers for 1S64 were besides the governor (who was comniander-in-chitf) Brigadier General Augustus Gaylord, adjutant general; Colonel S. Xye Gibbs, assistant adjutant general ; Brigadier General Xathanlel F. Lund, (.piarteriuasler and commissary general, and chief of ordnance; Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general; and Colonel Frank H. Firmin, military secretary. The legislature met at Madison on the 13th of January, 1864. "In response to the call of the General Government," said the governor, in hi^ message to that body, Wisconsin had sent to the field on the first day of Xovember last, exclusive of three months' men, thirty - four regiments of infantry, three regiments and one company of cavalry, twelve batteries of light artillery, three batteries of heavy artillery, and one company of sharpshooters, making an aggregate of forty-one thousand seven liundred and seventy-five men."

Quite a number of laws were passed at lhi= session of the legislature relative to military matters: three were acts to authorize towns, cities and villages to raise money by ta.x for the payment of bounties to volunteers; one revised, amended and consolidated all laws relative to vxlra pay to Wisconsin soldiers in the service of the United States; one provided for the proper reception by the State, of \\"isconsin volunteers returning from the field of service; another Te|)ea1ed the law relative to allotment commissioner^. One was passed authorizing the gu\- crnor to purchase fiags for regiments or batteries whose fiags were lost or destroyed in the service: another was passed amending the law ^uspending the sale ot lands mortgaged to the Stale or held by volunteers, so as to ajiply to drafted men; another pr(jvided for levying a State tax of $200,000 for the support of families of volunteers. -\ law was passed authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, and ajiproprlated ten tf.ousand dollars for that purpose. Two other acts authorizei-1 the borrowing of money for repelling invasion, su[)|)ressing insurrection, and defending the State iii time of war. One act proliibited the taking of fees for jirocuring volunteers' extra bounty ; another one defined the residence of certain soldiers from this St.;te in the service of the United States, who had received

At the conuneneeinent of iS64.'there were recruiting in the State tlie 'rhirty-fil'th regiment of infantry and the 'I'liirteenth battery. The latter was mustered in on the jgth of December, 1863, and left the State for New Orleans on the ;Sth of January, 1S64. In Feliruary, authority was given by the war deiiartment to organize the Thirty-si.\tli regiment of infantry. Ou the 27 til of tliat month, the mustering n of the Thirt\ -fifth was completed at '' Camp Washburn " - Colonel Henry Orff - the regiment, one tlnjusand and si\t}-si.\ stiong, leaving the State on the 18th of April, 1S64, for Ale.\;andria, Louisiana. The other regiments, recruited and mustered into the service of the United States during the year 1864, were: the Thirty-sixth - Colonel Frank A. Haskell; the Thirty->eventii - Colonel .Sam Harriman ; tire Thirty-eighth - Colonel James IJintliff ; the Thirty - nintli - Colonel l'",dwin L. Buttnck; the Fortieth - Colonel W. Augustus Ray; the Forty-first - Lieutenant Colonel George K. Goodwin; the Forty-second - Colonel Ezra T. S[irague; the Forty-third - Ci lonel .Vmasa Cobb.

The regiments mustered into the service of the United Slates during the year 1865 were: the F'orty-fourth - Colonel George C. Symes ; the I'orty-fifth - Colonel Henry F. ilelitz; F'ortysi.xth - Colonel Frederick S. Lovell ; Forty-seventh^Colonel George C. Ginty ; Forty-eighth - Colonel Uri Ij. Pear-.all ; F'ony-ninth - Colonel Samuel F'allows; Fiftieth - Colonel John G. Clark; Fitly-first - Colonel Leonard Martin ; Fifty-second^Lieutenanl Colonel Hiram J. Lewis ; and Fifty-third - Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Pugii.

All of the fifty-three regiments of infantry raised in Wisconsin during the war, sooner or later moved to the South and were engaged there in one way or other, in aiding to suppress the rebellion. Twelve of these regiments were assigned to duty in ihe eastern division, which constituted the territory on both sides of the Potomac and upon the seaboard from Baltimore to Savannah. These twelve regiments were: the First (three months). Second, Third, F"ourth, Fifth, Si-xth, Seventh, Nineteenth, Twenty-sixth, Tliirty-sixth, Thirty-seventh, and Thirty-eighth. Ten regiments were assigned to the central division, including Kentucky, Tennessee, Northern Alabama, and Georgia. These ten were: the Tenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-second, Twentyfourth, Thirtieth, Forty-third, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and F'orty-seventh. Added to these was the First (re-organizcd). Thirty-one regiments were ordered to the western division, embracing the counlrv west and nortliwest of the central division. These were : the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth. Fourtecniii, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenl)"-third, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-seventh, 'Lw erfty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, Thirty-third. Thirty-fourth, Tliirt\-fifth, Thirty-ninth, F'ortieth, Forty-first, Fortysecond, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-fir-t, Fifty-second, and Fifty-third. During the war several transfers were made from one district to another. There were taken from the eastern division, the Third and Twenty-sixth, and sent to the central division ; also the Fourth, which was sent to the department of the gulf. The 'Lwelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twent_\-fiflh, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second were transferred from the western to the central deparlnienl.

The four regiments of cavclry were assigned to the western division - the First regiment being afterward transfirred to tlie 1 entral divisiim. ( )f the tliirteen b.itteries of light artillery, the Set nml. Fourth, and l-;ie\ enth. were assigned to the eastern division ; the F'irst and Third, to '.lie central division ; tiie Fil'th, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth, to the western di\ision. During the war, the Fir-t was trausterred t') the we-lern di\ision; wh.ile ihe Fifth, Sixth. Eightii, Tenth, ;ir.d Tw elt'th, were transt'erred to the central division. C)f liie twelve batteries of the First regiment of hea\ y artillery - " .\," " V.," " F," "Ci," "FI," "I," K," '- L," and ".M," were assigned to dutv in the eastern division ; '" H '' and " C," to the central

The military officers ol the State tor 1S65 were the same as the previous year, except that Brigadier General Lund resigned his position as quartermaster general, James M. Lynch being appointed in his ]ilace. 'I'he legislature of this \ ear met in ^Lldison on the nth of January. "To the calls of the Government for troops," said Governor Leu'is, in his message, ''no State lias responded with greater alacrity than has 'Wisconsin. She has sent to the field, since the commenrement of the war, forty-four regiments of infantry, four regiments and one compan)- of cavalry, one regiment of hea\y artillery, tiiirteen batteries of light artillery, and one company of sharpshooters, making an aggregate (exclusive of hundred day men) of seventy-five thousand one hundred and thirty-three men."

Several military laws \\ere jKissed at this session: one authorizing cities, towns, and viliaces to pay bounties to volunteers; anotiier, incorporating the Wisconsin Soldiers' Home; two others, amending the act relative 'to the commencement and prosecution of civil actions against persons in the military service of the country." One was passed authorizing the payment of salaries clerk hire, and exjienses, of the offices of the adjutant general and quartermaster general from the war fund; another, amending the act authorizing commissioned officers to take acknowledgment of deeds, affidavits and depositions; anotiier, amending the act extending the ridu of suffrage to soldiers in the field. One act provides for correcting and comjileting the records of the adjutant general's office, relative to the military history of the individual members of the several military organizations of this State; another fixes the salary of the adjutant general and the quartermaster general, and their clerks and assistants; another prohibits volunteer or substitute brokerage. One act was fiassed supplementary and explanatory of a previous one of the same session, authorizing touns, cities, or villages, to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers; another, ameiiding a law of 1S64, relating to the relief of soldiers' families; and another, providing for the establishment of State agencies l"or the relief and care of sick, wounded, and disabled Wisconsin soldiers. 'I'l-.ere was an act also passed, authorizing the borrowing of money for a period not exceeding seven months, to reiiel invasion, suj)press insurrection, and defend the State in time of war, - tlic amount not to exceed §850,000.

On the 13th of A]iril, 1865, orders v.ere received to discontinue recruiting in Wisconsin, and to discharge all drafted men wiio had not been mustered in. About the first of ^Lty, orders were issued for the muster out of all organizations v.hose ter.m of service would expire on or before the first of the ensuing October. .\s a conseqiien( e, many ^Viscons:n soldiers were soon on their way home. State military otVicers devoted their time to the reception of returnin'^ regiments, to their payment by the United States, and to settling with those who were entitled to extra jjay from the State. Finally, their employment ceased - the last soldier was mustered out - the \\'ar of the Rebellion was at an end. Wisconsin had furnished to the federal army durinnthe conflict over ninety thousaml men, a considerable number more than the several requisitions of the General Government called for. Xe.irly eleven thousand of these were killed or died of wounds received in battle, or fell \ictims to diseases contracted in the military service, to sav nothing of those who diet: after their discliarge, and whose deaths do not appear ujion the military re< ords. Xe.irly twelve million dollars were expended by the State authorities, and the people of tile sever.d counties and towns tjiroughout the State, in their efforts to sustain the Nation.il Go\er:iment.

Wis, unsin leeis, as well she may, \.:r\u\ of her record made in defense of national existence. Shoulder to slioulder with the otiier lo\aI .-tales of the Union, she stood - always ranking among Ihe foremost. From her wurkshoiis, her larnis, her extensive pineries, she j.oured forth stalwart men, to fill up the organizations which she sent to the field. The blood of these brave men drenched almost every battle-field from Pennsylvania to the Rio Grande, from Missouri to Georgia. To chronicle the deeds and exploits - the heroic achievements - the noble enthusiasm - of the various regiments and military organizations sent by her to do battle against the hydralieaded monster secession - -would be a lengthy but pleasant task. ; but these stirring annals belong to the history of our whole country. Therein will be told the story which, to the latest time in the e.xistence of thi^ rejiuMic, will be re.id with wonder and astonishment. But an outline of the action of the State authorities and their labors, and of the origin of the various military organizations, in Wisconsin, to aid in the suppression of the rebellion, must needs rontain a reference to other heli>3 employed - mostly incidental, in many cases wholly charitable but none the less etTective : the sanitary operations of the State during the rebellion.

Foremost among the sanitary operations of 'Wisconsin during the war of the rebellion was tin: organization of the surgeon general's department - to the end that the troops sent to the field from the State should have a complete and adequate supply of medicine and instruments as \\ell as an efficient medical staff. In iS6i, Governor Randall introduced the practice of appointing agents to travel with the regiments to the tleld, who were to take charge of the sick. The practice was not continued by Governor Harvey. On the lyth of June, 1S62, an act of the legislature became a law authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of ^Visconsin, and appropriated twenty thousand dollars for that purpose. Under this law several expeditions were sent out of the State to look after the unfortunate sons who were fuffering from disease or wounds. Soldiers' aid societies were formed throughout the State soon after the opening scenes of tlie rebellion, ^^"hen temporary sanitary operations were no longer a necessity in A\"isconsin, tiiere followed two military benevolent institutions intended to be of a ]icrnianent character : the Soldier>' Home at Milwaukee, and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at M.ulison. The latter. ho\i-ever, has been discontinued. The former, started as a State institution, is now whollv under the direction and support of the General Government.

Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made on her by the General Governv.K-nt, in the courage or constancy of her soldiery in t'ne field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the tryir.g period covered by the war of the rebellion, Wisconsin proved herself the peer of an)' loyal State'.

We publish on the following pages the report of the Adjutant General at the close of the war, but before all the Wisconsin organizations had been mustered out. It shows that 85,000 brave men Were ready to forsake home, friends and the comforts of pcaeeful avocations, and ofJ'er their lives m (lelense ot their coiintr} 's honor. Twenty-two out of every hundred either died, were killed or wuuiuled. Thirtec;i out of every hundred found a soldier's grave, while only 60 per cent of them marched home at tlie end of the war. Monuments may crumble, cities fall into decay, the tooth of time leave its impress on all the works of man, but the memory of the gallant deeds of the army of the Union in the great war of the rebellion, in which the sons of Wisconsin bore so <;onspicuousa part, will live in the minds of men so long as time and civilized governments endure.

The inauguration of the iicwly elected State otficers took |ilace on Monday, January i, 1S66. The legislature, in its nineteenth regular bcssion, convened on the tenth. H. D. Barron was elected s|K.'aker of the a-,seni!)ly. The '" Union " and '" Republican " members were in a majority in both branihes of the legislature. " (3ur first duty," said Governor Fairchild in his nies-:age, '"is to give thank-, to Almighty Gijd for all lli^ mercies during the year that is past.'' " ']die people of no nation on eartii," he continued, " have greater cause to be thankful than have our peoi^lc. The enemies of the countr)- h.ive lieen overthrown in battle. The war has settled finall\- great (|uestions at issue between ourselves." Among the joint resolutions passed at this session was one submitting the question of a constitutional convention to frame a new ronstituti.iM fur the State, to the I'eople. The legislature adjourned on the twelfth of A[)ril, having been in session ninety-three days. At tfic general election in Xovember of this \ ear, there were elected tj the Fortieth congress : ll. E. P.iine, from the first district; JJ. F. Hopkins, fmrn the second; Amasa Cobli, from the third; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Pniletus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. All were republicans cxcein Kldredge, who was elected as a democrat. Tiie proposition for a constitutional convention was voted upon by the people at thi:, election, but was defeated.

The twentieth session of the legislature (ommenced on the ninth of January, 1SO7. Angus Cameron was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature was strongly '' Republican-Uniiin." The message of Governor Faireh.ild was read by him in person, on the tenth. On the trt enty-thiid, the two houses, in joint convention, elected Timothy O. Howe United States .senator for the term of si.x year?, conuneiicing on the fotirtl. of March next ensuiu'^. Thi? legislature p issed an act submitting to-the people at the ne.xt Fall election an amendment to Section twenty-one of article four of the constitution of the State, providing for payin"- a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars to each meinner of the legislature, instead of a /tv ific-z/i allowance, as previously given. .\ si/u- die a:lj lurnmeiu took place on the eleventh of April, after a service of iiinety-three days.

To provide fur tlie more eihcient collection of license fees due the State, an act, approved on the day of adj'iumment, authorized the governor to appoint an agent of the treasurv, to superintend and enforce the collection of fees die tor licenses fi.xed by law. This law i, still in force, the agent holding his ottire at the pleasure of the executive of the State.

On the 27th of .March. Chief Justice Dixun re.,igned his office but was immediately .tpjwintcd by the governor to tlie same position. .\t tiie election in .\pril following, associate Justice C^ole was re-elected, witiujut oppo-^'iiun, lor six years from the first Monday in January following. On the i6th of August, .-\^soclate Justice Downer having resigned, JJyron Paine was apiiuinted by the governor in his place.

The republican State ticket, in the Fall, w.is elected over the democratic - resultin"- in tlie choice of Lucius ]'"airchlld for governor : Spuoner, fur lieutenint governor; Thomas S. .\llen, Jr., secretary of state : William K. Smitii, ior state tre.isurer; Charle., R. Gill, for attorney general; .\. J. Craig, l"or superintendent of public in.-^truction ; Jeremi.ih NL Ru,k, for bank comptroller, and Henry ('(u-dier. lor state pris(m conimi?sioner. Except Craig, all tlie>o orti'LTs were the former iiu:umbent-. I'lie amendment to section 21 of article 4 of the <o:i.;uutinn of tl.e State, giving tlie members .i saLu) instead of a per liinn allowance was f.do.ited a,t liiu election. .\s it now st.iiuU. e.icli member of the legislature receives, for hu services, three iiundre.i and fifty doll.ir, rer annum, and ten cents for every mile he travels in goinu to and returning from the !>lace t.f the meetings oi the legislature, on the most usual route. In case of any extra session of the legislature, no additional compensation shall be allowed to any member thereof, either directly or indirectly.

The Eleventh Administration in Wisconsin commenced at noon on the 6th day of January, 1S6S. This was the commencement of Governor Fairchild's second term. On the eighth of January, 1S6S, began the twenty-iirst regular session uf tlie legislature of Wisconsin. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. Of the laws of a general nature passed by this legislature, was one abolishing the office of bank comiitrollc'r, tran>terring his duties to the state treasurer, and another providing for the establishing of libraries in tlic various townships of the State. A visible effect was produced by the constitutional amendment allowing members a salary, in abreviating this session, though not materially diminishing the amount of buMue-s transacted. A sine die adjournment took place on the si.xth of March.

At the election in April, 1S6S, Chief Justice Dixon was chosen for the unexpired balance of his own term, ending on the fir^t Monday of January. 187 = - At the same election, Byron Paine was cho'sen as=ociate justice fur the unexpired balance of Associate Ju-^tice Downer's term, ending the 1st day of Janu.iry, 1S72.

At the I'all election in thib year, republican electors were chosen over those upon the democratic ticket, for proident and vice prcbident ; and, as a consequence. Grant and Collax received the vote of Wisconsin. Of the members elected at the same time, to the forty-lir=t congress, all. but one were republicans - Eldredge being a democrat. The successful ticket was: H.'e. Paine, from the first district ; B. F. Hopkin.,, from the second; Amasa Cobb, from the third ; (\ A. Kldredgc from the fuunh; Philetus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. ^These were all memb.ers, form their rcsj.ective districts, in the previous congress - the onlv instance since Wisconsin became a State of a re-election of all the mcum-

On the thirteenth of January, 1S69, began the twenty-second regular session of the State legislature. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. A very important duty iinposed upon both houses was the election of a United States senator in the place of James R. Doolittle. The republicans having a majority m the legislature on joint ballot, the excitement among the members belonging to that party rose to a high pitch. The candidates for noinmation were Matthew H. C.upenter and C. C. Washburn. The contest was, uj. to that time, unparalleled in Wisconsin t"or the amount of personal interest manifested, lloth gentlemen had a large lobby influence assembled at Madison. Carpenter was successful before the republican nominating convention, on the sixth ballot. On the twenty-seventh ot January, the two houses proceeded to ratifv the nomination by electing him United States senator tor si.v years, Irom the fourth of March following. One of the most important transactions entered into by the legislature of 1S09 was the ratification of the suffrage amendment to the constitution ot the United States. }>,oth houses adiourned sine die on the eleventh of March - a very short session. At the sprin- election, on the V.th of April. Luther S. Dixon was re-elected without opposition, chiet juun'eof the su[.reme . ourt, for a term of six years, from the first Monday in January next ensuing. In the Fall, both democr.ats and republicans put a State ticket in the field lor the ensuing election: the republicans were successful, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor ; Th.iddeus C. Pound, lieutenant governor; l.lvuelyn r.rce-se, secretary of state ; Henry liaet/, state irea.urer ; S. S. Parlow. attornev general; george F. Wheeler, state pri.-.on commissioner: and A. L. Craig, superintendent of public instruction. The office of bank comptroller expired on the 31st day of December, 1S69, the duties of the office being transferred to tlie state

At this election, an amendment to sections 5 and 9 ot' article five of tiie constitution of the Slate was ratified and adopted by the people. L'nder this amendment, the governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual com[)ensation of five thousand dollars, which is in full for all traveling,' or other expenses incident to his duties. The lieutenant governor receives, durin;.; his continuance in office, an annual compensation of one thousand dollars.

On the third of Januar\-, 1S70, commenced the twelfth administration in Wisconsin, Governor Fairchild thus entering upon his third term as chief executive of the State; the onlyinstance since the admission of Wisconsin into the Union, of the same person being twice re-elected to that office. It was an empiiatic recognition of the value of his services in the gubernatorial chair. On the twelfth of Januar\-, the twenty-tliird regular session of the legislature of the State commenced at Madison. James M. Bingham was elected speaker of tiie assembly. Before the expiration of the month. Governor Fairchild received official information that over two hundred thousand dollars of the war claim of Wisconsin upon the General Government had been audited, considerable more than one hundred thousand having the ]irevious year been allowed. In the month of March, an energetic effort was made in the legislature, by members from Milwaukee, to remove the seat of government from Madison to their city ; but the ]iroject was defeated by a considerable majority in the assembly voting to postpone the matter indefinitely. According to section eiiiht of article one of the constitution, as originally adopted, no jierson coukl be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on the presentment or indictment of a grand jury, excejit in certain cases therein s[/ecified. The legislature of 1S69 proposed an amendment again'-tthe ''grand jury system " of the constitution, and referred it to the legislature of 1S70 t'or tiieir approval or rejection. The latter took up the proposition and agreed to it by the proper majorilx', and submiti-cd it to the people at the next election for their ratification. The sine die adjournment of botli houses tijok place on the seventeenth of March, 1S70. On the fir?t day of January, iire\ious, tlie member of congress from the second district of the State, I!. F. Hopkins, died, and l)avid .Vtwuod, repulilican, was elected to fill the vacancy on the fifteenlli of February fi'ljowing.

Early m 1870, was organi.^ed the " W i-,coiisiii Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters." By an act of the legi>!ature approved .Marc ii 16, til tii.U year, it was incorporated, liaving among its specific objects, re>earches and invcMig.ition^ in the various dei>artinents of the material, ethical, etlmolog-cal and soci.il science^; a progressive and thorough scientific survey >'f the State, with a view of determining its miner.d. agricultural and other resources; the .ulvancemeiit <jf the useful arts, through the appli( .i;ion of science, and by the encouragement "f original invention; tiie encour.igemei-.t iT the fine arts, by means of honors and pri/es award.ed to arti-ts for original wurk-^ of superior merit; the formation of scientific, economical and .irt inuveums; the encouragement of ph.ilolngical and historical research; the c.jllection and preservation of historic record-, and the lorinatiun of a general library; and the dllTusion of kninviedg.; by the publication of original Cijiunbatioiis to science, literature and the art<. The ac.idemy iias alre.idy published tiiree vulumes i.f transactions, under authority c.f the State.

Aviscoxsix As A State

On the third day of July, 1S70, A. J. Craig, superinteinlent of public instruction, died of and Samuel Fallows was, on the 6th of that mo ith, appointed by the governor to fill the place made vacant by his death. The census taken tins year by the General Government, showed the population of Wisconsin to be over one million sixty-four thousand. At the Fall election for members to the forty-second congres-, .-Vlexander Mitchell was chosen to represent the first district; G. AV. Hazelton, the second; J. A. Barber, the third; C. .\. Eldredge, the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, the fifth ; and J. M. Rubk, the sixth district, ^vlitchell and Eldredge were democrats; tlie residue were republicans. The amendment to section S, of article 7 of the. constitution of the State, abolishing the grand jury system was ratified by a lar"e majority. Under it, no jjcrsun shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law, and no person, for the same offense, shall be put twice in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is evident and the presumption great ; and the jirivilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless, when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.

Governor Fairchild, in his last annual message to the legislature, delivered to that body at its twenty-fourth regular session beginning on the eleventh of Januar}', i87i,said that Wisconsin State polity was so wisely adapted to the needs of the people, and so favorable to the growth and prosperit\- of the commonwealth, as to require but few changes at the hands of the legislature, and those rather of detail than of system. At the commenceuK-nt of this session, William E. Smith was elected speaker of the assembly. A very carefully-perfected measure of this legislature was one providing for the trial of criminal offenses on information, without the intervention of a Grand Jury. A state commissioner of immigration, to be elected by the people, was provided for. Both bodies adjourned siiu die on the twenty-fifth of March. On the thirteenth Januarv preceding, Associate Justice Byru 1 Paine, of the bupreme court, died; whereupon the governor, on the 20th of the same month, appointed in his place, until the Spring election should be held. William Penu Lyon. The latter, at the election in April, was chosen by the jieople to serve the uncxiiired time of Associate Justice Paine, ending the first Monday of Janojary, 1S72, and for a full term of six years from the same date. On the 3d of April, Ole C. Johnson was appointed by the governor state commissioner of immigration, to serve until his successor at the next general election could be chosen by the [leople. To the end that the of public charity and correction should tiiereafter be conducted upon sound principles of economy, justice and humanity, and that the relations existing between the State and its dependent and criminal classes might be better understood, there was, by an act of the legislature, approved March ;3. 1S71, a "state board of charities and reform" created - to consist of five members to be aiipointed by the governor of the State, the duties of the members being to investigate and su[>ervise the whole system of charitable and correctional institutions supported by the State or receiving aid from the State treasury, and on or before the first day of December in each year to report their proceedings to the executive of the State. This board was thereafter duly organized and its members have since reported annually to the governor their proceedings and the amount of their expen-es, as required by law.

The "Wisconsin State Horticultural Society." although previously organized, first under the name of the " \\'i^consin Fruit Growers" Association,'' was not incorijorated until the 24th of March, 1871 - the oliject of trie society being to improve the condition of horticulture, rural ndornment and landscape gardeni:ig. By a law of iS6S, provision was made for the publication of the society's transactions in connection with the State agricultural society; but by the act of 1S71, thn law was repealed and an appropriation made for their yearly publication in separateform; resulting in the issuing, up to the presen'. time, of seven volumes. The society holds annual meetings at ?>[adison.

At the Xoveml.ier election both republicans and democrats had a full ticket for the suffrages of the people. The republicans were successUd, electing for governor, C. C. Washburn; M. H^ Pettitt, for lieutenant governor; Llywtlyn Ilreese, for secretary of state ; Henry Baetz, for state treasurer; Samuel Fallows, for superintendent of public instruction; S. S. Jjarlow, for attorneygeneral ; O. F. ^\'heeler, for state prison commissioner ; and O. C. Johnson, for state coinmis^ sioner of immigratiiju. .\t this election an amendment to article four of the constitution of the State -was ratified and aiJopted by the [jeople. As it now stands, the legislature is prohibited from enacting any s[)ecial or private laws in the following cases : 1st. For changing the names of persons or constituting one person the heir-at-law of another. :;d. For laying out, opening, or altering highways, except in cases of State roads c.\tending into more than one county, and military roads to aid in the construction of which lands may be granted by congress. 3d. Forauthorizing persons to keep ferries acrObS stream>, at points wholly within this State. 4th. For authorizing the sale or mortgage of real or personal property of minors or others under disability. Sth. For locating or changing any county seat. 6th. For assessment or collection of ta.xes or for extending tlie time for the collection tliereof. 7th. For granting corporate powers or privileges,, exrejit to cities. Sth. ]-"or authorizing the apportionment of any part of the school fund. 9th. For incorporating any town or village, or to amend the charter thereof. The legislature shall pr()\ide general laws for the transaction of any business that may be prohibited in the foregoing cases, and all such laws shall be uniform in their operation throughout the State.

Industrially considered, the year 1871 had but little to distinguish it from the avera-'e of ])reviovis years in the State, except that the late frosts of Spring and thedrouth of Summer diminished somewhat the yield of certain croiis. With the exception of slight showers of onlv an hour or two's duration, in the month of September, no rain fell in Wisconsin from the eighth of July to , the ninth of October - a period of three months. Tiie consequence was a most calamitous event which will render the year 187: memorable in the history of the State.

The great drouth of the Summer and Fall dried up the streams and swamps in Northern Wisconsin. In the forests, the fallen leaves and tinderbrush which covered the ground became very'ignitable. The ground itself, especially in cases of alluvial or bottom lands, was so dry and parched as to burn readily to the depth of a foot or more. F"or many days preceding the commencement of the second week in October fires swci.t through the timbered country, and in some instances over prairies and " o[)enings." Farmetb, saw-mill owners, railroad men and all others interested in exposed property, labored day and night in contending against the advance of devouring fires, which were destroying, notwith.-,tanding the ceaseless energies of the people, an occasional mill or house and sweeping off, here and there, fences, haystacks and barns. Over the counties lying upon Oreen bay and a portion of those contiguous thereto on the south, southwest and west, hung a general gloom. Xo rain came. All energies were exhausted from " fighting; fire." The atmosphere was every wiiere permeated with smoke. The v.aters of the bay and even I.ake .Michigan, in [ilaces, were so enveloped as to render na\ igation ditricuU and in some inbtances dangerous. It finally became very diftrcult to travel upon highways and on railroads. 1 line drew on - but there came no rai.n. The gr..uind in very many ])laces was burned over. I'ersons sought refugt- - ^nme in excavations in the earth, others in wells.

I he counties ol (.)conto, I'.rown, Kewaunee, l)oor, Manitowoc, Outagamie and Shawano were all more or less swept by thi-> besom of destruction ; but in Oconto couiU\, and for some distance into Menomonee county, Michigan, across the Mcnoaionee river, on the we=l shore of tiie bay and throughout the whole leng-th and breadth of the peninsula, - that is, the territory lying between the bay and Lake Michigan, - the fires were the most devastating. The first week in October passed ; then came an actual whirlwind ot" fire - ten or more miles in width and c>{ indefinite length. The manner of its progress was extraordinary. It destroyed a vast amount of property and many li\-es. It has been described as a tempestuous sea of flame, accompanied by a most violent hurricane, which m!ilti[.)lied the force of the destructive element. Forests, farm improvements and entire villages were consumed. Men, women and children perished - awfullv perished. Even those who fled and souglu refuge from the fire in cleared fields, in swamps, lakes and rivers, found, many of them, no safety there, but were burned to death or died of suffocation.

This dreadful and consuming fire u as heralded by a sound likened to that of a railroad train - to the roar of a waterfall - to the noise of a battle at a distance. Not human beings only, but horses, o.xen, cows, dogs, swine - every thing that had life - ran to escape the impending destruction. The smoke was suffocating and blinding ; the roar of the tempest deafening ; the atmosphere scorching. Children were separated from their parents, and trampled upon by crazed beasts. Husbands and wives rushed in xvild dismay, they knew not where. Death rode triumphantly upon that devastating, fiery flood. More than one thousand men, women and children jierished. More than three thousand were rendered destitute - -utterly beggared. Mothers were left with fatherless children ; fathers with motherless children. Every where were homeless orphans. -All around lay suffering, helpless humanity, b\irned and maimed. Such was the sickening spectacle after the impetuous and irresistible wave of fire swept over that portion of the State. This appalling calamity happened on t'.ie 8th and 9th of October. The loss of property has been estimated at four million dollars.

At the tidings of this fearful visitation, Governor Fairchild hastened to the burnt district, to assist, as much as was in his power, the distressed sufferers. He issued, on the 13th of the month, a stirring appeal to the citizens of Wisconsin, tor aid. It was prom[jtly responded to from all jjortions of the State outside the devastated region. Liberal conrributions in money, clothing and provisions were sent - some from other States, and even from foreign countries. Northwestern Wisconsin alsf) suft'ered severely, during these months of drouth, froin large fires,

A compilation of the public statutes of Wisconsin was prepared during the year iS7i,by David Tayor, and published in two volumes, generally known as the Revised Statutes of 1871. It was wholly a private undertaking ; but the legislature authorized the secretary of state to purchase five hundred copies for the use of the State, at its regular session in 1872.

The thirteenth gubernatorial administration in \Visconsin commenced on Monday, January I, 1S72. The only changes made, in the present administration from ^the previous one, were ii\ the oftices of governor and lieutenant governor.

Tlie twenty-fit'th regular session of the legislature began on the lotli of January, with a, republican majority in botii houses. Daniel Hall was elected spe.aker of the assembly. The next day the governor delivered to a joint convention of the legislature his first annual mes^a^e - a lengthy document, settmg forth in detail the general condition of Stale aflairs. The recent great conflagrations were leferred to. and relief suggested. The work of this session of the Leg^ islature was jieculiarly diflicult, owing to the many general laws which the last constitutional amendment made necessary. The apportionment of the State into new congressional districts was another peri)le.\ing and onerous task. Eight districts were formed instead of six, as at the commenceinentof the last decade. By this, the fourth congressional apportionment, each district elects one membtr. The first district consists of tlie counties of Rock, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, and Waukesha; the second, of Jefferson, Dane, Sauk, and Columbia; the third^of Grant, IijuM, LaFayette, Green, Richland, and Crawford; the fourth, of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and \\'ashin^toii; the fifth, of 1 )(>di;e, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Manitouoc ; the sixth, of Green Lake, AVaushara, Waupai a. Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Brown, Kewaunee and Door; the seventh, of Vernon, L.i Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Eau Claire, and Cl.irk ; the eighth, of Oconto, Shawano, Portage, AVood, Juneau, Adams, Marquette, Marathiin, Dunn, Chippewa, Barron, Polk, Burnett, Bayfield, Douglas, and Ashland. To this district have since been added the new counties of Lincoln and Taylor.

After a session uf seventy-seven days, the legislature finished its work, adjourning on the tu-enty-seventh of March. At the ensuing N'o\ ember election, the republican ticket for president and vice of the United States was successful. The ten electors chosen cast their votes in the electoral college for Grant and \\"i'son. In the eight congressional districts, six rei'ublicans and two democrats were elected to the forty-third congress ; the last mentioned from the fourth and fifth districts. C. G. AVilliams represented the first district; G. W. Hazelton the second; J. .Mien Barber the third; Alexander Mitchell the fourth; C. .V. Eldredge the fifth ; Philetus Saw yer the sixtli ; J. ^L Rusk the seventh ; and A. G. McDill the eighth district.

Throughout \\'i-;ronsin, as in all portions of the Union outside the State, a singular pestilence prevailed aniruig horses in the months of November and December, 1S72, very few escaping. Horses kept in warm, well ventilated stables, avoiding currents of air, with little or no medicine, and fed uiion nutritious and laxative I'ood, soon recovered. Although but few died, yet the loss to the State was considerable, especially in villages and cities, resulting from the difficulty to substitute other animals in the place of the horse during the continuance of the disease.

The twenty-sixth regular session of the State legislature commenced on the eighth day of Jaiuui'-y, 1873, "'''i -'' republican majority in both houses. Henry D. Barron was elected speaker of the as-^embly. On the ninth. Governor AVashburn's message - his second annual one - was delivered to the two houses. It opened with a brief reference to the abundant returns from agricultural pursuits, to the developments of the industries of the state, to the advance in manufacturing, to the rapid extension in railways, and to the general and satisfactory progress in education, throughout Wisconsin. He followed with several recommendations - claiming that '"many vast and overshadowing corporations in the I'nited States are justly a source of alarm," and that "the legislature can not scan too closelv every measure that should ctune before it which proposed to give additional rights and pri\ileges to the railways of the state." He also recommended that the " granting of passes to the class of state officials who, through their public otfice, have power to confer or withhold benefits to a railroad comjianv, be prohibited." The iiie->age was favoralily commented upon b} the press of the state, of all parties. " If Governor ^\'a^hburn," says one of the opposition papers of his administration, " is not a great statesman, he is certainly not a small politician." One of the first measures of this legislature was the elec- (inn of Ll^nited States senator, to fill the place of Timothy O. Howe, whose term of office would expire on the fourth of March next ensuing On the twenty-second of January the two houses met in joint con\ention, when it was announced that by the previous action of the senate and assemlily, Timothy O. Howe was again elected to that office for the term of si\ years. Un the tuentieth of March, the legislature adjourned si/n du\ after a session of seventy-tuo days.

Milton H. Pettitt, the lieutenant governor, died on the :;jd da\- of March lulloning the adjournment. By this sudden and unexpected death, the State lost an upright and conscientious public officer.

Among the important acts passed by this legislature was one providing for a geological survey of the State, to be begun in Asliiand and Douglas counties, and conqjleted within four years, by a chief geologist and four assi^itants, to be a])pointed by the governor, approjjriating for the work an annual [laymcnt of thirteen thousand dollars. An act providing for a ueological survey, of the State, pas'^cd by the legi>ljture, and approved March 25, 1S53, authorized the governor to appoint a state geologist, who was to select a suitable jjcrson as assistant geologist. Their duties v.cre to make a geological and mineralogical survey of the State. Under this law Edward Daniels, on the first day of Ajiril, 1S53, was appointed state geologist, superseded on the 12th diy of August, 1854, by James Ci. Percival, who died in oftice on the 2d of May, 1S56, at Hazel Green. By an act approved Marcli 3, 1S57. James Hall, Ezra Carr and Edward Daniels were appointed by the legislature geological commissioners. By an act approved Ai)ril 2, r36o, Hall was made principal of the commission. The sur\ey was interrupted by a re;ieal, March 21, 1862, of previous laws promoting it. However, to complete the survey, the matter was reinstated by the act of this legislature, appro\ ed March 29, the governor, under that act, ajjpointing as chief geologist Increase A. Lajiham, Ajiril 10, 1S73.

Another net changed the management of the state prison - providing for the appointment by the governor of three directors; one for two years, one for four years, and one for si.x years, in place of a state prison commissioner, who had been elected -by the people every two years, along with other ofhcers of the State.

At the Spring election, Orsamus Cole, who had been eighteen years upon the bench, was re-elected, without ojjposition, an associate justice of the supreme court, for a term of si.x years from the first Monday in January following. The two tickets in the field at the Fall election were the republican and the people's reform. The latter was successful ; the political scepter pissing out of the hands of the republicans, after a supremacy in the State continuing unbroken since the beginning of the seventh administration, when A. W. Randall (governor for a second term) and the residue of tlie State officers were elected - all republicans.

The general success among the cultivators of the soil thuiughout the state during the year, notwithstanding "the crisis," was marked and satisfactory; but the financial disturbances during the latter part of the Fall and the first part of the ^Vinter, resulted in a general depreciation of prices.

The fourteenth administration of Wisconsin commenced at noon on Monda\, tile fifth dav of January, 1S74, by the inau-uraiion of \\'iiliam P>.. Taylor as governor; Charles D. Parker, lieutenant governor; Peter Doyle, secretary of state; Ferdinand Kuehn, state treasurer; Scott Sloan, attorney general; Edward Searing, superintendent of public instruction; and Martin J. Argard, state commissioner cif immigration. Tlicse ofticers were not elected by any distinctive political [larty as such, but as the representatives of a new pi.iliiical organization, including "all Democrats, Liberal Republicans, and other electors of \\"isconi*in, friendly to genuine reform through ecpial and impartial legislation, honesty in ottice, and rigid e' onijmy in the administration of affairs." Among the marked characteristics of the platturm agreed iijion by the convention nominating the above-mentioned ticket «as a iKclaration by the members that they would " vote lor no candidate for office wiiuse nomination i> the fniit of his own importunity, or of a corrupt combination among partisan leaders;" another, " that the sovereignty of the State o\er corporations of Us own creation shall be sacredly respected, to the full extent of protecting the jieople against every form of monoi>oly or extortion," not den\ ing, liouever, an encouragement to wholesome enterprise on tlie part of aggre- gated capital - this "plank" having special reference to a long series of alleged grievances assumed to have been endured by the people on account of discriminations in railroad charges and a consequent burdensome taxation upon labor - esiiecially upon the agricultural industry of the State.

The twenty-seventh regular session of the AVisconsin legislature commenced at Madison on the fourteenth of January. The two houses were politically antagonistic in their majorities; the senate was republican, while the assembly had a " reform " majorit)'. In the latter branch, Gabriel Bouck was elected speaker. Governor Taylor, on the fifteenth, met the legislature in joint convention and delivered his message. " .\n era," said he, "of api^arent prosperity without parallel in the previous history of the nation, has been succeeded by financial reverses affecting all classes of industry, and largely modifying the standard of values." "Accompanying these financial disturbances," added the governor, " has come an imperative demand from the people for a purer political morality, a more equitable apportionment of the burdens and blessings of government, and a more rigid economy in the administration of public affairs."

Among the important acts passed by this legislature was one generally known as the "Potter Law," from the circumstance of the bill being introduced by Robert L. D. Potter, senator, representing the twenty-fifth senatorial district of the state. The railroad companies for a number of years had, as before intimated, been com[ilained of by the people, who charged them with unjust discriminations and e.xorbitantly high rates for the transportation of passengers and merchandize. All the railroad charters were granted by acts at different times of the State legislature, under the conNtitution which declares that " coriiorations may be formed under general laws, but shall not be created by a special act, except for municipal purposes and in cases where, in the judgment of the legislature, the objects of the corporations can not be attained under general laws. All general laws, or special acts, enacted under the provisions of this section, may be altered or repealed by the legislature at any time after their passage." The complaints of the ]ieople seem to have remained unheeded, resulting in the passage of the "Potter l^aw." This law limited the compensation for the transportation of passengers, classified freight, and regulated prices for its transportation witliin the State. It also required the governor on or before the first of May, 1874, by and with the consent of the senate, to appoint three railroad commissioners; one for one year, one for two years, and one for three years, whose terms of office should commence on the fourteenth day of May, and that the governor, thereatler, on tlie first day ot May, of each year, should appoint one commissioner for three years. Under this law, the governor appointed J. H. Osborn, for three years; George H. Paul, for two years ; and J. W. Hoyt, for one year. Under executive direction, this commission inaugurated its labors by compiling, classifying, and putting into convenient form for public use for the first time, all the railroad legislation of the State.

At the outset the two chief railroad corporations of the State - the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul, and the Chicago and Xorthuestern - served formal notice ui^on the governor of Wisconsin that they would not respect the provisions of tlie new railroati law. Under his oath of office, to support the constitution of the State, it was the duty of Governor Taylor to expedite all such measures .as should be resolved ujKm by the legislature, and to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. No alternative, therefore, was \c''t the chief e\ecuti\e but to enforce the law by all the means placed in his hands for tliat purpose. He pronqitly resjujnded to the notification of the railroad com[)anIes by a proclamation, d.iied .May i, i"^74, in which he enjoined compliance with the statute, declaring that all the functions of his office would be exercised in faithfully executing the laws, and invoki.g the aid of all good citizen^ tiiercto. "The law of the land," said Governor Taylor, " must be respected and obeyed." " While none," continued he,

Wiscoxsix As A State

are so weak as to be without its protection, none are so strong as to be above its restraints. If provisions of the law be deemed oppressive, resistance to its mandates will not abate, but rather multiply the anticipated evils." '" It is the right," he added, '"of all to test its validity through the constituted channels, Ivat with that right is coupled the duty of yielding a general obedience to its requirements until it has been pronounced in\-a!id by competent authority."

The railroad companies claimed not merely the unconstitutionalitv of the law, but that its enforcement would bankrupt the comi'anies and suspend the O[ieration of their lines. The !;overnor, in reply, pleatied the inviolability of his oath of office and his jjledged faith to the peojile. The result was an appeal to the courts, in which the State, under the direction of its governor, was compelled to confront an array of the most formidable legal talent of the country. Upon the result in Wisconsin depended the vitality of much similar legislation in neighboring S:ates, and Governor Taylor and his associate repre5entati\'es of State authority were thus compelled to bear the brunt of a controversy of national extent and consequence. The contention e.xtended lioth to State ,;nd United States courts, the main ipiestion involved being the constitutional power of the State over corporations of its own creation. In all respects, the State was fully sustained in its prjsition, and, ultimately, judgments were rendered against the corporations in all the State and federal courts, including the supreme court of the United States, and establishing finally the complete and absolute power of the people, throLigh the legislature, to modify or altogether repeal the charters of corporations.

Another act of the session of 1S74 abolished the office of State commissioner of immigration, "on and after" the first Monday of January, 1870. The legislature adjourned on the twelfth of March, 1S74, after a session of lll'ty-eight days.

The office of state prison commissioner having, by operation of law, become vacant on the fifth day of January, i''^74, the governor, on the twenty-third of that m<;iulh, appointed for State ]>rison directors, Joel Rich, for twj years; William K. Smith, for four years; and N'elson Dewey, for si-\ years: these to take the place of that officer.

On the si-xteenth of June, Chief Justice Dixon, vihose term of office would have expired on the first Monday in Jauuarj', 1S76, resigned his seat upon the bench of the supreme court, Taylor appointing F.dwarJ fi. Ryan in his [ilace until his successor should be elected and qualified. .\t the Xovember electiuu of this year, the members chosen to the forty-fourth congress were - Charles Cr. Willi.uus, t'rom the fir--t district; I.ucuau H. Caswell, from the second; Henry S. M.igoon, from the third; \\'illian\ Pitt Lynde, I'rom the fourtli; Samuel D. Burchard, from the filth; .\. M. Kirnbill, from tlie sixth; Jeremiah M. Rusk, from the seventh, and George W. Cate, from the eighth district. L} nde, Hurchard and Cate were " reform ; " the residue were repulilican.

At the same election, an amendment to section 3 of article 11 of the constitution of the State was duly ratified and ado[ited b)- the people. L'nder tliis section, as it now stands, it is the duty of the legislature, and they are by it empowered, to provide for the organization of cities and incorporated villages, and to restrict their power of taxation, assessment, borrowing money, contracting debt^, and loaning their credit, so as to prevent abuses in assessments and tix.ition, and in contr.uting debts, by such municii>al cor[iorations. No countv. city, town, vill.ige, school district, or otlier municui- corjxjr.Uioii, shall be allowed to become indebted in any manner, or for any pur[K)se, to i'" ..ount, including existing indebtedness in the aggregate, ext'eeding five per centum on the vai »e of tiie taxable pro[)erly therein, to be ascertained by the List ;issessment for State arid county t.ixes previous to the incurring uf such indebtedness. Any county, city, town, village, school district, or other municiiial corjjor.ition, incurring any indebtedness as aforesaid, sh.ill, before, or at tiic time of doing so, provide tor the collection of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay thu interest on such dclit as it tails due, and also to pay and disciiargethe principal thereof within twenty years front the time of contractinij the same.

In 1S7;, the lir^t appropriation for fish culture in Wisconsin was made by the legislature, subject to the dlrectioa "f the I'nited States commissioner of fisheries. In 1S74, a further sum was appropriated, and the governor of the State authorized to appoint three commissioners, whose duties were, upon receiving any s[)awn or llsh, b}' or through the United States commissioner of nsh and fishi-rie.s, to imniediately place such spawn in the care of responsible pisciculturists of the State, to be hatched and distributed in the different waters in and surrounding Wisconsin. Two more members have since been added by law to the commission; their labors have been much extended, and liberal appropriations made to further the object they have ia view - with fl.ittering prospects of tlieir luially being ah'le to stock the streams and lakes of the State with the Ijest varieties of food llsli.

The year 1874, in ^\'isConsin, was characterized as one of general prosperity among farmers, excepting tlie growers of wlieat. The crop of that cereal was light, and, in places, entirely destrox'ed by the cliiiich-bug. As a consC'pience, icnsi ler.Uile depression existed in business in. the wheat-growirig districts. Trade and commerce continued throughout the vear at a low ebb, the direct result of the monetary crisis of 1S73.

The legislature commenced its twenty-eighth regular session on the thirteenth of January, 1S75, with a rei>ublican majority in both houses. F. \V. Horn was elected speaker of the asseinbly. The governor delivered his message in person, on the fourteentii, to the two houses. "Thanking God for. all blis mercies," are his oiiening words, " I congr.itidate you that order and jieace reign throughout the length and breadth of our State. Our material prosiiciity has not fulfilled our anlici[)atiohs. But let us remember tiiat v,e bear no burden of financial depression not common to all the States, and that the penalties of foli\ are the foundation of wisdom." In regard to the " Putter Law," the governor said, " It is not my opinion that this law expressed the best judgment of the legislature wliicli enacted it. While the general principles upon w-hich it is founded comm.uid our unqualit'ied approbation, and can never be surrendered, it must be accomplished by our people, "continued the speaker, "is not the in.magement ot railroad property by themselves, bat to prevent its mismanagement by others." Concerning the charge that ^\'isconsin was warring upon railwa;.s with.in her limits, the governor added, " She has never liro|K)sed such a \var. She proposes none now. She asks only hor.esty, justice and the peace of mutual good will. To ail men concerned, her people ^ay in sincerity and in trutli that every dollar invested in our State sliall be l.iwfally entitled to its just protection, whencesoever the danger comes. In demanding justice for all, the State will deny justice to none. In forbidding misinan;;gement, the State will impose no restraints upon any management that is h nest and jiist. In this, the moral and lieretlitary instincts of our peo[)le i'urnisii a stronger bond of good faiih than the judgments of coLirts or the oblig.itions of paper constitutions. II':iiiest capital in.iy I'e timi.l and easily frightened; yet it is more certain to seek investment among a people whosj i.iws ,ire at all times a siiield for the weak and a reliance for the strong - where the wholesome restriints of judicious legislatiijn are felt alike by the ex iked and the humble, the ricli .uid the poor,"

The first important business to be transacted by this legislature was the election of a United States senator, as the term lor whi. li M. H Carpenter had been elected would expire on the fourth ol .Marcii ensuin,'. Much interest was manifested in the matter, not on:_\- in tlie twoluiiises, but throughout the State. There was an es[.ecial reason for this; for, although the then.

incumbent was a candidate for re-election, with a republican majority in the legislature, yet it was well known tliat enough luenibers of that party were pledged, before the commencement of the session, to vote against him, to secure his defeat, should they stand firm to their pledges. The republicans met in caucus and nominated Carpenter for re-election; but the recalcitrant members held themselve;, alo.-f \ow, according to usual precedents, a nomination by the dominant party was equivalent to an election ; not so, however, in this case, notwithstanding the friends of the nominee felt sanguine of his election in the end. The result of the first ballot, on the twenty-si.xth of January, was, in the senate, thirteen for the republican candidate ;' in the assembly, forty-six votes, an aggregate of only fifty-nine. Me lacked four votes in the assembly and an equal number In the senate, of having a majority ..i each house. On the twenty-seventh, the two houses, in joint convention, hiving met to compare the record of the voting the day and It appearing that no one person had received a majority of the votes in erch house for United States senator, they proceeded to their first joint ballot. The result was, no election. The balloting was continued each day, until the third of February, when, on the eleventh joint trial. Angus Cameron, of LaCrosse, having received sitxty-eight votes, to Carpenter's fifty-nine, with five scattering, was declared elected.

As in the previous session so in this, - one of the most absorbing subjects before the legislature was that of railroads; the '- Potter Law" receiving a due share of attention in both ho'lises. The result was an amendment in some important particulars without changing the right of State control : rates were modified. The law as amended was more favorable t^'o the railroad companies and was- regarded as a compromise. The legislature adjourned si,u- die on the 6th of March. This was the shortest session ever held in the State except one of twenty-five years previous.

On the i6th of February, O. W. Wight was appointed by the governor chief geologist of "Wisconsin, In place of 1. A. Fapham, whose appointment had not been acted upon by the Senate. On the 24th of the same month, J. W . Hoyt was appointed railroad commi.ssloner for three years from the fir.t day of M.xx .-ollouing, on which day his one-year term in the same office would expire. .\t the regular Spring election on the 6th of April following, Edward C. Ryan was elected, without opposition, chief justice of the supreme court for the unexpired term of Chief Justice Dixon, ending the fir,^t Monday in January, 1S76, and for a full term of six years from the last mentioned date; so that his present term of office will expire on the i^t Monday in Januarv, iSS;. An act providing for taking tlie census of Wisconsin on or before the ist of July, 1875, was j.assed by the legislature and approved the 4th of March pievious. It required an enumeration of all the inhabitants of the State except Indians, who were not entitled to the right of suftrage. The result of this enumeration gave a total population to Wisconsin of one million two hundred and tiiirty-slx thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine.

At the November election, republic.m and "reform" tickets were in the field for State oflicers, resulting in the success of the latter, except as to governor. For this office Flarrlson Ludington was chosen by a majority, according to the State board of canvassers, over William R. Taylor, of eight hundred and f;rtv-one. The rest of the candidates elected were- Charles 1). Parker, lieutenant governor; Peter Doyle, serretars of state, Ferdinand Kuehn, treasurer of state, A. Sr,,:t Sloan, attorney general; and Edward Scaring, superintendent of public instruction. 1 lie art abolishing the office of state commissione. of immigration was to tike effect "on and after" the close of this administration; so, o, course, no person was voted for to fill that position at the I'all election of 1S75.

During this administration the principle Involved in a long-pending controversv between the State and Minnesota relating to valuable harbor privileges at the head of Lake Superior was suc- -cessfuliy and linally settled ,n favor of Wisconsin. The Infiuence of the executive was 1 ir ^ely instrumental in initiating a movement which resulted in securing congressional appropriations amounting to $Soo,ooo to the Fox and Wisconsin river improvement. A change was inaugurated in the whole system of timber agencies over State and railroad lands, by which the duties of agents were localized, and efficiency was so well established that many important trespasses were brought to light from which over §60,000 in penalties was collected and paid into the Treasury, while as much more was subseqiientlv realized from settlements agreed upon and proceedings instituted. By decisive action on the part of the governor an unsettled printing claim of nearly a hundred thousand dollars was met and del'eated in the courts. During this period also appropriations were cut down, and the rate of taxation diminished. Governor Taylor bestowed unremitting personal attention to details of business with a view of promoting the public interests with strict economv, while his countenance and support was extended to all legitimate enterprises. He re'juired the \Vi-.consin Central railroad company to give substantial assurance that it would construct a branch line from Stevens Point to Portage City as contemplated by congress, before issuing certificates for its land grants.

The closing vear of the century of our national existence - 1S75, was one somewhat discouraging to certain branches of the agricultural interests of ^\'isconsin. The previous Winter had been an unusually severe one. A greater breadth of corn was planted than in any previous year in the State, but the unusually late season, followed by frosts in August and September, entirely ruined thousands r^f acres of that staple.

The fifteenth administration of Wisconsin commenced at noon on M^mday, January 3, 1876, by the inauguration of State officers - Harrison Ludington, as previously stated, having been elected upon the republican ticket, to fill the chief executive ofrice of the State ; the others, to the residue of the offices, upon the democratic reform ticket: the governor, like three of his predecessors - Farwell, Bashford, and Randall (first term", - having been clmsen by a majority less than one thousand; and, like two of his jiredecessors - Farwell and Bashfurd - when all the other State officers differed with him in politic?.

The twentv-ninth regular session of the legislature of \\"isconsin began on the 12th of January, 1S76, at Madison. The republicans were in the majority in both houses. Samuel S. Fifield was elected speaker of the assembly. On the 13th, Goxernor Ludington delivered in person, to a joint convention of that body, his message, communicating the condition of affairs of the State, and recommending such matters for the consideration of the legislators as were thought expedient : it was brief; its style condensed ; its striking peculiarity, a manly frarikness. " It is not the part of wisdom," said he, in his concluding remarks, '" to disguise the fact that the people of this State, in common with those of all sections of the Union, have suffered some abatement of the prosperity that they have enjoyed in the past." "We have entered," he continued, "upon the centennial of our existence as an independent natioti. It is fit that we should renew the spirit in which the Republic had its birth, and our determination tlult it shall endure to fulfill the great purposes of its existence, and to justify the noble sacril'ices of its founders." The legislature adjourned sin,- die on the 14th of March, 1S76, al'ter a session of sixty-three days. The chief measures of the session were: 'l"he amendment of the railroad laws, maintaining salutary restrictions while modifving those features which were cripjiling and crushing an imi)ortant interest of the State; and the ap]iortionment of the State into senate anil assembly districts. It is a provision of the constitution of the State that the number of the members of the assembly shall never be less than fifty-lVnir, nor iiiure than one luinu.-ed ; and that the senate shall consist of a number not more than one-third nor less than one-fourth of the number of the members of the assembly. Since tlie year 1S62, the aggregate allotted to lioth houses had been one hundred and thirty-three, the maximum allowed by the constitution ; one hundred in the assembly and thirtythree in the senate. The number of this representation was not diminished by the apportionment of 1S76. One of the railroad laws abolished the board of railroad commissioners, conferring its duties upon a railroad commissioner to be appointed by the governor every two years. Under this law DanaC. J.amb was appointed to that office, on the loth of March, 1876. On the 2d day of February, previous, George ^\'. Kurchard was by the governor appointed state prison director for six years, in place of Joel Rich, whose term of office had expired. On the same day T. C. Chamberlin was aj.ipointed chief geologist of Wisconsin in place of O. W. Wight.

The application of Miss Lavinia Goodell, for admission to the bar of Wisconsin, was rejected by the supreme court of the State, at its January term, 1S76. ''We can not but think," jaid Chief Justice R>"an, in the decree of refusal, " we can not but think the common law wise in excluding women from the profession of the law." "The profession," he added, "enters largely into the well-being of society, and, to be honoralily filled, and safely to society, exacts the devotion of life. The law of nature destines and iiualiiies the female sex for the bearing and nurture of the children of o.ir race, and for the custody of the homes of the world, and their maintenance in love and honor. And all life-lor.g callings of women inconsistent with these radical and social duties of their sex, as is the profession of the law, are departures from the order of Nature, and, when voluntary, are treason against it." By a law since passed, no person can be denied admission to any court in the State on account of sex; and Miss Goodell has been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court.

Ty an act of the legislature, approved March ij, 1876, a State board of health was established, the aiipomtincnr of a superintendent of vita! statistics, was provided for, and certain duties were assigned to local boards of health. The State board was organized soon after; the governor having previously appointed seven persons as its members. The object of the organi/^ation, which is supported by the State, is, to educate the people of Wisconsin into a better knowledge of the nature and causes of disease, and a better knowledge and observance of hygienic laws

Ey a law passed in 1S6S, as amended in 1S70 and 1S73, the secretary of state, state treasurer, and attorney genera!, were constituted a State board of assessment, to meet in the city of Madison, on the third Wednesday in May, 1S74, and biennally thereafter, to make an equalized valuation of the property in the State, as a guide to assessment for taxation. In the tables of equalized valuations compiled by this board in 1S76, the whole amount of taxable property in Wisconsin, is set down at $423,596,290 ; of which sum S;,37, 073,148, represents real estate and $86,523,142 personal property.

This being the ye.ir for the election of president and vice president of the United States, the two political parties in Wisconsin - republican and democratic - had tickets in the field. At the election on Tuesday, November 7, the republican presidential electors received a majority of tiie votci cast in the State, securing Wisconsin for Hayes and Wheeler. The eight congressional districts elected the same day their members to the forty-fifth congress, wlio?e terms of office would expire on the 4th of March, 1S79. Charles G. Williams was elected in the first di.-.trict; I.ucien 1!. Caswell, in the second; George C. Ha/.elton, in the third; William P. I.ynde, in the fourth; Edw.ird S. Ilragg, in the fil'th ; Gabriel Piouck, in the sixth; II. L. Humiihrey, in the seventh; and Thud. C Pound, in the eighth district. A majority of the delegation was republican, the representatives from the fourth, fifth and sixth districts only, being democrats.

There was a general and si>ontaneous exhibition of patriotic impulses throughout the length and breadth of Wisconsin, on the part of botli native and loreign-born citizens, at the couiniencement of the centennial year, and upon tiie fourth of July. The interest of the people of the State generally, in the l'>xi.ositioii at Philadelphia, was manifested in a someuliat remarkable manner from its inception to its close. By an act of congress, a[jproved .March 3, 187 1, provision was made for celebrating the one liundredth anniversar}- of American Independence, by holding in that city, in 1S76, an exhil>ition of arts, manufact'ires, and the products of the soil and mines of the country. A centennial comirilssion, consisting of one commissioner and one alternate commissioner, from each State and Territory, was authorized to be api)ointed, to cany out the provisions of the act. David Atwood, as commissioner, and E. D. Holton, as alternate, were commissioned by the president of the United States, from Wisconsin. This commission gradually made progress in p>reparing for an international exposition. " The commission has been organized," said Ciovernor Washburn, in his message to tlie legislature in January, 1S73, "and has made considerable progress in its work. The occasion will be one to which fhe American people can not fail to re^[lond in the most eritiui=iastic manner." The president of the United States, by proclamation, in July, 1873, announced the exhibition and national celebration, and commended them to the people of the Union, and of all nations. " It seems fitting, said Governor Taylor, in his message to the Wisconsin legislature in 1S74, '" that such a celebration of this im[)ortant event, sliould be held, and it is hoped it will be carried out in a manner worthy of a great and enlightened nation." By the close of 1S74, a large number of foreii;n governments had signified their intention to participate in the exhibition.

The legislature of Wisconsin, at its session in 1S75, deeming it essential that the State, with its vast resources in agricultural, mineral, lumbering, manufacturing, aiu! otiier products and industries, should be fully represented at Piiiladelpihia, passed an act which was approved March 3, 1S75, to provide foi a ''Board of State Centennial Managera." Two thousand dollars were appro[iriated to pay its iieccssurv expenses. The board was to consist ol five members to be appointcil by the governor; and there were added thereto, as ex-otificio members, the United States centennial commissioner and his alternate. The duties of the meml'ers were to disseminate information regardiiig the Exhibition; to secure the co-operation of industrial, scientific, agricultural, and otlier .issociatioiis in the State; to apiHiint co-operative local committees, rejiresenting tlie different industries of the State ; to stimulate local action on all measures intended to render the exhibition successful, and a worthy representation of the industries of the countr\ ; to encourage the jiroduclion of articles suitable for the Exhibition: to distribute documents issued by the centennial commission among inanul'acturers and otiieis in the State; to render assistance in furthering the imancial and other interests of the exhibilion ; to luiuish inform.ition to the c.onimissi"n on subjects that might be referred to the boari.1 ; to care for tiie interests of the .State and of its cili/ens in matters relating t<.> the exhibilion ; to receive and pronounce upun applications tor space; to ai'ponion tiie s[i.ice placed at its ilisposal among tlie exhibitors from the State; and to supervise buch other details relating to the reiiresentation of citizens of Wisconsin in the I'^xhibition, as might Irom time to tune be delegated by the United States centeiini.d 1 onimission.

The bo.ud was re'piire.i to meet on tlie liist Wednesday of A[)ril, 1875, at the capitol, in Madison, to org.mi/e and adopt such by-laws and regulations as might be deemed necessary for the surcesslul prosecution of the work comir.itted to tiieir cliarge (.ioveruor 'I'aylor appointed l'',li Stilson, J. 1. Case, J. B. I'.trkinson, T. C Bound, and 1".. .V. I 'alkins, members of the board. Its organization was perfected, at the apinjinted. time, by the election ol j. B. Parkinson as president, and \S'. W. field, secretary. The ex-ollicio members ol the board, were David .\twood.

United States romniis^ioner, and E. D. Holton, alternate From this time forward, the board was untiring in it, etiorts tu 5CCLirc a full and jiroii^r representation of tlie varied interests of Wisconsin in the centennial exhil'ition of 1S76. K. A. Calkin:, havin- resi-ned his position as member of the Ijoard, Adolph Meinec'ke took his [ilace by appointment of the governor July 24, 1875. Governor Ludington, in hi, nicasage to the legi:.lature in January, 1S76, spoke in commendation of the coming exhibition. "The occasion," :,aid he, "will afford an excellent opportunity to dis;.lay the resources aiid products of the State, .md to attract hither capital and immigration."

Soon after the organization of the United States centennial commission, a national organization of the women of the country vras perfected. A lady of Philadelphia was placed at its liead; and r presiding otficer from each State was appointed. .Mrs. A. C. Thorp as'^umed the of chairman for Wisconsin, in March, 1S75, appointing assistants in various parts of the State, when active work, was commenced. This organization was efficient in Wisconsin in .arousing an interest in the general juirposes and objects of tlie exhibition.

By an act of the legislature, approved .March j, 1S76, the sum of twenty thousand dollars was appropriated to the use of the board of centennial managers, for the purpose of arran'uni-' for, and making a proiier exhibition of, the products, resources, and advantages of the State at the exposition. The treasurer of Wisconsin was, by this act, made an ex-officio member of the board. By this and previous action of the legislature - by efforts put torth by the board of managers - by individual enterprise - by tlie untiring labors of the "Women's Centennial Executive Commi-ttee," to whom, Ijy an act of the legislature, approved the 4th of March, 1875, one thousand dollars were appropriated - Wisconsin was enabled to take a proud and honorable position in the Centennial Exposition - a gratification not only to the tliousands of her citizens who \isited Philadelphia during its continuance, but to the people generailv, throughout the State.

In Wisconsin, throughout the centennial year, those engaged in the various branches of agriculture and other useful avocations, were reasonably prosperous. The crop of wheat and oats was a light \ield, and of poor ipiality ; but the corn crop was the largest ever before raised in the State, and of superior ipaality. The dairy and hog product was large, and commanded remunerative prices. Fruits were unusually plenty. Trade and business enterprises, however, generally remained dejiresscd.

By section five of article seven of the constitution of Wisconsin, the counties of the Slate were apportioned into five judicial circuits; the county of Richland being attached to Iowa, Ciiippewa to Crawford, and La I'ointe to St. Croix In 1S50, t!ie fifth circuit was divided, and a sixth circuit formed. In 1864, Crawford and Kichland were made paYt of the fifth circuit. Bv an act which took effect in 1S34, a seventh circuit was formed. On the first da> of January, 1855, the sixth circuit was dividett, and .u\ eiglith and ninth circuit formed, the county of Columbia being made a jurt of the last mentioned one. In the same \ ear was also formed a tenth circuit; and, in 1858, Winnebago county was attached to it; but, in 1S70. that countv was attached to the tliird circuit. In 1858, Keuaunee county was attached to the fourth circuit. An eleventh circuit was formed in 1864, from which, ir. 1865, Dallas county was detached, and made ])art of the eighth. By an act which took eflect on the first da\- of January, 187 i, liie twelfth circuit w.is famed. In 1S76, a thirteenth circuit was "constituted and re-organized."

At that time, the whole sixty counties of the State stood appoitioned in tlie thirteen judicial circuits Us follows: First circuit, Walworth, Racine, and Keiiosh.i; second circuit, Milwaukee, and Waukesh.L, third circuit. Creen Lake, Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, and Winnebago; -fourth circuit. Sheboygan, Calumet, Kewaunee, Fond du Lac, and Manitowoc; fifth circuit.

(Irant, low.i. La J-'ayette, Richland, and Crawford; sixth circuit, Clark, Jackson, Monroe, La Crosse, and Vernon; seventh circuit. Portage, >Larathon, Wauijaca, Wood, W au^liara, Lincoln, and Taylor; eiL;luh circuit, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix; ninth circuit, Adains, Columbia, Dane, Juneau, Sauk and Maniuette ; tenth circuit, Outagamie, Oconto, Shawano, Door, and Brown, eleventh circuit. Ashland, Parron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, and Polk; twelfth circuit. Rock, Green, and Jefferson; and the thirteenth circuit, Buffalo, Eau Claire, and Trenipeleau, Marinette and New are no.v in the tenth; Price is in the seventh circuit.

The thirtieth regular session of the legislature o( Wisconsin commenced, pursuant to law, on the loth of January, 1S77. The republicans had working majorities in both houses. J. B. Cassoday was elected Speaker of the Assembly. Governor Ludington delivered his mebsage to the joint convention of the legislature the following day. " U'e should not seek,'' said he, in his concluding remarks, "to conceal from ourselves the fact that the prosperity which our people have enjoyed fir a number of years past, has suffered some interruption. Agriculture has rendered less return; labor in all de[iartments has been less productive, and trade has consequently lieen less active, and has reali.Ted a reduced percentage of profit." '" These adverse circumstances," continued the governor, " will not be wliolly a misfortune if we heed the lesson that they convey. Thi:, lesson is the necessity of strict economy in public and i)rivate affairs. \\'e have been living u[)on a false basis; and the time has now come when we must return to a solid foundation." Tlie legislature adjourned sirir die on the Sth of ^L^rch, after a session of fit'tyeight days, passing three hundred and one acts - one hundred and thirteen less than at the session of 1S7C Tlie most important of tliese, as claimed by the dominant [larty which passed it, is one for the maintenance of the lairity of the ballot box, known as the " Registry Law." On the 3d day of .April, at the regular S[)ring election, William P. Lyon was re-elected, without opposition, an associate justice of the supreme court for six years from the first Monday in January, 1S7S, his term of office expiring on the first Monday of January, 1SS4.

Under a law of 1S76, to i)rovide for the revi.-ion of the statute:^ of the State, the justices of the stipreme court were authorized to appoint three revisors. The persons receiving the appoint- . ment were David Taylor, William F. Vilas and J. P. C. Cottrill. By an amendatory law of 1S77, for the purpose of having the revision completed for the session of 1S7S, tiie justices of the supreme court were authorized to apiioint two additional revisors, and assign tlicm sjiecial duties on the commission. IL S. Orton was apiiointed to revise the criminal law and proceedings, and J. IL Car[ienter to revise the probate laws.

CJovernor Ludington declined being a candidate for renomination. His administration was characterized as one c>f practical efficiency. As the chief executive oflicer of Wisconsin, he kept in view the best interests of the State. In matter^ coming under his control, a rigid svstem of economy prevailed.

'liiere V ere three tickets in the field presented to the electors of Wisconsin for their suffrages at the general election 1 eld on the sixth of November, 1S77 : republican, democratic, and the "greenback" ticket. The republicans were successful, electing William E. Smith, governor; James M. Bmghaiii, lieutenant gosernor; Hans B. ^\'arner, secretary of state; Richard Guenther, treasurer; .Mexandi-r Wilson, attorney general ; and William C. Whitford, state superintendent of [lublic instnu tinn. At the same election two amendments to the constitution of the State were voted upon ami both adopted. 'I'he first one amends section four of article seven; so that, hereafter, '" the supreme court sli.dl consist of one chief justice and four associate justices, to be elected by the ciualificd electors of the State. The legislature shall, at its first session after the adoption of this amendment, provide by laiv for the election of two associate justices of said court, to hold their ot'tices respectively for terms ending two and four years, respectively after the end of the term of the justice of the said court then last to expire. And thereafter the chief justices and associate justices of said court sliall be elected and hold their offices respectively for the term of ten years." The second one amends section two of article eight; so tliat, heieafter, " no money shall be paid out of the treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation by law. No appropriation shall be made for the payment of any claim a'.^ainst the State, except claims of the United -States, and judgments, unless filed within six years after the claim accrued." The year 1S77, in Wisconsin, was notable for excellent crops. A depression in monetary matters continued, it is true, but not without a reasonable prospect of a change for the better within the near future.

At noon, on Monday, January 7, 1S7S, began the sixteenth administration of Wisconsin, by the inauguration of the State ofticers elect. On the 9th of the same month, commenced the thirty-first regular session of tiie Legislature. .\. R. Barrows was elected Speaker of the Assembly. On the day following, Governor Smith delivered his message - a calm, business-like document - to the Legislature. P.oth Houses adjourned sine die on the 21st of March following. On the ist day of April, Harlow S. Orton and David Taylor were elected Associate Justices of the Supreme Court; the term of the first named to expire on the first Monday of January, iSSS ; that of the last mentioned, on the first Monday of January, 1SS6. In obedience to a proclamation of the Governor, the Legislature convened on the 4th day of June, A. D. 1S78, in extra session, to revise the statutes, A. R. Barrows 'was elected Speaker of the Assenrbly. The Legislature adjourned sine die on the 7th of the same month. In November following, the members chosen to the Forty-sixth Congress were C. G. Williams, in the First District ; L. B. Caswell, in the Second ; George C. Hazelton, in the Third ; P. V. Deuster, in the Fourth ; E. S. Bragg, in the Fifth ; Gabriel Bouck, in the Sixth ; H. L. Humphrey, in the Seventh; and T. C. Pound, in the Eighth. The thirty-second regular session of the Legislature commenced on the 8th day of January, 1879. D. ^L Kelly was elected Speaker of the Assembly ; the next day, the message of the Governor - a brief, but able State paper - was delivered to both Houses. On the 21st, Matthew H. Carpenter was elected United States Senator for six years, from the 4th of March thereafter, in place of Timothy O. Howe. The Legislature adjourned sine die on the 5th of .March, 1879. O" t'i<-' ist day of April following, Orsamus Cole was elected .Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, for a term of ten years.

Wisconsin has many attractive features. It is a healthy, fertile, well-watered and well-wooded State. Every where within its borders the lights of each citi/cn are held sacred. Intelligence and education are prominent characteristics of its people. All the necessaries and many of the comforts and luxuries of life are easily to be obtained. .Agriculture, the chief source of wealth to so many nations, is here conducted with prolit and success. (lenerally sjieaking, the farmer owns the land he cultivates. Here, the laboring man, if honest and industrious, is most certain to secure a competence fi;r himself and family. Few States have made more ani;)!e provisions for the unfortunate - the deaf and dumb, the blind, and the insane - than has Wisconsin. Nor has she been less iiitercr^ted in her reformatory and penal institutions. In her educational facilities, she already rivals the most advanced of her sister States. Her markets are easily reached by railways and water-navigation, so that tlie products of the country tind readv sale. Her commerce is extensive; Iter manufactures remunerative; her natural resources great and manifold. In morality and religion, her standard is high. Her laws are lenient, but not lax, securing the greatest good to those who are disposetl to live 141 to their requirements. Wisconsin has, in fact, all the essential elements of prosperity and good government. Exalted and noble, therefore, must be her future career.

Topography And Geology

The surface features of AVisconsiii are simple and s}ininetrical in character, and present a configuration intermediate between tire nioiintainous, on the one hand, and a monotonous level, on the other. The highe-jt summits within the state ri--e a little mure than 1,200 teet above its lowest surfaces. .\ few exceptional peaks rise from 400 to 620 feet abo\e their bases, but abrupt elevations of more than 200 or 300 feet are not common. Viewed as a whole, the state may be regarded as occupying a swell of land lying between three notable depressions; Lake Michigan on the east, about 57S feet above the mean tide of the ocean. Lake Superior en the north, about 600 feet above the sea, and tlie valleyof the Missi^^i[)pi ri\er. whose elevation at the Illinois state line is slightly below that of Lake Michigan. From these depressions tlie surface slopes upward to the summit altitudes of the state. But the rate of ascent i- unequal. From Lake Michigan the surface rises by a long, gentle acclivitv westward and northward. A similar slope ascends from the Mississippi valley to meet this, and their junction forms a north and south arch extending nearly the entire length of the state. From Lake Superior the surface ascends rapidly to the watershed, which it reaches within about thirty miles of the lake.

If we include the contiguous portion of the up[ier ['eninsula of Michigan, the whole elevation may be looked upon as a very low, rude, three-sided pyramid, with rounded angles. The apex is near the Michigan line, between the headwaters cif the Montreal and Ihule rivers. The northern sitle is short and abrupt. The southeastward and southwe^tward sides are long, and decline genth. The l)a-.e of this pyramid m.iy be considered as, in round numbers, 600 feet above the sea, and its extreme apex i.Soo feet.

Under t!ie waters cf Lake .Michii;an the surface of the land passes below the ^ea level before the limits of the st.ite are reached. Under Lake Sujierior the land-surface descends to even greater depth>, but probably not within tiie I'oundaries of the state. The regvdarity of the southward slopes is iiiterrufited in a very interesting way by a remarkaiile diagonal valley occu[iie<l by (ireeii Itay and the Fox and \\'isconsin rivers. This is a great groove, traversing the state obliipiely, and cutting down the central elevation half its height. .V line passing across the surface, from Lake .Mieiiigan to tile Mississippi, at any other point, would arch upward from about 400 to i.ooD feet, according to the location, wiiile doiig the trough of this valley it would reach .111 elevation b.irely exceeding 200 I'eet. On the northwest side of tllis troUL;h, in general, the surf ice rises s(jmewhat gradually, giving at most [njiiUs much .miplitude to the valle\, but on th.e opposite si(Je. the slope .iscends r.ipidly to a well marked watershed that stretches across the st.ite parallel to the valley. .Vt Lake Winnebago, this diagonal valle} is connected with a scarcely less not.ili'e one, occupied by the Rock river. Geologicall)', this Green-bay-Rock- river valley is even more noticeable, since it lies aloni^ the trend of tiie underlying strata, and was in large mea-iiire plowed out of a soft stratum by glacial action. Where it crosses the watershed, near Horicou marsh, it presents the same general features that are seen at other point-, and in an almost equally conspicuous degree. Except in the southern part of the state, thi> valley is contined on the east by an abrupt ascent, and, at many points, by a precipitous, rocky acclivitv, known as "The Ledge" - which is the projecting edge of the strata of the Niagara limestone. On the watershed referred to - between the St. Lawrence and Mississippi basins - this ledge is as conspicuous and continuous as at other pomts, so that we have here again the phenomenon of a valley formed by e.xcavation, running up over an elevation of 300 feet, and connecting two great systems of drainage.

On the east side of this valley, as already indicated, tliere is a sharp asCent of 200 feet, on an average, from th.e crest of which the surface slopes gently down to Lake Michigan. Tlie uniformity of tliis slope is broken by an e.xtended line of drift hills, lying obliquely along it and extending from Kewaunee count}' southward to the Illinois line and known as the Kettle range- A less conspicuous range of similar character branches oft" from this in the northwest corner of Walworth county and passes across the Rock river valley, where it curves northward; passing west of Madison, crossing the great bend in the Wisconsin river, and bearing northeastward into Oconto county, where it swings round to the westw-ard and crosses the northern part of the state. .-Xs a general topographical feature it is not conspicuous and is rather to be conceived as a peculiar chain of diift hills winding over the surface of the stale, merely interru[>ting in some degree the regularitv of its slopes There will be occasion to return to this feature in our discussion of the drift. It will be observed that the southeastward slope is interrupted by valleys running arross it, rudely jiarallel to Lake Michigan, and directing its drainage northward and southward, instead of directing it down the slope into the lake.

The Mississippi slope presents several conspicuous ridges and valleys, but their trend is toward the great river, and they are all due. essentially, to the erosion of the streams that channel the slo[ e. One of these ridges constitutes the divide south of the Wisconsin river, already referred to. .\nother of these, consi'icuous by reason of its narrowness and sharpness, lies between the Kickapoo and the Mississippi, and e.xtends through Crawlord. Vernon and Monroe counties. Still another is formed by the quartzite ranges of Sauk countj and others of less prominence give a highly diversified character to the sloi)e.

Scattered over the surface of the state are prominent hills, some swelling iqnvard into rounded domes, some rising symmetrically into conical peaks, some ascending precipitously into castellated towers, and some reaciiing prominence without regard to beauty of fo'in or convenience of description. .A. jxtrt of tliese hills were formed by the removal by erosion of the surrounding strata, and a p.irt by the heaping up of drift material by the glaci.d forces. In the former case, they are composed of rock; in the latter, of clay, s.md, gr.ivel and bowlders. The two forms are often combined. The highest peak in the southwestern jiart of the state is the West Hhie mound, whicii is 1,151 feet above Lake Michigan; in the eastern part. I.apham's peak, S24 feet, and in the central part. Rib i:i!l, 1263 feet. The crest of Penokee range in the northern part of the st.Ue rl-es 1,000 feet, and upwards, above Lake .Michigan.

The drainage systems correspond in geiieral to these topograpical features, though several minor eccentricities are to be observed. The streams of the Lake Suiierior system plunge r.ipidly down their steep slopes, forming numerous falls, some of them possessing great beatit)', ])roniinent among which are those of the Montreal river. On the southern slope, the rivers, in the upper jxjrtion of their courses, likewise descend rapidly, tiiough less so, producing a succession of rapids and cascades, and an occasional cataract. In the lower part of their courses, the descent becomes miicli more gentle nnd many of them are navigable to a greater or less extent. The rivers west of the Wisconsin pursue an essentially direct course to the Mississippi, attended of course witii minor llexures. The \VlbCon^in river lies, for the greater part of its course, upon the north and south arch of the state, but on encountering the diagonal valley above mentioned it turns southwcstward to the " l-'ather of \\'aters." The streams east of the Wisconsin flow southerl) and southeasterly until they likewise encounter this valley when they turn in the opposite direction and discharge northeasterly into Lake Michigan, through Green bay. Between the Clreen-bay-Rock-river valley and Lake Michigan, the drainage is again in tlie normal sout'neastcrly direction. Li the soutiiern part of the state, the rivers flow in a general southerly dirc< tion, but, beyond the state, turn we~-tw.;rd toward the Mississil)[)i.

If the courses of the streams be studied in detail, many exceedingly interesting and instructive features will be observed, due chiefly to peculiarities of geological structure, some of which will be apparent by inspecting the accompanying geological map. Our space, however, forbids our entering upon the subject here.