Waukesha City (part 1 of 6)

Wisconsin As A State

On the twenty-second, six companies from Milwaukee went to West Bend, Washington county, one company returning to "Camp Randall." After the completion of the draft in Washington county, four companies returned to camp, while two companies were engaged in gathering up the drafted men.

The Thirty-second regiment, organized at "Camp Bragg," Oshkosh, with James H. Howe as colonel, was mustered into the service on the twenty-fifth of September, 1862 ; and, on the thirtieth of October, leaving the State, it proceeded by way of Chicago and Cairo to Memphis, Tennessee, going into camp on the third of November. The original strength of the Thirtysecond was nine hundred and ninety-three.

The Thirty-third infantry - Colonel Jonathan B. Moore - mustered in on the eighteenth of October, 1862, at " Camp Utley,'' Racine, left the State, eight hundred and ninety-two strong, moving by way of Chicago to Cairo.

The Thirty-fourth regiment, drafted men, original strength nine hundred and sixty-one - Colonel Fritz Anneke - -had its muster into service for nine months completed at " Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, on the last day of the year 1862.

Of the twenty-four infantry regiments, numbered from the Twelfth to the Thirty-fourth inclusive, and including also the Ninth, three - the Ninth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth - were mustered into the United States service in 1861. The whole of the residue were mustered in during the year 1862, except the Twenty-seventh and the Thirty-first. All were sent out of the State during 1862, except the last two mentioned and the Twenty-fifth, Thirtieth, and Thirty-fourth.

The First regiment of cavalry - Colonel Edward Daniels - perfected its organization at " Camp Harvey," Kenosha. Its muster into the United States service was completed on the eighth of March, 1862, the regiment leaving the State for St. Louis on the seventeenth, with a strength of eleven hundred and twenty-four.

The muster of the Second Wisconsin cavalry was completed on the twelfth of March, 1862, at "Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, the regiment leaving the State for St. Louis on the twentyfourth, eleven hundred and twenty-seven strong. It was under the command of Cadwallader C. Washburn as colonel.

The Third Wisconsin cavalry - Colonel William A. Barstow - was mustered in at " Camp Barstow," Janesville. The muster was completed on the 3rst of January, 1862, the regiment leaving the State on the 26th of March for St. Louis, with a strength of eleven hundred and eighty-six.

The original project of forming a regiment of light artillery in Wisconsin was overruled by the war department, and the several batteries were sent from the State as independent organizations.

The First battery - Captain Jacob T. Foster - perfected its organization at "Camp Utley," where the company was mustered in, it leaving the State with a strength of one hundred and fifty-five, on the 23d of January, 1862, for Louisville, where the battery went into "Camp Irvine," near that city. The Second battery - Captain Ernest F. Herzberg - was mustered into the service at "Camp Utley," October 10, 1861, the company numbering one hundred and fiftythree. It left the State for Baltimore, on the 21st of January, 1862. The Third battery - Captain L. H. Drury - completed its organization of one hundred and seventy at " Camp Utley," and was mustered in October 10, 1861, leaving the State for Louisville, on the 23d of January, 1862. The Fourth battery - Captain John F. Vallee - -rendezvoused at "Camp Utley." Its muster in was completed on the 1st of October, 1861, its whole force being one hundred and fifty one. The company left the State for Baltimore on the 21st of January, 1862. The Fifth bat- - tery, commanded by Captain Oscar F. Pinney, was mustered in on \he ist of October, 1861, at " Camp Utley," leaving the State for St. Louis, on the 15th of March, 1862, one hundred and fifty-five strong. The Sixth battery - Captain Henry Dillon - was mustered in on the 2d of October, 1861, at '' Camp Utley," leaving the State for St. Louis, March 15, 1862, with a numerical strength of one hundred and fifty-seven. The Seventh battery - Captain Richard R. Griffiths - was mustered in on the 4th of October, 1861, at " Camp Utley," and proceeded on the 15th of March, 1862, with the Fifth and Sixth batteries to St. Louis. The Eighth battery, commanded by Captain Stephen J. Carpenter, was mustered in on the 8th of January, 1862, at "Camp Utley," and left the State on the i8th of March following, for St. Louis,' one hundred and sixty-one strong. The Ninth battery, under command of Captain Cyrus H. Johnson, was organized at Burlington, Racine county. It was mustered in on the 7th of January, 1862, leaving " Camp Utley " for St. Louis, on the i8th of March. At St. Louis, their complement of men - one hundred and fifty-five - was made up by the transfer of forty-five from another battery. The Tenth battery - Captain Yates V. Bebee - after being mustered in at Milwaukee, on the loth of February, 1862, left " Camp Utley," Racine, on the i8th of March for St. Louis, one hundred and seventeen strong. The Eleventh battery - Captain John O'Rourke - was made up of the "Oconto Irish Guards " and a detachrrient of Illinois recruits. The company was organized at " Camp Douglas,'' Chicago, in the Spring of 1862. Early in 1862, William A. Pile succeeded in enlisting ninety-nine men as a company to be known as the Twelfth battery. The men were mustered in and sent forward in squads to St. Louis. Captain Pile's commission was revoked on the i8th of July. His place was filled by William Zickrick. These twelve batteries were all that left the State in 1862. To these are to be added the three regiments of cavalry and the nineteen regiments of infantry, as the effective force sent out during the year by Wisconsin.

The military officers of the State, at the commencement of 1863, were Edward Salomon, governor and commander-in-chief; Brigadier General Augustus Gaylord, adjutant general; Colonel S. Nye Gibbs, assistant adjutant general; Brigadier General Nathaniel F. Lund,: quartermaster general ; Brigadier General E. B. Wolcott, surgeon general ; and Colonel W. H. Watson, military secretary. The two incomplete regiments of 1862 - the Twenty-seventh and Thirty-first volunteers - were completed and in the field in March, 1863. The former was mustered in at "Camp Sigel " - Colonel Conrad Krez - on the 7th of March, and left the State, eight hundred and sixty-five strong, on the i6th for Columbus, Kentucky ; the latter, under command of Colonel Isaac E. Messmore, with a strength of eight hundred and seventy-eight, left Wisconsin on the ist of March, for Cairo, Illinois. The Thirty-fourth (drafted) regiment left "Camp Washburn," Milwaukee, on the 31st of January, 1863, for Columbus, Kentucky, numbering nine hundred and sixty-one, commanded by Colonel Fritz Anneke. On the 17th of February, 1863, the Twenty-fifth regiment left "Camp Randall" for Cairo, Illinois. The Thirtieth regiment remained in Wisconsin during the whole of 1863, performing various duties - the only one of the whole thirty-four that, at the end of that year, had not left the State. On the 14th of January, 1863, the legislature of Wisconsin, as before stated, convened at Madison. Governor Salomon, in his message to that body, gave a summary of the transactions of the war fund during the calendar year; also of what was done in 1862, in the recruiting of military forces, and the manner in which the calls of the president were responded to. There were a number of military laws passed at this sessibn. A multitude of special acts authorizing towns to raise bounties for volunteers, were also passed.

No additional regiments of infantry besides those already mentioned were organized in 1863, although recruiting for old regiments continued. On the 3d of March, 1863, the congress of the United States passed the " Conscription Act." Under this act, Wisconsin was divided into six districts. In the first district, I. M. Bean was appointed provost marshal; C. M. Baker, commissioner; and J. B. Dousman, examining surgeon. Headquarters of this district was at Milwaukee. In the second district, S, J. M. Putnam was appointed provost marshal ; L. B. Caswell, commissioner; and Dr. C. R. Head, examining surgeon. Headquarters of this district was at Janesville. In the third district, J. G. Clark was appointed provost marshal; E. E. Byant, commissioner ; and John H. Vivian, examining surgeon. Headquarters at Prairie du Chien. In the fourth district, E. L. Phillips was appointed provost marshal ; Charles Burchard, commissioner; and L. H. Gary, examining surgeon. Headquarters at Fond du Lac. In the fifth district, C. R. Merrill was appointed provost marshal ; William A. Bugh, commissioner ; and H. O. Crane, examining surgeon. Headquarters at Green Bay. In the sixth district, B. F. Cooper was appointed provost marshal; L. S. Fisher, commissioner; and D. D. Cameron, examining surgeon. Headquarters at LaCrosse. The task of enrolling the State was commenced in the month of May, and was proceeded with to its completion. The nine months' term of service of the Thirty-fourth regiment, drafted militia, having expired, the regiment was mustered out of service on the 8th of September.

The enrollment in Wisconsin of all persons liable to the "Conscription" amounted to 121,202. A draft was ordered to take place in November. Nearly fifteen thousand were drafted, only six hundred and twenty-eight of whom were mustered in ; the residue either furnished substitutes, were discharged, failed to report, or paid commutation.

In the Summer of i86i. Company " K," Captain Langworthy, of the Second Wisconsin infantry, was detached and placed on duty as heavy artillery. His company was designated as "A," First Regiment Heavy Artillery. This was the only one organized until the Summer of 1863; but its organization was effected outside the State. Three companies were necessary to add to company "A" to complete the battalion. Batteries " B," " C " and " D " were, therefore, organized in Wisconsin, all leaving the State in October and November, 1863.

James T. Lewis, of Columbia county, was inaugurated governor of Wisconsin on the fourth of January, 1864. In an inaugural address, the incoming governor pledged himself to use no executive patronage for a re-election; declared he would administer the government without prejudice or partiality ; and committed himself to an economical administration of affairs connected with the State. On the thirteenth the legislature met in its seventeenth regular session. W. W. Field was elected speaker of the assembly. The republican and union men were in the majority in this legislature. A number of acts were passed relative to military matters.

On the I St day of October, J. L. Pickard having resigned as superintendent of public instruction, J. G. McMynn was, by the governor, appointed to fill the vacancy. On the fifteenth of November, Governor Lewis appointed Jason Downer an associate justice of the supreme court, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Judge Byron Paine, who had resigned his position to take effect on that day, in order to accept the position of lieutenant colonel of one of the regiments of Wisconsin, to which he had been commissioned on the tenth of August previous. The November elections of this year were entered into with great zeal by the two parties, owing to the fact that a president and vice president of the United States were to be chosen. The republicans were victorious. Electors of that party cast their eight votes for Lincoln and Johnson. The members elected to the thirty -ninth congress from Wisconsin at this election were : from the first district, H. E. Paine ; from the second, I. C. Sloan ; from the third, Amasa Cobb; from the fourth, C. A. Eldredge; from the fifth, Philetus Sawyer; and

The Eighteenth regular session of the Wisconsin legislature began in Madison on the eleventh of January, 1865. W. W. Field was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature, was, as to its political complexion, "Republican Union." On the tenth of April, the last day of the session, Governor Lewis informed the legislature that General Lee and his army had surrendered. " Four years ago," said he, " on the day fixed for adjournment, the sad news of the fall of Fort Sumter was transmitted to the legislature. To-day, thank God ! and next to Him the brave officers and soldiers of our army and navy, I am permitted to transmit to you the official intelligence, just received, of the surrender of General Lee and his army, the last prop of the rebellion. Let us rejoice, and thank the Ruler of the Universe for victory and the prospects Of an honorable peace." In February preceding, both houses ratified the constitutional amendment abolishing slavery in the United States. At the Spring election, Jason Downer was chosen associate justice of the supreme court for a full term of six years. The twentieth of April was set apart by the governor as a day of thanksgiving for the overthrow of the rebellion and restoration of peace. At the Fall election both parties, republican and democratic, had tickets in the field. The republicans were victorious, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor; Wyman Spooner, lieutenant governor ; Thomas S. Allen, secretary of state ; William E. Smith, state treasurer; Charles R. Gill, attorney general; John G. McMynn, superintendent of public instruction; J. M. Rusk, bank comptroller; and Henry Cordier, state prison commissioner.

The military officers for 1864 were besides the governor (who was commander-in-chief) Brigadier General Augustus Gaylord, adjutant general; Colonel S. Nye Gibbs, assistant adjutant general ; Brigadier General Nathaniel F. Lund, quartermaster 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 his message to that body, " Wisconsin had sent to the field on the first day of November 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 hundred and seventy-five men."

Quite a number of laws were passed at this session of the legislature relative to military matters : three were acts to authorize towns, cities and villages to raise money by tax for the payment of bounties to volunteers ; one revised, amended and consolidated all laws relative to extra pay to Wisconsin soldiers in the service of the United States ; one provided for the proper reception by the State, of Wisconsin volunteers returning from the field of service; another repealed the law relative to allotment commissioners. One was passed authorizing the governor to purchase flags for regiments or batteries whose flags were lost or destroyed in the service: another was passed amending the law suspending the sale of lands mortgaged to the State or held by volunteers, so as to apply to drafted men ; another provided for levying a State tax of $200,000 for the support of families of volunteers. A law was passed authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, and appropriated" ten thousand dollars for that purpose. Two other acts authorized the borrowing of money for repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, and defending the State in time of war. One act prohibited the taking of fees for procuring 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 commencement of 1864, there were recruiting in the State the Thirty-fifth regiment of infantry and the Thirteenth battery. The latter was mustered in on the 29th of December, J863, and left the State for New Orleans on the 28th of January, 1864. In February, authority was given by the war department to organize the Thirty-sixth regiment of infantry. On the 27th of that month, the mustering ;n of the Thirty-fifth was completed at " Camp Washburn " - Colonel Henry Orff - the regiment, one thousand and sixty-six strong, leaving the State on the i8th of April, 1864, for Alexandria, 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-seventh - Colonel Sam Harriman ; the Thirty-eighth - Colonel James Bintliff; the Thirty -ninth - Colonel Edwin L. Buttrick ; the Fortieth - Colonel W. Augustus Ray; the Forty-first - Lieutenant Colonel George B. Goodwin; the Forty-second - Colonel Ezra T. Sprague ; the Forty-third - Colonel Amasa Cobb.

The regiments mustered into the service of the United States during the year 1865 were: the Forty-fourth - Colonel George C. Symes ; the Forty-fifth - Colonel Henry F. Belitz; Fortysixth - Colonel Frederick S. Lovell ; Forty-seventh - Colonel George C. Ginty ; Forty-eighth - Colonel Uri B. Pearsall ; Forty-ninth - Colonel Samuel Fallows; Fiftieth - Colonel John G. Clark; Fifty-first - Colonel Leonard Martin; Fifty-second - Lieutenant Colonel Hiram J. Lewis ; and Fifty-third - Lieutenant Colonel Robert T. Pugh.

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 the 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, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Nineteenth, Twenty-sixth, Thirty-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 Forty-seventh. Added to these was the First (re-organized). Thirty-one regiments were ordered to the western division, embracing the country west and northwest of the central division. These were : the Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twentieth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-seventh, Twenty-eighth, Twenty-ninth, Thirty-first, Thirty-second, Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-fifth, Thirty-ninth, Fortieth, Forty-first, Fortysecond, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-first, 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 Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Twenty-fifth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Thirty-second were transferred from the western to the central department.

The four regiments of cavelry were assigned to the western division - the First regiment being afterward transferred to the central division. Of the thirteen batteries of light artillery, the Second, Fourth, and Eleventh, were assigned to the eastern division ; the First and Third, to the central division ; the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Twelfth, and Thirteenth, to the western division. During the war, the First was transferred to the western division ; while the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Tenth, and Twelfth, were transferred to the central division. Of the twelve batteries of the First regiment of heavy artillery - " A," "E," "F," "G," "H," "I," "K," "L," and "M," were assigned to duty in the eastern division ; "B" and "C," to the central

The military officers of the State for 1865 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 place. The legislature of this year met in Madison on the nth of January. "To the calls of the Government for troops," said Governor Lewis, in his message, "no State has responded with greater alacrity than has Wisconsin. She has sent to the field, since the commencement of the war, forty- four regiments of infantry, four regiments and one company of cavalry, one regiment of heavy artillery, thirteen batteries of light artillery, and one ciompany of sharpshooters, making an aggregate (exclusive of hundred day men) of seventy-five thousand one hundred and thirty-three men."

Several military laws were passed at this session : one authorizing cities, towns, and villages to pay bounties to volunteers; another, 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 expenses, 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; another, amending the act extending the right of suffrage to soldiers in the field. One act provides for correcting and completing 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 passed supplementary and explanatory of a previous one of the same session, authorizing towns, cities, or villages, to raise money to pay bounties to volunteers ; another, amending a law of 1864, relating to the relief of soldiers' families; and another, providing for the establishment of State agencies for the relief and care of sick, wounded, and disabled Wisconsin soldiers. There was an act also passed, authorizing the borrowing of money for a period not exceeding seven months, to repel invasion, suppress insurrection, and defend the State in time of war, - the amount not to exceed $850,000.

On the 13th of April, 1865, orders were received to discontinue recruiting in Wisconsin, and to discharge all drafted men who had not been mustered in. About the first of May, orders were issued for the muster out of all organizations whose term of service would expire on or before the first of the ensuing October. As a consequence, many Wisconsin soldiers were soon on their way home. State military officers devoted their time to the reception of returning regiments, to their payment by the United States, and to settling with those who were entitled to extra pay from the State. Finally, their employment ceased - the last soldier was mustered out - the War of the Rebellion was at an end. Wisconsin had furnished to the federal army during the conflict over ninety thousand men, a considerable number more than the several requisitions of the General Government called for. Nearly eleven thousand of these were killed or died of wounds received in battle, or fell victims to diseases contracted in the military service, to say nothing of those who died after their discharge, and whose deaths do not appear upon the military records. Nearly twelve million dollars were expended by the State authorities, and the people of the several counties and towns throughout the State, in their efforts to sustain the National Government.

Wisconsin feels, as well she may, proud of her record made in defense of national existence. Shoulder to shoulder with the other loyal States of the Union, she stood - always ranking among the foremost. From her workshops, her farms, her extensive pineries, she poured 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 hydraheaded 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 existence of this republic, will be read 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 contain a reference to other helps employed - mostly incidental, in many cases wholly charitable, but none the less effective : the sanitary operations of the State during the rebellion.

Foremost among the sanitary operations of Wisconsin during the war of the rebellion was the 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 well as an efficient medical staff. In 1861, Governor Randall introduced the practice of appointing agents to travel with the regiments to the field, who were to take charge of the sick. The practice was not continued by Governor Harvey. On the 17th of June, 1862, an act of the legislature became a law authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, 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 suffering from disease or wounds. Soldiers' aid societies were formed throughout the State soon after the opening scenes of the rebellion. When temporary sanitary operations were no longer a necessity in Wisconsin, there followed two military benevolent institution's intended to be of a permanent character : the Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Madison. The latter, however, has been discontinued. The former, started as a State institution, is now wholly 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 Government, in the courage or constancy of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the trying period covered by the war of the rebellion, Wisconsin proved herself the peer of any loyal State.

Tabular Statement

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 how many brave men courageously forsook homes, friends and the comforts of peaceful avocations, offering their lives in defense of their country's honor. Twenty-two out of every hundred either died, were killed or wounded. Thirteen out of every hundred found a soldier's grave, while only 60 per cent of them marched home at the 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 conspicuous a part, will live in the minds of men so long as time and civilized governments endure.

Coco

Tenth Administration. - Lucius Fairchild, Governor - 1866-1867. - The inauguration of the newly elected State officers took place on Monday, January i, 1866. The legislature, in its nineteenth regular session, convened on the tenth. H. D. Barron was elected speaker of the assembly. The " Union " and " Republican " members were in a majority in both branches of the legislature. " Our first duty," said Governor Fairchild m his message, "is to give thanks to Almighty God for all His mercies during the year that is past." " The people of no nation on earth," he continued, " have greater cause to be thankful than have 04r people. The enemies of the country have been overthrown in battle. The ^ war has settled finally great questions 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 constitution for the State, to the people. . The legislature adjourned on the twelfth of April,' having been in session ninety-three days. At the general election in November of this year, there were elected to the Fortieth congress : H. E. Paine, from the first district ; B. F. Hopkins, from the second ; Amasa Cobb, from the third ; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth ; Philetus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. All were republicans Eldredge, who was elected as a democrat. The proposition for a constitutional convention was voted upon by the people at this election, but was defeated.

The twentieth session of the legislature commenced on the ninth of January, 1867. Angus Cameron was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature was strongly " Republican-Union." The message of Governor Fairchild was read by him in person, on the tenth. On the twenty-third, the two houses, in joint convention, elected Timothy O. Howe United States senator for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth of March next ensuing. This legislature passed an act submitting to the people at the next Fall election an amendment to section twenty-one of article four of the constitution of the State, providing for paying a salary pf three hundred and fifty dollars to each member of the legislature, instead of a per diem allowance, as previously given. A sine die adjournment took place on the eleventh of April, after a service of ninety-three days.

To provide for the more efficient collection of license fees due the State, an act, approved on the day of adjournment, authorized the governor to appoint an agent of the treasury, to superintend and enforce the collection of fees due for licenses fixed by law. This law is still in force, the agent holding his office at the pleasure of the executive of the State.

On the 27th of March, Chief Justice Dixon resigned his office, but was immediately appointed by the governor to the same position. At the election in April following, associate Justice Cole was re-elected, without opposition, for six years from the first Monday in January following. On the i6th of August, Associate Justice Downer having resigned, Byron Paine was appointed by the governor in his place.

The republican State ticket, in the Fall, was elected over the democratic - resulting in the choice of Lucius Fairchild for governor ; Wyman Spooner, for lieutenant governor ; Thomas S. Allen, Jr., secretary of state ; William E. Smith, for state treasurer ; Charles R. Gill, for attorney general ; A. J. Craig, for superintendent of public instruction ; Jeremiah M. Rusk, for bank comptroller, and Henry Cordier, for state prison commissioner. Except Craig, all these officers were, the former incumbents. The amendment to section 21 of article 4 of the constitution of the State, giving the members a salary instead of a per diem allowance, was adopted at this election. As it now stands, each member of the legislature receives, for his services, three hundred and fifty dollars per annum, and ten cgnts for every mile he travels in going to and returning from the place of the meetings of the legislature, on the most usual route. In case of any extra session of the legislature, no additional compensation shall he allowed to any member thereof, either directly or indirectly.

The Eleventh Administration in Wisconsin commenced at noon on the 6th day of January, 1868. This was the commencement of Governor Fairchild's second term. On the eighth of January, 1868, began the twenty-first regular session of the 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 comptroller, transferring his duties to the state treasurer, and another providing for l:he establishing of libraries in the various townships 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 bnsiness transacted. A sine die adjournment took place on the sixth of March.

At the election in April, 1868, Chief Justice Dixon was chosen for the unexpired balance of his own term, ending on the first Monday of January, 1870. At the same election, Byron Paine was chosen associate justice for the unexpired balance of Associate Justice Downer's term, the ist day of January, 1872.

At the Fall election in this year, republican electors were chosen over those upon the democratic ticket, for president and vice president ; and, as a consequence. Grant and Colfax received the vote of Wisconsin. Of the members elected at the same time, to the forty-first congress, all but one were republicans - Eldredge being a democrat. The successful ticket was : H. E. Paine, from the first district ; B. F. Hopkins, from the second ; Amasa Cobb, from the third; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. These were all members, form their respective districts, in the previous - the only instance since Wisconsin became a State of a re-election of all the incumbents.

On the thirteenth of January, 1869, began the twenty-second regular session of the State legislature. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. A very important duty imposed upon both houses was the election of a United States senator in the place of James R. Doolittle. The republicans having a majority in the legislature on joint ballot, the excitement among the members belonging to that party rose to' a high pitch. The candidates for nomination were Matthew H. Carpenter and C. C. Washburn. The contest was, up to that time, unparalleled in Wisconsin for the amount of personal interest manifested. Both 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 of January, the two houses proceeded to ratify the nomination by electing him United States senator for six years, from the fourth of March following. One of the most important transactions entered into by the legislature of 1869 was the ratification of the suffrage amendment to the constitution of the United States. Both houses adjourned sine die on the eleventh of March - a very short session. At the spring election, on the 6th of April, Luther S. Dixon was re-elected without opposition, chief justice of the supreme court, for a term of six years, from the first Monday in January next -ensuing. In the Fall, both democrats and republicans put a State ticket in the field for the election : the republicans were successful, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor ; Thaddeus C. Pound, lieutenant governor; Llywelyn Breese, secretary of state ; Henry Baetz, state treasurer ; S. S. Barlow, attorney general ; george F. Wheeler, state prison commissioner ; and A. L. Craig, superintendent of public instruction. The office of bank comptroller expired on the 31st day of December, 1869, the duties of the office being transferred to the state treasurer.

At this election, an amendment to sections 5 and 9 of article five of the constitution of the State was ratified and adopted by the people. Under this amendment, the governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of five thousand dollars, which is in full for all traveling or other expenses incident to his duties. The lieutenant governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of one thousand dollars.

On the third of January, 1870, commenced the twelfth administration in Wisconsin, Governor Fairchild thus entering upon his third term a's chief executive of the State ; ' the only instance since the admission of Wisconsin into the Union, of the same person being twice re-elected to that office. It was an emphatic recognition of the value of his services in the gubernatorial chair. On the twelfth of January, the twenty-third regular session of the legislature of the State commenced at Madison. James M. Bingham was elected speaker of the 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 previous 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 project was defeated by a considerable majority in the assembly voting to postpone the matter indefinitely. According to section eight of article one of the constitution, as originally adopted, no person could be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on the presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in certain cases therein specified. The legislature of 1869 proposed an amendment against the " grand jury system " of the constitution, and referred it to the legislature of 1870 fqr their approval or rejection. The latter took up the proposition and agreed to it by the proper majority, and submitted it to the people at the next election for their ratification. The sine die adjournment of both houses took place on the seventeenth of March, 1870. On the first day of January, previous, the member of congress from the second district of the State, B. F. Hopkins, died, and David Atwood, republican, was elected to fill the vacancy on the fifteenth of February following.

Early in 1870, was organized the " Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters." By an act of the legislature approved March 16, of that year, it was incorporated, having among its specific objects, researches and investigations in the various departments of the material, metaphysical, ethical, ethnological and social sciences; a progressive and thorough scientific survey of the State, with a view of determining its mineral, agricultural and other resources; the advancement of the useful arts, through the application of science, and by the encouragement of original invention; the encouragement of the fine arts, by means of honors and prizes awarded to artists for original works of superior merit; the formation of scientific, economical and art museums ; the encouragement of philological and historical research ; the collection and preservation of historic records, and the formation of a general library; and the diffusion of knowledge by the publication of original contributions to science, literature and the arts. The academy has already published four volumes of transactions, under authority of the State.

The fourth charitable institution established by Wisconsin was the " Northern Hospital for the Insane," located at Oshkosh, Winnebago county. It was authorized by an act of the legislature approved March 10, 1870. The law governing the admission of patients to this hospital is the same as to the Wisconsin State Hospital.

On the third day of July, 1870, A. J. Craig, superintendent of public instruction, died of consumption, and Samuel Fallows was, on the 6th of that month, appointed by the governor to fill the place made vacant by his death. The census taken this 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 congress, Alexander Mitchell was chosen to represent the first district; G. W. Hazelton, the second; J. A. Barber, the third: C. A. Eldredge, the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, the fifth; and J. M. Rusk, the sixth district. Mitchell and Eldredge were democrats; the residue were republicans. The amendment to section 8, of article 7 of the constitution of the State, abolishing the grand jury system was ratified by a large majority. Under it, no person 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 jeopa,rdy 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 privilege 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 January, 1871, said that Wisconsin State polity was so wisely adapted to the needs of the people, and so favorable to the growth and prosperity 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 commencement 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 sine die on the twenty-fifth of March. On the thirteenth of January preceding, Associate Justice Byro.i Paine, of the supreme court, died; whereupon the governor, on the 20th of the same month, appointed in his place, until the Spring election should be held, William Penn Lyon. The latter, at the election in April, was chosen by the people to serve the unexpired time of Associate Justice Paine, ending the first Monday of Januar)', 1872, 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 people. To the end that the administration of public charity and correction should thereafter 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 23, 1871, a "state board of charities and reform" created - to consist of five members to be appointed by the governor of the State, the duties of the members being to investigate and supervise 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 expenses, as required by law.

The "Wisconsin State Horticultural Society," although previously organized, first under the name of the " Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association," was not incorporated until the 24th of March, 1871 - ^the object of the society being to improve the condition of horticulture, rural adornment and landscape gardening. By a law of 1868, provisioa was made for the publication of the society's transactions in connection with the State agricultural society ; but by the act

HISTORY OF WrSCONSINof 187 1, this law was repealed and an appropriation made for their yearly publication in separate form; resulting in the issuing, up to the present time, of nine volumes. The society holds annual meetings at Madison.

At the November election both republicans and democrats had a full ticket for the suffrages of the people. The republicans were successful, electing for governor, C. C. Washburn; M. H.. Pettitt, for lieutenant governor ; Llywelyn Breese, for secretary of state ; Henry Baetz, for state treasurer; Samuel Fallows, for superintendent of public instruction ; S. S. Barlow, for attorney general ; G. F. Wheeler, for state prison commissioner ; and O. C. Johnson, for state commissioner of immigration. At this election an amendment to article four of the constitution of the State was ratified and adopted by the people. As it now stands, the legislature is prohibited from enacting any special or private laws in the following cases : 1st. For changing the names of persons or constituting one person the heir-at-law of another. 2d. For laying out, opening, or altering highways, except in cases of State roads extending into more than one county, and military roads to aid in the construction of which lands may be granted by congress. 3d. For authorizing persons to keep ferries across streams, at points wholly within this State. 4th. For authorizing the sale or mortgage of real or personal property of minors or others under disability, 5th. For locating or changing any county seat. 6th. For assessment or collection of taxes or for extending the time for the collection thereof. 7th: For granting corporate powers or privileges^ except to cities. 8th. For 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 provide 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 187 1 had but little to distinguish it from the average of previous years in the State, except that the late frosts of Spring and the drouth of Summer diminished somewhat the yield of certain crops. With the exception of slight showers of only an hour or two's dura:tion, 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. The consequence was a most calamitous event which will render the year 1871 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 underbrush 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. For many days preceding the commencement of the second week in October fires swept through the timbered country, and in some instances over prairies and " openings." Farmers, 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, notwithstanding 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 Green bay and a portion of those contiguous thereto on the south, southwest and west, hung a general gloom. No rain came. All energies were exhausted from " fighting fire." The atmosphere was every where permeated with smoke. The waters of the bay and even Lake Michigan, in places, were so enveloped as to render navigation difficult and in some instances dangerous. It finally became very difficult to travel upon highways and on railroads. Time drew on - but there came no rain. The ground in very many places was burned over. Persons sought refuge - some in excavations in the earth, others in wells.

The counties of Oconto, Brown, Kewaunee, Door, Manitowoc, Outagamie and Shawano were all more or less swept by this besom of destruction ; but in Oconto county, and for some distance into Menomonee county, Michigan, across the Menomonee river, on the west shore of .

the bay and throughout the whole length 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 of fire - ten or more miles in width and of indefinite length. The manner of its progfess was extraordinarj. It destroyed a vast amount of property and many lives. It has been described as a tempestuous sea of flame, accom.panied by a inost violent hurricane, which multiplied the force of the dfestructive element. Forests, farm improvements and entire villages were consumed. Men, women and children perished - awfully perished. Even those who fled and sought 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 suf" focation.

This dreadful and consuming fire was 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, oxen, 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 wild dismay, they knew not where. Death rode triumphantly upon that devastating, fiery flood. More than one thousand men, women and children perished. 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, burned 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 the 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, for aid. It was promptly responded ta from all portions of the State outside the devastated region. Liberal con'ributions in money, clothing and provisions were sent - some from other States, and even from foreign countries. Northwestern Wisconsin also suffered severely, during these months of drouth, from large fires,

A compilation of the public statutes of Wisconsin was prepared during the year 1871, by David Taylor, 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 tg, purchase five hundred copies for the use of the State, at its regular session in 1872.

The thirteenth gubernatorial administration in Wisconsin commenced on Monday, January I, 1872. The only changes made, in the present administration from the previous one, were in the offices of governor and lieutenant governor.

The twenty-fifth regular session of the legislature began on the loth of January, with a republican majority in both houses. Daniel Hall was elected speaker of the assembly. The next day the governor delivered to a joint convention of the legislature his first annual message - a lengthy document, setting forth in detail the general condition of State affairs. The recent great conflagrations were referred to, and relief suggested. The work of this session of the Legislature was peculiarly difficult, owing to the many general laws which the last constitutional amendment made necessary. The apportionment of the State into new congressional districts was another perplexing and onerous task. Eight districts were formed instead of six, as at the commencement of the last decade. By this, the fourth congressional apportionment, each district elects one member. The first district consists of the counties of Rock, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, and Waukesha; the second, of Jefferson, Dane, Sauk, and Columbia ; the thirds of Grant, Iowa, LaFayette, Green, Richland, and Crawford ; the fourth, of Milwaukee, Ozaukee, and Washington ; the fifth, of Dodge, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan and Manitowoc ; the sixth, of Green Lake, Waushara, Waupaca, Outagamie, Winnebago, Calumet, Brown, Kewaunee and Door ; the seventh, of Vernon, La Crosse, Monroe, Jackson, Trempealeau, Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix, Eau Claire, and Clark; the eighth, of Oconto, Shawano, Portage, Wood, Juneau, Adams, Marquette, Marathon, Dunn, Chippewa, Barron, Polk, Burnett, Bayfield, Douglas, and Ashland. To this district have since been added the new counties of Lincoln, Taylor, Price, Marinette and New.

After a session of seventy-seven days, the legislature finished its work, adjourning on the twenty-seventh of March. At the ensuing November election, the republican ticket for president and vice president of the United States was successful. The ten electors chosen cast their votes in the electoral college for Grant and Wilson. In the eight congressional districts, six republicans and two democrats were elected to the forty-third congress ; the last mentioned from the fourth and fifth districts. C. G. Williams represented the first district ; G. W. Hazelton the second; J. Allen Barber the third ; Alexander Mitchell the fourth ; C. A. Eldredge the fifth ; Philetus Sawyer the sixth ; J. M. Rusk the seventh ; and A. G. McDill the eighth district.

Throughout Wisconsin, as in all portions of the Union outside the State, a singular pestilence prevailed among horses in the months of November and December, 1872, very few escaping. Horses kept in warm, well ventilated stables, avoiding currents of air, with little or no medicine, and fed upon nutritious and laxative food, 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 January, 1873, with a republican majority in both houses. Henry D. Barron was elected speaker of the assembly. On the ninth. Governor Washburn's message t - 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 United States are justly a source of alarm," and that " the legislature can not scan too closely every measure that should come before it which proposed to give additional rights and privileges to the railways of the state." He also recommended that the " granting of passes to the class of state officials who, through their public office, have power to confer or withhold benefits to a railroad company, be prohibited." The message was favorably commented upon by the press of the state, of all parties. " If Governor Washburn," 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 election of United States' senator, to fill the place of Timothy O. Howe, whose term of office w®uld expire on the fourth of March next ensuing On the twenty-second of January the two houses met in joint convention, when it was announced that by the previous action of the senate and assembly, Timothy O. Howe was again elected to that office for the term of six years. On the twentieth of March, the legislature adjourned sine die, after a session of seventy-two days.

Milton H. Pettitt, the lieutenant governor, died on the 23d day of March following 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 Ashland and Douglas counties, and completed within four years, by a chief geologist and four assistants, to be appointed by the governor, appropriating for the work an annual payment of thirteen thousand dollars. An act providing for a geological survey, of the State, passed by the legislature, and approved March 25, 1853, authorized the governor to appoint a state geologist, who was to select a suitable person as assistant geologist. Their duties were to make a geological and mineralogical survey of the State. Under this law Edward Daniels, on the first day of April, 1853, was appointed state geologist, superseded on the 12 th day of August, 1854, by James G. Percival, who died in office on the 2d of May, 1856, at Hazel Green. By an act approved March 3, 1857, James Hall, Ezra Carr and Edward Daniels were appointed by the legislature geological commissioners. By an act approved April 2, r86o, Hall was made principal of the commission. The survey was interrupted by a repeal, March 21, 1862, of previous laws promoting it. However, to complete the survey, the matter was reinstated by the act of this legislature, approved March 29, the governor, under that act, appointing as chief geologist Increase A. Lapham, April 10, 1873.

Another act 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 six years, in place of a state prison commissioner, who had been elected by the people every two years, along with other officers of the State.

At the Spring election, Orsamus Cole, who had been eighteen years upon the bench, was re-elected, without opposition, an associate justice of the supreme court, for a term of six 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 the State officers were elected - all republicans.

The general success among the cultivators of the soil throughout 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 Winter, resulted in a general depreciation of prices.

The fourteenth administration of Wisconsin commenced at noon on Monday, the fifth day of January, 1874, by the inauguration of William R. Taylor as governor; Charles D. Parker, lieutenant governor; Peter Doyle, secretary of state; Ferdinand Kuehn, state treasurer; A. Scott Sloan, attorney general; Edward Searing, superintendent of public instruction; and Martin J. Argard, state commissioner of immigration. These officers were not elected by any distinctive political party as such, but as the representatives of a new political organization, including " all Democrats, Liberal Republicans, and other electors of Wisconsin, friendly to genuine reform through equal and impartial legislation, honesty in office, and rigid economy in the administration of affairs." Among the marked characteristics of the platform agreed upon by the convention nominating the above-mentioned ticket was a declaration by the members that they would " vote for no candidate for office whose nomination is the fruit of his own importunity, or of a corrupt combination among partisan leaders ;" another, " that the sovereignty of the State over corporations of its own creation shall be sacredly respected, to the full extent of protecting the people against every form of monopoly or extortion," not denying, however, an encouragement to wholesome enterprise on the 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 - especially upon the agricultural industry of the State.

The twenty-seventh regular session of the Wisconsin 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 " majority. In the latter branch, Gabriel Bouck was elected speaker. Governor Taylor, on the fifteenth, met the legislature in joint convention and delivered his message. " An era," said he, "of apparent 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 complained of by the people, who charged them with unjust discriminations and exorbitantly 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 constitution which declares that " corporations may be formed under general laws, but shall not be created by a special act, exeept 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 people seem to have remained unheeded, resulting in the passage of the "Potter Law." This law limited the compensation for the transportation of passengers, .classified freight, and regulated prices for its transportation within 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, thereafter, on the first day of 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 Northwestern - served formal notice upon the governor of Wisconsin that they would not respect the provisions of the new railroad 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 upon by the legislature, and to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. No alternative, therefore, was le*'t the chief executive but to enforce the law by all the means placed in his hands for that purpose. He promptly responded to the notification of the railroad companies by a proclamation, dated May i, 1874, 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 invoking the aid of all good citizens thereto. " The law of the land," said Governor Taylor, "must be respected and obeyed." "While none," continued he,

Wiscon'Sik As A State

" are so weak as to be without its protection, none are so strong as to he 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, but with that right is coupled the duty of yielding a general obedience to its requirements until it has been pronounced invalid by competent authority."

The railroad companies claimed not merely the unconstitutionality of the law, but that its enforcement would bankrupt the companies^ and suspend the operation of their lines. The governor, in reply, pleaded the inviolability of his oath of office and his pledged faith to the people. 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 Slates, and Governor Taylor and his associate representatives of State authority were thus compelled to bear the brunt of a controversy of national extent and consequence. The contention extended both to State and United States courts, the main question involved being the constitutional power of the State over corporations of its own creation. In all respects, the State was fully sustained in its position, 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, through the legislature, to modify or altogether repeal the charters of corporations.

Another act of the session of 1874 abolished the office of State commissioner of immigration, "on and after " the first Monday of January, 1876. The legislature adjourned on the twelfth of March, 1874, after a session of fifty-eight days.,

.The office of state prison commissioner having, by operation of law, become vacant on the fifth day of January, 1874, the governor, on the twenty-third of that month, appointed for State prison directors, Joel Rich, for twj years; William E. Smith, for four years; and Nelson Dewey, for six years : these to. take the place of that officer.

On the sixteenth of June, Chief Justice Dixon, whose term of office would have expired on the first. Monday in January, 1876, resigned his seat upon the bench of the supreme court, Governor Taylor appointing Edward G. Ryan in his place until his successor should be elected and qualified. At the November election of this year, the members chosen to the forty-fourth congress were - Charles G. Williams, from the first district; Lucian B. Caswell, from the second; Henry S. Magoon, from the third ; William Pitt Lynde, from the fourth; Samuel D. Burchard, from the fifth; A. M. Kimball, from the sixth; Jeremiah M. Rusk, from the seventh, and George W. Gate, from the eighth district. Lynde, Burchard and Cate were " reform ; " the residue were republican.

At the same election, an amendment to section 3 of article 1 1 of the constitution of the State was duly ratified and adopted by the people. Under this 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 debts, and loaning their credit, so as to prevent abuses in assessments and taxation, and in contracting debts, by such municipal corporations. No county, city, town, village, school district, or other municinc' corporation, shall be allowed to become indebted in any manner, or for any purpose, to a"'/ ..^.iiiount, including existing indebtedness in the aggregate, exceeding five per centum on the vai^e of the taxable property therein, to be ascertained by the last assessment for State and county taxes previous to the incurring of such indebtedness. Any county, city, town, village, school district, or other municipal corporation, incurring any indebtedness as aforesaid, shall, before, or at the time of doing so, provide for the collection of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on such debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the principal thereof within twenty years from the time of contracting the same. ^

In 1872, the first appropriation for fish culture in Wisconsin was made by the legislature, subject to the direction of the United States commissioner of fisheries. In 1874, a further sum was appropriated, and the governor of the State authorized to appoint three commissioners, whose duties were, upon receiving any spawn or fish, by or through the United States commissioner of fish and fisheries, to immediately 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 in view - with flattering prospects of their finally being able to stock the streams and lakes of the State with the best varieties of food fish.

The year 1874, in Wisconsin, was characterized as one of general prosperity among farmers, excepting the growers of wheat. The crop of that cereal was light, and, in places, entirely destroyed by the chinch-bug. As a consequence, considerable depression existed in business in the wheat-growing districts. Trade and commerce continued throughout the year at a low ebb, the direct result of the monetary crisis of 1873.

The first important business to be transacted by this legislature was the election of a United States senator, as the term for which M. H Carpenter had been elected would expire on the fourth of March ensuing. Much interest was manifested in the matter, not only in the .two houses, but throughout the State. There was an especial 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 that enough members 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 themselves aloof. Now, 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-sixth of January, was, in the senate, thirteen for the republican candidate ; in the assembly, forty-six votes, an aggregate of only fifty-nine. He lacked four votes in the assembly and an equal number in the senate, of having a majority i.i each house. On the twenty-seventh, the two houses, in joint convention, h.iving met to compare the record of the voting the day previous, and it appearing that no one person had received a majority of the votes in each 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, Angtis Cameron, of LaCJrosse, 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 houses. 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 to the railroad companies and was regarded as a compromise. The legislature adjourned sine 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 I. A. Lapham, whose appointment had not been acted upon by the Senate. On the 24th of the same month, J. \V. Hoyt was appointed railroad commissioner for three years from the first day of May .'"ollowing, on which day his one-year term in the same office would expire. At the regular Spring election on the 6th of April following, Edward G. Ryan was elected, without opposition, chief justice of the supreme court for the unexpired terra of Chief Justice Dixon, ending the first Monday in January, 1876, and for a full term of six years from the last mentioned date; so that his present term of office will expire on the ist Monday in January, 1882. An act providing for taking the census of Wisconsin on or before the ist of July, 1875, was passed 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 suffrage. The result of this enumeration gave a total population to Wisconsin of one million two hundred and thirty-six thousand seven hundred and twenty-nine.

At the November election, republican and " reform ' tickets were in the field for State officers, resulting in the success of the latter, except as to governor. For this office Harrison Ludington was chosen by a majority, according to the State board of canvassers, over William R. Taylor, of eight hundred and forty-one. The rest of the candidates elected were : Charles D. Parker, lieutenant governor ; Petei Doyle, secretary of state ; Ferdinand Kuehn, treasurer of state, A. Scott Sloan, attorney general; and Edward Searing, superintendent of public instruction. The act abolishing the office of state commissionei of immigration was to take effect " on and after " the close of this administration ; so, 01 course, no person was voted for to fill that position at the Fall election of 1875.

During this administration the principle involved m a long-pending controversy between the State and Minnesota relating to valuable harbor privileges at the head of Lake Superior, was successfully and finally settled in favor of Wisconsin. The influence of the executive was larj^ely instrumental in initiating a movement which resulted in securing congressional appropriations amounting to $800,000 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 werebrought to light from which over $60,000 in penalties was collected and paid into the Treasury, while as much more was subsequently 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 defeated 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 economy, while his countenance and support was extended to all legitimate enterprises. He required the Wisconsin 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 year of the century of our national existence - 1875, was one somewhat discouraging to certain branches of the agricultural interests of Wisconsin. 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 of acres of that staple.

The fifteenth administration of Wisconsin commenced at noon on Monday, 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 office 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 chosen by a majority less than one thousand ; and, like two of his predecessors - Farwell and Bashford - when all the other State officers differed with him in politics.

The twenty-ninth regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin began on the 12 th of January, 1876, at Madison. The republicans were in the majority in both houses. Samuel S. Fifield was elected speaker of the assembly. On the 13th, Governor 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 frankness. " 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 nation. It is fit that we should renew the spirit in which the Republic had its birth, and our determination that it shall endure to fulfill the great purposes of its existence, and to justify the noble sacrifices of its founders." The legislature adjourned sine die on the 14th of March, 1876, after a session of sixty-three days. The chief measures of the session were : The amendment of the railroad laws, maintaining salutary restrictions while modifying those features which were crippling and crushing an important interest of the State ; and the apportionment of the State into senate and assembly districts. It is a provision of the constitution of the State that the number of the members of the assembly shall never be Ipss than fifty-four, nor more than one hundred ; 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 the year 1862, the aggregate allotted to both 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 1876. 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 W. Burchard 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 appointed 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, 1876. "We can not but think," jaid Chief Justice Ryan, 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 honorably filled, and safely to society, exacts the devotion of life. The law of nature destines and qualifies the female sex for the bearing and nurture of the children of our race, and for the custody of the homes of the world, and their maintenance in love and honor. And all life-long 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.

By an act of the legislature, approved March 13, 1876, a State board of health was established, the appointment of a superintendent of vital 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 organization, 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.

By a law passed in 1868, as amended in 1870 and 1873, the secretp.ry of state, state treasurer, and attorney general, were constituted a State board of assessment, to meet in the city of Madison, on the third Wednesday in May, 1874, 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 1876, the whole amount of taxable property in Wisconsin, is set down at $423,596,290 ; of which sum $337,073,148, represents real estate and $86,523,142 personal property.

This being the year for the election of president and vice president of the United States, the two political parties in Wisconsin - republican and deniocratic - had tickets in the ' field. At the election on Tuesday, November 7, the republican presidential electors received a majority of the votes 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, whose terms of office would expire on the 4th of March, 1879. Charles G. Williams was elected in the first district; Lucieh B. Caswell, in the second; George C. Hazelton, in the third; William P. Lynde, in the fourth ; Edward S. Bragg, in the fifth ; Gabriel Bouck, in the sixth ; H. L. Humphrey, in the seventh; and Thad. 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 spontaneous exhibition of patriotic impulses throughout the length and breadth of Wisconsin, on the part of both native and foreign-born citizens, at the commencement of the centennial year, and upon the fourth of July. The interest of the people of the State generally, in the Exposition at Philadelphia, was manifested in a somewhat remarkable manner from its inception to its close. By an act of congress, approved March 3, 187 1, provision was made for celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of American Independence, by holding in that city, in 1876, an exhibition of arts, manufactures, and the products of the soil and mines of the country. A centennial commission, consisting of one commissioner and one alternate commissioner, from each State and Territory, was authorized to be appointed, to carryout 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 preparing for an international exposition. " The commission has been organized," said Governor Washburn, in his message to the legislature in January, 1873, " and has made considerable progress in its work. The occasion will be one to which I'he American people can not fail to respond in the most enthusiastic 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 1874, " that such a celebration of this important event, should 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 1874, a large number of foreign governments had signified their intention to participate in the exhibition.

The legislature of Wisconsin, at its session in 1875, deeming it essential that the State, with its vast resources in agricultural, mineral, lumbering, manufacturing, and other products and irldustries, should be fully represented at Philadelphia, passed an act which was approved March 3, 1875, to provide for a "Board of State Centennial Managers." Two thousand dollars were appropriated to pay its necessary expenses. The board was to consist of five members to be appointed by the governor ; and there were added thereto, as ex-officio members, the United States centennial commissioner and his alternate. The duties of the members were to disseminate information regarding the Exhibition ; to secure the co-operation of mdustrial, scientific, agricultural, and other associations in the State ; to appoint co-operative local committees, representing the 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 country ; to encourage the production of articles suitable for the Exhibition ; to distribute documents issued by the centennial commission among manufacturers and others in the State; - to render assistance in furthering the financial and other interests of the exhibition j to furnish information to the commission on subjects that might be referred to the board; to care for the interests of the State and of its citizens in matters relating to the exhibition ; to receive and pronounce upon applications for space ; to apportion the space placed at its disposal among the exhibitors from the State ; and to supervise such other details relating to the representation of citizens of Wisconsin in the Exhibition, as might from time to time be delegated by the United States centennial commission.

The board was required to meet on the first Wednesday of April, 1875, at the capitol,' in Madison, to organize and adopt such by-laws and regulations as might be deemed necessary for the successful prosecution of the work committed to their charge Governor Taylor appointed Eli Stilson, J. I. Case, J. B. Parkinson, T. C. Pound, and E. A. Calkins, members of the board. Its organization was perfected, at the appointed time, by the election of J. B. Parkinson as president, and W. W. Field, secretary. The ex-officio members of the board, were David Atwood,

United States commissioner, and E. D. Helton, alternate From this time forward, the board was untiring in its efforts to secure a full and proper representation of the varied interests of Wisconsin in the centennial exhibition of 1876. E. A. Calkins having resigned his position as member of the board, Adolph Meinecke took his place by appointment of the governor July 24, 1875. Governor Ludington, in his message to the legislature in January, 1876, spoke in commendation of the coming exhibition. "The occasion," said he, "will afford an excellent opportunity to display the resources and products of the State, and 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 was perfected. A lady of Philadelphia was placed at its head; and 3 presiding officer from each State was appointed. Mrs. A. C. Thorp assumed the duties of chairman for Wisconsin, in March, 1875, 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 purposes and objects of the exhibition.

By an act of the legislature, approved March 3, 1876, the sum of twenty thousand dollars was appropriated to the use of the board of centennial managers, for the purpose of arranging for, and making a proper 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 forth by the board of managers - by individual enterprise - by the untiring labors of the "Women's Centennial Executive Committee," to whom, by 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 thousands of her citizens who visited Philadelphia during its continuance, but to the people generally, 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 yield, and of poor quality ; but the corn crop was the largest ever before raised in the State, and of superior quality. The dairy and hog product was large, and commanded remunerative prices. Fruits were unusually plenty. Trade and business enterprises, however, generally remained depressed.

By section five of article seven of the constitution of Wisconsin, the counties of the State were apportioned into five judicial circuits : the county of Richland being attached to Iowa, Chippewa to Crawford, and La Pointe to St. Croix. In 1850, the fifth circuit was divided, and a sixth circuit formed. In 1864, Crawford and Richland were made part of the fifth circuit. By an act which took effect in 1854, a seventh circuit was formed. On the first day of January, 1855, the sixth circuit was divided, and an eighth and ninth circuit formed, the county of Columbia being made a part of the last mentioned one. In the same year was also formed a tenth circuit; and, in 1858, Winnebago county was attached to it; but, in 1870, that county was attached to the third circuit. In 1858, Kewaunee county was attached to the fourth circuit. An eleventh circuit was formed in 1864, from which, in 1865, Dallas county was detached, and made part of the eighth. By an act which took effect on the first day of January, 1871, the twelfth circuit was formed. In 1876, a thirteenth circuit was " constituted and re-organized."

At that time, the whole sixty counties of the State stood apportioned in the thirteen judicial circuits as follows: First circuit, Walworth, Racine, and Kenosha; second £Jrcuit, Milwaukee, and Waukesha; third circuit. Green Lake, Dodge, Washington, Ozaukee, and Winnebago; fourth circuit, Sheboygan, Calumet, Kewaunee, Fond du Lac, and Manitowoc ; fifth circuit.

Histoey Of Wisconsin

Grant, Iowa, La Fayette, Richland, and Crawford ; sixth circuit, Clark, Jackson, Monroe, La Crosse, and Vernon ; seventh circuit, Portage, Marathon, Waupaca, Wood, Waushara, Lincoln, and Taylor; eighth circuit, Dunn, Pepin, Pierce, and St. Croix; ninth circuit, Adams, Columbia!, Dane, Juneau, Sauk and Marquette ; tenth circuit, Outagamie, Oconto, Shawano, Door, and Brown : eleventh circuit, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Chippewa, Douglas, and Polk ; twelfth circuit. Rock, Green, and Jefferson ; and the thirteenth circuit, Buffalo, Eau Claire, and Trempeleau, Marinette and New are now in the tenth ; Price is in the seventh circuit.

The thirtieth regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin commenced, pursuant to law, on the loth of January, 1877. The republicans had working majorities in both houses. J. B. Cassoday was elected Speaker of the Assembly. Governor Ludington delivered" his message to the joint convention of the legislature the following day. " We should not seek," said he, in his concluding remarks, " to conceal from ourselves the fact that the prosperity which our people have enjoyed for a number of years past, has suffered some interruption. Agriculture has rendered less return; labor in all departments has been less productive, and trade has consequently been less active, and has realized a reduced percentage of profit." " These adverse circumstances," continued the governor, " will not be wholly a misfortune if we heed the lesson that they convey. This lesson is the necessity of strict economy in public and private affairs. We have been living upon a false basis ; and the time has now come when we must return to a solid foundation." The legislature adjourned sine die on the 8th of March, after a session of fiftyeight days, passing three hundred and one acts - one hundred and thirteen less than at the session of 1876. The most important of these, as claimed by the dominant party which passed it, is one for the maintenance of the purity of the ballot box, known as the " Registry Law." On the 3d day of April, at the regular Spring 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, 1878, his term of office expiring on the first Monday of January, 1884.

Under a law of 1876, to provide for the revision of the statutes of the State, the justices of the supreme court were authorized to appoint three revisors. The persons receiving the appointment were David Taylor, William F. Vilas and J. P. C. Cottrill. By an amendatory law of 1877, for the purpose of having the revision completed for the session of 1878, the justices of the supreme court were authorized to appoint two additional revisors, and assign them special duties on the commission. H. S. Orton was appointed to revise the criminal law and proceedings, and J. H. Carpenter to revise the probate laws.

Governor Ludington declined being a candidate for renomination. His administration was characterized as one of practical efficiency. As the chief executive officer of Wisconsin, he kept in view the best interests of the State. In matters coming under his control, a rigid system of economy prevailed.

There were three tickets in the field presented to the electors of Wisconsin for their suffrages at the general election held on the sixth of November, 1877 : republican, democratic, and the "greenback" ticket. The republicans were successful, electing William E. Smith, governor; James M. Bingham, lieutenant governor; Hans B. Warner, secretary of state; Richard Guenther, treasurer ; Alexander Wilson, attorney general ; and William C. Whitford, state superintendent of public instruction. At the same election two amendments to the constitution of the State were voted upon and both adopted. The first one amends section four of article seven ; so that, hereafter, " the supreme court shall consist of one chief justice and four associate justices, to be elected by the qualified electors of the State. The legislature shall, at its first session after the adoption of this amendment, provide by law for the election of two associase justices of said court, to hold their offices 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 shall be elected and hold their offices respectively for the term of ten years." The second one amends section two of article eight ; so that, hereafter, " 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 against the State, except claims of the United States, and judgments, unless filed within six years after the claim accrued." The year 1877, 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.