for the improvement of the navigation of the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, and uniting the waters of those rivers by a short canal at the Portage, as well as for the improvement of the Pecatonica and Platte rivers; small appropriations by Congress in lands would produce the most beneficial results on the future growth and prosperity of the Territory; besides the lands would be greatly enhanced in value on the different rivers improved.

Memorials asking appropriations from Congress for the construction of harbors on the shores of Lake Michigan, have been forwarded by the Legislative Assembly annually since the organization of the Territorial Government. I respectfully recommend your early action (as the present is a short session of Congress)on this important subject. I will submit my views at this time in relation to harbors as expressed on a former occasion: “The reports of the engineers employed to make the necessary surveys for this purpose, embrace such accurate topographical information, as to enable Congress to determine the points best fitted for such improvements, and the amonnt of the appropriations necessary for the execution of the work; a due regard should be had in the selection of the points, to the commercial facilities required at each, and the growth of the surrounding country; within a short period of time, more than a million of dollars have been received into the land office at Milwaukee from the sales of the public lands: from this fact, and of that of the very small appropriations made by Congress for harbors or other improvements on our lake border, who can fail to observe the great inequality which prevails in the distribution of Government favors; for the protection of the commerce on our seaboard, millions are expended in the erection of breakwaters, &c., while for want of harbors on this lake, vessels are compelled to encounter the severest gales during the autumnal season, with little expectation of being able to outride the storm;

and it is a well established fact, that the commercial trade of Lake

Michigan has increased in a ratio far exceeding that of any other of the waters of the United States; the settled policy of the Gov. ernment too, heretofore, has been to afford every facility to its commerce by diminishing as much as possible the dangers of navigation, and the enterprising citizens who have immigrated to our lake border, have a reasonable right to expect that the same facilities will be extended to them which have been afforded to other portions of the Union."

Memorials have been annually forwarded to Congress from the Legislative Assembly, since the organization of the Territorial Government, calling their attention to the justice and propriety of granting the miners pre-emption rights to their mineral lots, where they were held by discovery or purchase, under a permission of the superintendent of the United States lead mines. That the miners have strong claims on the justice and liberality of Congress, is apparent to all just and reasonable men; they settled the min, ing region by the express invitation of the Government; they have had, in peace and in war, to encounter all the difficulties and troubles incident to the settlement of new countries, and by their industry, enterprise, and bravery, have been the means of explo ring and testing the advantages of the most valuable mineral re gion in the United States. I would respectfully recommend your early action on this subject, as well as to the propriety of asking Congress to extend the right of pre-emption to actual settlers, who are located on reservations made by the superintendant of the United States lead mines for smelting purposes, as well as t the ac. tual settlers on lands located for the half-breed Winnebagoes under the treaty of 1829, which clain, had been re-located under the instructions of the Government.

1

In answer to a resolution of the Legislative Assembly, calling on the Secretary of the Treasury for a statement of the amount of moneys appropriated by Congress for the use of the Territory since its organization, I have received the statement required, certified by the Register of the Treasury, which is submitted for your information.

r

The Indians on our extended frontier appear peaceably dispo sed. The Winnebagoes were removed to the west bank of the Mississippi in June last. I discover, however, a great unwillingness on their part to occupy their country, generally called the neutral country; they appear to entertain a dread from the attacks of the Sac and Fox Indians, and it will require a strong mounted force to keep the Winnebagoes from returning to the east side of the Mississippi to the country north of the Wisconsin river. At a talk recently held at Mineral Point with some of the Portage chiefs, they expressed a great desire to be permitted not to leave the Mississippi, for fear, as they stated, of an attack from their enemies, the Sacs and Foxes. I have no doubt many of the Portage Indians will return to their old haunts north of the Wisconsin and will have to be removed again next spring. There is one company of United States dragoons stationed at Fort Craw. ford for the purpose of collecting and forming an escort for the removal of the Winnebagoes west. I have no doubt that every thing that can be done, will be done by Gen. Brooke, commanding officer at Fort Crawford, with the disposable force under his command, to keep the Winnebagoes within the limits of their country west of the Mississippi, and to restrain them from committing dep. redations on the property of the border settlers.

I submit, for the information of the Legislative Assembly the satisfactory reports of the Adjutant General, showing the present state of the organization of the militia of the Territory, as well as the suggestions made in the report as to changes in the present laws for the government of the militia, which I recommend to your favorable consideration.

In conclusion, fellow-citizens, I trust a spirit of harmony will govern your intercourse in your legislative duties, and that nothing will arise to prevent that union of feeling and concert of action so necessary to advance the happiness and prosperity of the people

of Wisconsin and I supplicate the Supreme Ruler of the Universe so to direct your deliberations, that they may conduce to these desirable results. HENRY DODGE.

MADISON, December 8, 1840.

After the delivery of the message, the Governor and Council retired from the Representatives Hall.

On motion of Mr. Darling,

Resolved, That one thousand copies of the Governor's message and the accompanying documents be printed for the use of the members of this House.

On motion of Mr. Shepard,

The House adjourned until 3 o'clock, P. M.

3 O'CLOCK, P. M.

On motion of Mr. Whiton,

The House proceeded to the election of officers.

On motion of Mr. Whiton,

The House proceeded to the election of Chief Clerk.

Mr. Sutherland nominated John Catlin for the said office.

And the votes having been taken and counted, the tellers reported that John Catlin had received twenty-five votes, and the whole number given, and he was thereupon declared to be duly

elected.

The following message was received from the Council by their Secretary:

"Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform this House that James Maxwell, Esq. of the county of Walworth, has been elected President of the Council."

On motion of Mr. Whiton,

The House proceeded to the election of an assistant Clerk.

Mr. Whiton nominated Edward Elderkin.

And the votes having been taken and counted, it appeared by the report of the tellers, that Edward Elderkin had received twenty. five votes, and he was declared to be unanimously elected.

Mr. Deming nominated Bushnel B. Cary for one of the Transcribing Clerks.

Mr. Batchelder moved that the three Transcribing Clerks be now elected on one ballot;

Which was agreed to.

Mr. Dunn nominated Simeon Berry for one of the Transcribing Clerks.

Mr. Giddings nominated Daniel M. Whitney, from Brown, for said office.

Mr. Darling nominated John F. Meade, from the same county, for said office.

Mr. Dunn moved a re-consideration of the vote which required the three clerks to be elected on one ballot;

Which was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Dunn,"

The House proceeded to elect two Transcribing Clerks, one from Racine and one from Iowa.

And the votes having been taken and counted, it appeared that B. B. Cary had received twenty-four votes, Simeon Berry twentyfive, and Daniel M. Whitney one vote.

B. B. Cary and Simeon Berry were thereupon declared to be duly elected.

Mr. Giddings moved that the House now proceed to elect a third Transcribing Clerk ;

Which was agreed to.

Mr. Giddings nominated D. M. Whitney.

Mr. Darling nominated John F. Meade.

Mr. Brunson moved that the further election for Transcribing Clerk be postponed for the present;

Which was disagreed to.

Mr. Barber moved that the election of the 3d Transcribing Clerk be postponed until the several officers are elected to whom there is no opposition;tyn

Which was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Barber,