It appears by your journals that you are holding a session which commenced on the first Monday in December last, and which has continued to the present time by adjournment or otherwise.

I met you on the 6th to hold a term which is styled by the law a "special session," and I can take no part or lot in any other.

It has been asserted by the members elect, that all appropri ations for the expenses of the Legislature are, and for years past have been made by Congress in advance of the sessions. I am not informed of any appropriation which was made for this purpose before the first Monday in December; and we were informed by the Secretary that he had no money to pay the expenses of a session commencing at that time.

The appropriation of $19,275, made on the 24th of December last, it is well known, was for the expenses of a session to be commenced and held in the year 1843; and cannot be applied to pay the expenses of a session commencing on the first Monday in December, 1842.

A session for the expenses of which no appropriation has been made is expressly forbidden by the laws of the United States, and all of its acts must therefore be unauthorised and illegal.

I therefore return the bill which was presented to me on Saturday last,after the adjournment of the House; and must decline receiving it, or any other bill, until advised that the members are holding the "special session" appointed by the proclama. tion of the 31st January last. J. D. DOTY.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Madison, March 13, 1843.

An act to amend an act authorizing Webster Stanley to main.. tain a ferry across Fox river, approved February 18, 1842.

Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wisconsin: That Webster Stanley is hereby authorized to keep and maintain a ferry across the Fox river, in the county of Brown, on section twenty-four in town eigh teen north, of range sixteen east, for such lengh of time and subject to such restrictions as are provided by the act which is hereby amended.

ALBERT G. ELLIS,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

MOSES M. STRONG,

President of the Council.

Mr. Capron moved that the said message do lie on the table

and be printed.

And the question was put and determined in the negative. On motion of Mr. Hamilton, it was

Ordered, That the said message and bill do lie on the table and be made the order of the day for to-morrow.

On motion of Mr. Platt,

Resolved, That the use of the hall of the House of Representatives this afternoon be granted to the Territorial temperance society.

Mr. Crossman gave notice of his intention on a future day to ask leave to bring in a bill to provide for the punishment of embezzling public money.

And then the House adjourned.

Tuesday, March 14, 1843.

Mr. Darling presented the account of Henry O. Sholes, for advertising militia orders in the Green Bay Republican.

Which were referred to the committee on Territorial expen. ditures,

Mr. Agry presented a petition of inhabitants of the county of Brown, praying the repeal of the present system of township government, and the establishment of a uniform system of coun. ty government throughout the Territory.

Referred to the committee on Territorial affairs.

Mr. Van Vleet presented a petition of inhabitants of the town of Rochester in Racine county, praying that the authority be given to Levi Godfrey, Philo Belden and Henry S. Hubbard to build a dam across Fox River in said town, for hydraulic purpo.

ses.

Referred to the committee on corporations.

Mr. Crossman presented the petition of Elizabeth Harlow asking to be divorced from her husband, Perry Nichols.

Referred to the Judiciary committee.

Mr. Manahan from the committee on corporations reported bill No. 6, entitled "A bill to divide the town of Warren in the county of Milwaukee, and to establish the town of

Which was read the first and second times.

Mr. Crossman, from the committee on engrossed bills, repor ted bill No. 1, entitled "a bill to change the time of holding courts in certain counties in the second judicial district, to be correctly engrossed.

Mr. Hamilton, by leave, introduced memorial No. 1, entitled "memorial to Congress relative to the canal lands."

Which, on Motion of Mr. Hamilton was read the first and second times, and ordered to be printed.

The hour devoted to morning business having expired, the House took up for consideration, bill No. 1, entitled “a bill to change the time of holding courts in certain counties in the second Judicial district."

Which was read the third time, passed, and the title thereof agreed to.

Mr. Crossman, by leave, introduced bill No. 7, entitled "a bill to provide for the punishment of embezzling public money."

Which was read the first and second times.

The Speaker announced the order of the day to be, to amend "an act authorizing Webster Stanley to maintain a ferry across Fox river approved February 13,1842," and the Governor's message relative thereto, and stated the question thereon, to wit: "will the House on re-consideration pass the bill?”

A message from the Council by their Secretary.

66

"Mr Speaker-I am directed to inform this House that the Council have this day passed No. 10, "a bill to change the boundaries of certain towns therein named,” and No. 9, a bill to legalize the proceedings of the inhabitants of Winnebago county in the organization of said county," in which the concur rence of this House is asked.

Mr. Agry moved that the bill be laid on the table, and the message of the Governor accompanying it be referred to a se. lect committee.

Mr. Darling called for a division of the question.

And the question was first put on laying the bill on the table, and determined in the affirmative.

A motion was then made by Mr. Darling to amend the remain. ing part of the motion moved by Mr. Agry, so that the message should be referred to the committee of the whole House.

And pending the question thereon, and

On motion of Mr. Walker,

The House adjourned until 2 o'clock, P. M.

TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.

A message from the Council by their Secretary.

"Mr. Speaker-I am directed to inform this House that the Council have this day concurred in bill No. 1, (House File,) "a bill to change the time of holding courts in certain counties in the second judicial district," with amendments thereto; and have this day passed bills of the following titles, to wit: No. 2, "a bill to provide for the appointment of a Superintendent of Territorial property and for other purposes," and No. 4, "a bill to annex certain fractions or lots of land to the town of Rock, in the county of Rock," in which amendments and bills the concurrence of this House is asked."

The House proceeded to consider the message on the table, when the undermentioned bills of the Council were read the first and second times, to wit:

No. 2, "a bill to provide for the appointment of a Superin. tendent of Territorial property and for other purposes."

No. 4, "a bill to annex certain fractions or lots of land to the town of Rock in the county of Rock."

No. 9, "bill to legalize the proceedings of the inhabitants of Winnebago county, in the organization of said county.

No. 10. "a bill to change the boundaries of certain towns therein named."

On motion of Mr. Hamilton,

Ordered, That bill No. 1, (of this House) entitled "a bill to