tion), another bill was introduced in Congress on the 20th of March, 1848, by J. H. Tweedy, delegate to Congress from Wisconsin, for the admission of Wisconsin into the Union. It was referred to the committee on territories, reported upon favorably, and made a special order for May 9 ensuing, when it came up in the committee of the whole; when Mr. Smith of Indiana moved to amend the first section by adding at the end thereof, the words, "with the boundaries prescribed by the act of Congress, approved Aug. 6, 1846, entitled, ‘An Act to enable the People of Wisconsin Territory to form a Constitution and State Government, and for the Admission of such State into the Union.'" Mr. Smith of Illinois proposed to amend the amendment by defining the boundaries of the new State. A spirited discussion took place; in which Mr. Bowlin, Messrs. Smith of Illinois and Indiana, Mr. Tuck, Mr. Vinton, Mr. Collamer, and others, participated. Mr. Tweedy stated that Wisconsin preferred Rum River as the northern boundary, but would acquiesce if the St. Croix route was decided upon. The bill finally passed the House May 11, 1848, and concurred in by the Senate June 1. On the 18th of July, Senator Walker of Wisconsin succeeded in having the fourth clause of the bill modified.

Wisconsin was admitted into the Union, with an equal footing with the other States, on the 29th of May, 1848.

It may be here remarked, that the western boundary of the new State, by the Mississippi and St. Croix Rivers, left out a full organized county, with a sheriff, clerk of court, judge of probate, and justices of the peace, which had formerly been included within the limits of the Territory, under its government and laws. A bill had been introduced at a previous session in Congress, by Hon. Morgan L. Martin, the delegate from Wisconsin, to organize a Territorial government for Minnesota, including the district left out on the admission of Wisconsin; but which failed to become a law on account of the slavery question, which was then agitating Congress. The citizens of what is now Minnesota were very anxious to obtain a Territorial government; and two public meetings were held, -one at St. Paul, and the other at Stillwater, advising Hon. John Catlin, who was secretary of Wisconsin, to issue a proclamation as the acting governor, for the election of a delegate.

On consulting with Gov. Dodge, who had been elected to the senate (and consequently had vacated the office of governor), and on the resignation of Hon. John H. Tweedy of the office of delegate, Mr. Catlin repaired to Stillwater, and issued a proclamation for the election of delegate. Hon. H. H. Sibley was elected; and nearly four hundred votes were polled at the election. Gen. Sibley presented his certificate of election to Congress, which was referred to a committee, which reported in favor of the admission of the delegate; the committee taking the same view Mr. Catlin had taken. Gen. Sibley was admitted to his seat on the floor of Congress by a vote of two to one; most of the Southern members opposing, contending that the Territorial government fell on the admission of Wisconsin. The admission of Gen. Sibley facilitated and hastened the passage of a bill for the organization of a Territorial government for Minnesota; which Gen. Sibley was enabled to get passed, notwithstanding the opposition of Southern members.

An election for officers of the new State of Wisconsin was held on the 8th of May, 1848. From the report of the board of state canvassers, it appeared, that, for governor, Nelson Dewey received 19,538 votes, and John H. Tweedy 14,449; for lieutenant-governor, John E. Holmes received 19,537, and John H. Rountree 14,355; for secretary of state, Thomas McHugh received 19,485, and Chauncey Abbot 14,584; for treasurer, Jairus C. Fairchild received 18,886, and Charles G. Collins 14,353; for attorney-general, James S. Brown received 17,778, and N. S. Baird 13,975.

In closing this account of the Territorial history of Wisconsin, it may be proper to say, that Wisconsin has successively been under the government of Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. The Territory once belonged to Virginia; or, at least, she has now the full credit of having ceded it, together with all the territory north-west of the Ohio River, to the United States. Up to the year 1800, Wisconsin was under the authority of the Territorial government established in Ohio. In that year she was attached to Indiana Territory, and remained so until 1809, when the Illinois Territory was organized, extending north to Lake Superior, and, of course, including Wisconsin. When Illinois took her place in the Union, in 1818, our

Territory was finally attached to Michigan, and remained so until the organization of the Territorial government of 1836.

It will thus be seen, that, within the space of one hundred and sixty-six years, Wisconsin has been successively ruled by two kings, one State, and four Territories, and is now in a condition to govern herself, and all brought about without any great internal exciting events to produce these revolutions. The people have submitted to each change without a struggle or a murmur. To summarize: Wisconsin has been under the government of France from 1670 to 1759, eighty-nine years; of Great Britain, 1759 to 1794, thirty-five years; of Virginia and Ohio, from 1794 to 1800, six years; of Indiana, from 1800 to 1809, nine years; of Illinois, 1809 to 1818, nine years; of Michigan, 1818 to 1836, eighteen years: total, one hundred and sixty-six years.

CHAPTER XXIV.

ADMINISTRATION OF NELSON DEWEY.

Organization of the State Government Revision of the Statutes Organization of the State University The Presidential Campaign The Free-Soil Party.

THE new State government of Wisconsin was organized on the fifth day of June, 1848, with the following officers: governor, Nelson Dewey; lieutenant-governor, John E. Holmes; secretary of State, Thomas McHugh; State treasurer, Jairus C. Fairchild; attorney-general, James S. Brown. These officers were chosen at the general election, held on the 8th of May, 1848.

On the same day, the first session of the legislature was held at the Capitol, pursuant to the constitution; and the apportionment of senators and representatives was also made under the provisions of the same constitution, and so to continue until otherwise declared by law.

The senate was composed of nineteen members, and was organized by the chair being occupied by the lieutenant-governor, and the election of Henry G. Ab

1848.

bey as chief clerk, and Lyman H. Seaver sergeant-at-arms. The assembly was composed of sixty-six members. Hon. N. E. Whiteside was chosen speaker, Daniel Noble Johnson chief clerk, and John Mullanphy sergeant-at-arms.

The two houses held a session of eighty-five days, adjourning on the 21st of August.

The message of Gov. Dewey recommended many measures incident upon a change of government; among other things, the revision of the statute laws, the election of a State superintendent of schools, the collection and investing the funds