USA > Wisconsin > An illustrated history of the state of Wisconsin : being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875 > Part 28
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Henry L. Palmer, who subsequently declined, James T. Lewis being substituted in his place; William C. Allen, secretary of state ; S. D. Hastings, state treasurer; J. H. Howe, attorney- general ; John Bracken, bank comptroller; Hans C. Heg, state- prison commissioner ; and J. L. Pickard, superintendent of pub- lic instruction.
On the 26th of September, the Republican State Convention was held at Madison, which made the following nominations : governor, L. P. Harvey ; lieutenant-governor, Edward Salomon ; secretary of state, James T. Lewis; state treasurer, S. D. Hastings; attorney-general, James H. Howe; bank comptroller, W. H. Ramsay; superintendent of public instruction, J. L. Pickard; and state-prison commissioner, A. P. Hodges.
The Democratic State Convention met at Madison, Oct. 2, and made the following nominations: governor, Benjamin Ferguson ; lieutenant-governor, H. M. Billings; secretary of state, Charles H. Benton; state treasurer, H. L. Dousman; attorney-general, P. A. Orton; bank comptroller, J. Vollmar ; superintendent of public instruction, H. G. Winslow ; state- prison commissioner, J. J. Cilley. At the election in Novem- ber, the Republican State ticket was elected, Gov. Harvey by nearly eight thousand majority ; J. T. Lewis, secretary of state, by over ten thousand ; and the remainder of the ticket ranging from five thousand to ten thousand. Of the members of the legislature elected at the same time in the senate, the Repub- licans were twenty-two, and the Democrats eleven; and in the assembly, forty-three Republicans, thirty-four Democrats, and twenty-three Union. Of the latter, seventeen were of Demo- cratic antecedents.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
WISCONSIN'S WAR RECORD.
Events of 1862 - Administration of Gov. Harvey and Lieut .- Gov. Edward Salo- mon - Sad Death of Gov. Harvey - Consternation throughout the State at his Death - Legislation - Investigations, &c.
THE ceremony of the inauguration of the new State officers was held on Monday, Jan. 6, 1862, at 12, M., and was quite imposing, in consequence of the military display which attended it. The Twelfth, Fifteenth, and Sixteenth Regiments escorted the officers elect (who, with the retiring governor, were seated in an elegant sleigh) around the park, when they proceeded to the east front of the Capitol, the regiments being drawn up before it. A large number of ladies and gentlemen were present. The oath of office was administered by Chief-Justice Dixon. All the officers were present, except Mr. Hodges, the state-prison commissioner. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, ex-Gov. Randall came forward, and, in a brief and appropriate speech, introduced his successor, Hon. Louis P, Harvey, to the troops ; and a salute of cannon was fired. Gov. Harvey responded briefly. In the evening, the State officers held a public recep- tion at the assembly chamber.
Gov. Harvey took an active interest in the important events then occurring, and particularly in the welfare of the soldiers who had gone into the government service from this State. Soon after the battle at Pittsburg Landing (on the 7th of April), the certainty that some of the Wisconsin regiments had suffered severely, induced the governor to organize an expedition for the relief of the wounded and suffering soldiers. In less than twenty-four hours, supplies were gathered; and on the 10th the party started on their benevolent object, the governor among
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the number. On their arrival at Chicago, they found ninety boxes of supplies, &c., furnished, which were forwarded to accompany the party. Of this large number, sixty-one were from Milwaukee, thirteen from Madison, six from Beloit, and the remainder from various parts of the State. On their arrival at Mound City, they administered to the wants of some thirty soldiers, and also at Paducah and Savannah, where the presence of the governor, and the benefactions of Wisconsin friends, did much to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and wounded. It appears that the party had very nearly completed its labors, and was intending to take a boat for Cairo on their homeward trip, when a disaster occurred, which brought sorrow to many hearts, and the loss to Wisconsin of its patriotic governor. It appears, from the published accounts in the newspapers, that, at first, it was intended to go on board of " The January;" but that boat had started a little too early. The steamer "Dunleith " was lying at the wharf; and the party went on board of her to wait until " The Minnehaha " arrived, upon which they were to come as far as Cairo. It was not expected that the boat would call for them before morning; and many of the party had lain down to rest. But, about ten o'clock in the evening, "The Minnehaha " hove in sight, and the party were aroused; Gov. Harvey and others taking a position near the edge and forepart of the boat "Dunleitlı." As " The Minnehaha " rounded up, her bow com- ing near the "Dunleith," the governor took a step backward, apparently to get out of the way; but, the night being very dark and rainy, he made a misstep, and fell overboard between the two steamers. Dr. Wilson of Sharon, being present, imme- diately reached down his cane. The governor grasped hold of it with such force as to instantly pull it from the doctor's hands. Dr. Clark of Racine immediately jumped into the water, and made every effort to save the governor, but without success. He made himself fast to the rigging about the wheel of "The Minnehaha," and threw his body out in the direction of the governor as far as possible. At one time, he thinks, the govern- or came within a few inches of getting hold of him, but was finally washed down the current, -it being very strong, - and is supposed to have passed under a flat-boat that lay just below. Every assistance was given, all persons (acquaintances or
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strangers) doing all in their power to aid, first, in saving the life, and afterwards to procure the corpse ; but all efforts were unavailing. A reward of one thousand dollars was offered by Gen. Brodhead for the recovery of the body; and the offer was ratified by the State authorities. The body was recovered about the 3d of May, about sixty miles below Pittsburg Landing, and was identified by his watch, pencil, and papers found on his person. Every thing was secured, including his money. The remains were sent on by express, and special train from Chicago, and arrived on the 7th, and conveyed to the State Capitol, and placed in the assembly chamber, under a military guard of honor. The funeral services took place the day following, with imposing and impressive ceremonies. The body was buried in Forest Hill Cemetery.
No event of public importance ever occurred in the State that created such a profound impression as the death of Gov. Har- vey under such distressing circumstances. Public meetings were held in different cities and towns, and resolutions adopted expressing the great loss the State had sustained by his death, and passing resolutions of sympathy for his bereaved family. " He was," says one writer, "a man of incorruptible integrity, an earnest patriot ; and Wisconsin was fortunate in having such a man at the head of her affairs. He was earnest and zealous in calling her sons to the field, and in securing fidelity and thor- oughness in every detail of their equipment; and, when there came from the battle-field a call for humanity in behalf of her wounded soldiers, Gov. Harvey was the first to answer to the appeal, and it was the closing act of his useful and honored life. In the prime of life, upon the very threshold of the honors to which he had nobly aspired, the bubbling waters closed over him, and he is lost to human vision forever."
The following is believed to be an extract from the last letter he wrote, addressed to his private secretary, W. H. Watson, Esq., "Thank God for the impulse which brought me here ! I am doing a good work, and shall stay as long as I am so profita- bly employed."
On the 22d of April, Hon. Edward Salomon, lieutenant- governor, issued a proclamation announcing the death of Gov. Harvey, and that he had by constitutional requirement as-
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sumed the duties of the office which had devolved on him by this event, and, in behalf of the State, tendered to the bereaved widow the deep and sorrowful sympathy and condolence of the people. He also recommended, that for thirty days all public offices, court-houses, and other public buildings, be clad in mourning, and that during that time the people of the State wear the usual badges of mourning. He further appointed the first day of May, A.D. 1862, as a day of public rest and cessation of business, and recommended to the people of the State, that on that day, between the hours of ten and twelve o'clock in the morning, they assemble in their respective towns, cities, and villages, then and there to commemorate the death of the late governor, Hon. Louis P. Harvey by such public demonstrations as may be appropriate to the occasion.
The fifteenth session of the State legislature convened Jan. 8, 1862, and adjourned April 7, 1862, to meet again June 3: after a short session, it again adjourned, June 17. The governor (Edward Salomon), on the 28th of August, issued a proclamation, stating that business of great public importance rendered a special session necessary, and calling a special ses- sion of the legislature to meet on the tenth day of September. The legislature, in accordance with the proclamation, met at the specified time, and adjourned Sept. 26, 1862.
The following persons comprised the officers at the session of Jan. 8: Hon. Edward Salomon, lieutenant-governor, president of the senate, J. H. Warren chief clerk; and B. N. Caswell sergeant-at-arms; and, in the assembly, J. W. Beardsley speak- er, John S. Dean chief clerk; and A. A. Huntington sergeant- at-arms. On the 10th of January, Gov. Harvey read his mes- sage to the legislature in joint convention. In opening he said, -
" No previous legislature has convened under equal incentives to a dis- interested zeal in the public service. The occasion pleads with you in rebuke of all the meaner passions, admonishing to the exercise of a con- scientious patriotism, becoming the representatives of a Christian people, called in God's providence to pass through the furnace of a great trial of their virtue, and of the strength of the government."
He reported the receipts into the general fund for the year 1861, 8435,536.97, and the disbursements from the same, $418,-
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960.44; leaving a balance in the State treasury on the 31st of December, 1861, of 816,568.53. Of the war-fund there had been received from the sales of bonds, and payments from the United States, and other sources, for the expenses of the first six regi- ments, $957,368.79, which was duly applied. He also recom- mended the suggestions of the officers of the benevolent and humanitarian institutions of the State, and stated that the appropriations asked for in their reports had his cordial indorse- ment. He also referred to the progress of enlistment in the fourteen regiments that had been made in the State, and gave at length statistics of the quartermaster and commissary- general's departments. He also devoted much attention to the subject of taxation, and suggested some important changes in the law on that subject. On the 7th of April, the legislature adjourned until the 3d of June following. A committee on the assessment and taxation laws had been authorized to sit during the recess. A committee was also appointed to investigate the war-fund, to report also at the adjourned meeting.
Among the bills passed at the session was one to suspend the sale of certain lands mortgaged to the State, or held by volunteers; also to establish a system of graded teachers' certificates; to authorize a collection of agricultural, mineral, and manufacturing statistics ; to provide for the adjustment of the government tax for 1862; to authorize the borrowing of money on the faith and credit of the State, to defray extraordi- nary expenditure, by which a loan of fifty thousand dollars was authorized for expenses of enlargement of the Capitol, and work on the Hospital for the Insane; to authorize the issuing of State bonds, for war and other purposes, to the amount of two hundred thousand dollars; to relieve the holders of rail- road mortgages made in aid of railroad companies ; and an act to ascertain and settle the liabilities of the State of Wisconsin to the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal Company, and to appoint a board of commissioners to adjudicate the same.
On the third day of June, the legislature met pursuant to adjournment. The acting governor sent a communication to the two houses, informing them of the death of the late Gov. Har- vey, and the circumstances attending the finding of his body. He also referred to a number of bills passed prior to the adjourn-
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ment, and presented to Gov. Harvey for approval, which had not been signed by him, and stated, that, after due reflection, he had come to the conclusion, that the bills had failed to be- come laws, and that he had no power to act upon them. He stated that it had been a source of embarrassment that no provis- ions had been made for contingencies, which had arisen since the adjournment, concerning the sick and wounded soldiers from the State, and recommended that provision be made for such emergencies. He recommended that the number of judges of the supreme court be increased to five.
Among the acts passed, was one to provide for levying a State tax for the year 1862 (a hundred and fifty thousand dollars) ; to authorize the state treasurer to pay for transporting troops; to discontinue the active services of certain military officers, and to provide for the execution of certain duties by the secre- tary of state and state treasurer for the relief of Mrs. Cordelia Harvey, widow of the late governor, Louis P. Harvey, to the amount of twenty-five hundred dollars; to authorize the acting governor to care for the sick and wounded soldiers of Wiscon- sin volunteers, and to appropriate money for that purpose; to authorize the quartermaster-general to order bills for subsisting and transporting volunteers.
The joint select committee, appointed under a joint resolution of the assembly, -to whom was referred that portion of the governor's message relating to and connected with the military operations of the State, the raising of troops, uniforming, sub- sisting, and transporting the same, the negotiation of the war- bonds, and the disbursement of the ten thousand dollars appro- priated to extraordinary expenditures in the executive depart- ment, - made a lengthy report on those subjects, in which they commented severely on the manner in which the work had been performed ; among other things, that Ex-Gov. Randall appeared to have selected persons to occupy the several home offices, to act for the State in the formation of the regiments raised within its borders, without the slightest reference or regard to their qualifications therefor, either physical, mental, or moral.
The committee also stated that the negotiation of the war- bonds of the State was not conducted agreeably to law, and
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O.W. Wight
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that the same were sold to Wisconsin bankers at a depreciation, without any effort to negotiate them in Eastern cities ; and that the treasurer and other officers preferred the bonds should be negotiated in their State for banking-purposes; and, in conse- quence of this action, the State was defrauded out of a large amount. The manner in which army supplies were procured was severely censured, also the the employment of State agents whose services were not needed. The committee also held that much money had been squandered for this purpose, also that the business in the commissary department was injudiciously transacted. Attached to the report is the testimony taken in connection therewith. This report was signed by F. O. Thorpe and T. R. Hadd, committee of the senate ; and J. V. V. Platto, F. S. Ellis, H. T. Moore, and H. C. Hamilton, committee on part of the assembly.
A minority report of the joint select committee on the same subjects was also made, in which they said that the report of the majority of the committee, as far as the negotiation of the war-bonds is concerned, was a gross misrepresentation of the facts, a perversion of the testimony, and misquoting of the laws, by which the most astounding conclusions have been reached. The minority gave their views on what they considered the true construction of the law, and sustained the course taken by the State officers therewith. The charges of waste and extrava- gance in the management and disbursing of funds in the offices of the quartermaster and commissary-general's departments were grossly exaggerated; and they concluded by saying the ma- jority of the committee, in their report, had discovered no facts or evidence reflecting in the slightest degree upon the integ- rity or capacity of the loan commissioners ; but, on the contrary, the minority of the committee believed that in the sale of such bonds, as large, if not a greater sum was realized than could have been obtained in any Eastern market; and that, in refer- ence to Gov. Randall, six months of labor had failed to impli- cate him in a single dishonorable transaction in the discharge of the duties of his office. That he had committed errors was true : what man could avoid it, they asked ? But in all the charges of waste and extravagance preferred against him, said they, with but trifling exceptions, the volunteers of our State were benefited.
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In reference to this legislature, the newspapers of the day had much to say, and that not in the most complimentary, man- ner. It was said that a brief and economical session was de- manded and expected, and that at no previous session had the - people sent up so few petitions for legislative action ; and yet the session was prolonged till April. In the assembly there was no controlling element; no party or organization was responsible for what was done. Neither Republicans nor Demo- crats had a majority ; but the balance of power was held by the so-called Union members, - men, as a class, without positive views, desiring to be on good terms with the two parties, and hesitating whether to remain on one side or the other.
CHAPTER XL.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR SALOMON.
Events of 1862- Legislation -The Draft - Opposition to the Same - High Pitch of the War Excitement - Indian Troubles in Minnesota and on our Western Border.
INASMUCH as Gov. Harvey, in his message in January, 1862, gave no statistics of the institutions of the State, it will be necessary to give a few statistics in this regard, taken from the reports of that year.
The bank comptroller states that the whole number of banks on the first day of October, 1861, according to last annual re- port, was one hundred and seven, of which sixty-eight were doing business on an aggregate capital of $4,247,000, and thirty-nine, whose circulation was discredited, with an aggregate capital of 82,260,000 ; total 86,507,000. The whole of banks doing busi- ness Oct. 1, 1862, was sixty-five, with a capital of 83,298,000, showing a decrease in capital, in twelve months, of 83,209,000. The whole amount of circulating notes delivered to banks, and outstanding Oct. 1, 1862, was $2,240,384; which were secured by deposits of stocks at par value, and specie in the sum of 82,449,361.53.
The number of students in the State University during the year 1862 was one hundred and twenty-nine. Twenty-six had been taken out of the classes to enter the army. The regents of the university established a normal department this year ; and Prof. C. H. Allen was appointed principal. It was opened March 16; and the entire south wing was set apart for the pur- poses of this school.
The whole number of pupils in attendance at the Institution for the Blind for 1862 was fifty. Some changes were made in
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the instructive force, and the institution had a year of prosper- ity.
The total number of convicts in the State-prison Oct. 1, 1862, was one hundred and seventy-three ; and the total number from the organization to that date was seven hundred and sixty-four. The appropriation to the institution for 1862 was twenty thou- sand dollars. The whole number of inmates in the State Reform School was eighty.
The trustees of the Hospital for the Insane reported that the work on the west wing had been carried forward to the entire satisfaction of the Board ; and the whole building was completed, and ready for occupancy, on the first day of June, 1862. The internal management of the institution from and after its open- ing in June, 1860, was under the control of Dr. J. P. Clement as superintendent, with an assistant physician, matron, and a competent board of assistants. Up to Oct. 1, 1861, there had been admitted one hundred and forty-five patients; and from that date to Oct. 1, 1862, the number of patients admitted was eighty-nine; the whole number from the opening to that date was two hundred and thirty-four.
The trustees of the Deaf and Dumb Institution reported that there had been in attendance during the year 1862 eighty-two pupils, of whom six graduated at the close of the term, having attended the prescribed number of years.
From the report of the superintendent of public instruction, we have the following statistics: the whole number of children between the ages of four and twenty, 308,056; average wages paid male teachers, $25.45; female teachers, 816.61; State fund apportioned during the year, 8149,891; whole number of schoolhouses, 3,909, of which 2,324 are framed, 1,227 log-houses, and 358 stone and brick ; the total valuation of all $1,255,852; the highest valuation twelve thousand dollars, and the lowest reported at one cent.
A synopsis of the report of the adjutant-general will be found in the history of the war for the year 1862.
The extra session of the legislature commenced on the 10th of September, the day appointed by Gov. Salomon in the call for the same. The same officers were elected as at the former sessions. Gov. Salomon sent to the two houses his message.
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He referred to the fact, that, since the adjournment of the pre- vious session, six hundred thousand men had been called for by the government for putting down the Rebellion, and that it had become necessary to rely upon a system of drafting to furnish the quota called for from this State. He referred to the attack of the savages upon the whites in Minnesota, and to the conse- quent massacre of a number of the inhabitants, and said that he wa., called upon by the people in the frontier settlements for arms, ammunition, and men ; that he had promptly answered thesc calls by sending all of the State arms and ammunition at his disposal into the regions threatened with danger. He rec- ommended an effective organization of the State militia, and a supply of arms and ammunition for emergencies. He recom- mended the enactment of a law to give soldiers then in the army from this State the right to vote at the next general elec- tion. He referred, also, to the condition of the Volunteer Aid Fund, and recommended a special tax to meet deficiencies for that purpose.
The extra session adjourned on the 26th of September, hav- ing been in session sixteen days, and enacted seventeen laws. Of the bills passed was one for levying and collecting for the year 1862 a special tax of 8275,000 to apply for the aid of volunteers ; one to enable the militia and volunteers of this State, when in the military service of the United States, or in this State, to exercise the right of suffrage ; one to empower towns, cities, and counties to raise money for the payment of bounties to volunteers ; and one to empower certain towns to levy a tax for a similar purpose.
From the tone of the newspapers at that time, it would seem that the extra session did not fulfil the wishes of the people .in their enactments. The law that was passed for a tax of $275,- 000 could not be made available until February, 1863 ; and there was a present necessity for the regular and prompt payment of the five dollars per month pledged by the State to the families of volunteers.
No measure was adopted furnishing this relief; and it was claimed that a bill could have been enacted, but for the op- position of certain members, who, by political manœuvring, managed to prevent it.
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In the fall of the year, it was found necessary to resort to a draft to raise the number of troops required under the recent calls of the government ; and, in the month of November, serious disturbances took place in one of the counties of the State at the time of the execution of the draft. The proceed- ings of the draft were interrupted by a large and numerous body of armed men, who destroyed the militia-rolls and ballot-boxes, drove away and maltreated the drafting-commissioner, demol- ished his house, injured many other peaceable and law-abiding citizens, and destroyed the property of many persons who were obnoxious to them. On being apprised of these disgraceful proceedings, the governor took prompt measures to restore peace, and enforce the draft. A large number of persons, most of them taken with arms in their hands, were arrested, and turned over to the United States military authorities, that they might be dealt with as ordered by the President of the United States, who had commanded that all persons resisting military drafts should be tried by court-martial or military commission.
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