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 43
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The inauguration ceremonies took place on the evening of the 1st of Jan- uary. The main floor and galleries of the assembly, where the ceremonies were held, were densely packed at an early hour, with a very general repre- sentation of public men from all parts of the State, and of the citizens of Madison. At eight o'clock the outgoing and incoming officers entered the hall in a body, when Gov. Lewis read a valedictory address. At its conclu- sion Gov. Fairchild appeared, and took the oath of office, which was admin- istered by Chief Justice Dixon of the Supreme Court, after which the gov- ernor delivered his inaugural address. Subsequently, the several State officers elect came forward separately, and took the oath of office, which was administered to each separately by Chief Justice Dixon. "The State Jour- nal," referring to the administration of Gov. Lewis, says, -
"The administration which has just expired has had the direction of the affairs of State during a period of the greatest difficulty and trial. It has been com- 598
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pelled to assume great responsibilities, and to confront many perplexing and em- barrassing problems. The burdens entailed by the war have enormously in- creased the expenditures of the State, and rendered necessary a corresponding increase of taxation. The credit of the State, and the soundness of its currency, have been at times in great peril. At one time a wide and calamitous financial revulsion seeined inevitable. During the session of 1865, probably a majority of the business-inen of the State regarded a panic as unavoidable, growing out of the change from State to National currency, which would seriously disturb the currents of trade, which would necessarily involve the people in the loss of hun- dreds of thousands of dollars, which would largely depreciate the value of the State bonds, and bring bankruptcy and ruin upon many citizens. These calami- ties were averted by the prutupt, firm, and wise action of the administration, aided by the legislature. Gov. Lewis, it is believed, retires from the executive office with the respect and confidence of the whole people; and, in his voluntary retirement from public life, he will be followed by the esteem and good wishes of the people."
The nineteenth session of the State legislature convened on the tenth day of January, 1866, and adjourned on the 12th of April, holding a session of ninety-three days. The senate was called to order by Lieut .- Gov. Spooner. Frank M. Stewart was elected chief clerk, this being the fourth time he had been chosen; and Nelson Williams was re-elected sergeant-at-arms. In the assembly, Hon. H. D. Barron was elected speaker, E. W. Young chief clerk, and M. L. Hammond sergeant-at-arms. Gov. Fairchild, in his message, be- gins by saying, -
"Our first duty is to give thanks to Almighty God for all his mercies during the year that is past. The people of no nation on earth have greater cause to be thankful than have our people. The enemies of the country have been over- thrown in battle. The war has settled finally great questions at issue between ourselves; and there seems to be an abundant reason to hope that a peace which shall never more be broken by internal strife is at length vouchsafed to us.
"The finances of our State," he remarked, "are in a good condition. By the timely and wise legislation of your predecessors, the financial panic which threat- ened us the early part of last year was successfully avoided, our people were saved from loss, and the State was enabled to pay promptly all demands against it. Our credit is good, and our State debt so small, that it can be easily paid whenever it is necessary."
The governor's message contained a number of important recommenda- tions. Among these may be classed the proposition to cancel the State bonds now invested in the trust-funds, substituting unnegotiable certificates of indebtedness in their place, and so to amend the constitution as to enable the State to create a permanent debt to the trust-funds. The exigency having passed which required the calling-in of dues to the school and university funds, the governor recommends repealing the act of last year, requiring their immediate payment. The recommendations respecting assessments and taxation, the re-surveying of the swamp-lands, and a reform in the auditing of accounts against the State, demand, he says, careful and early consideration. The revision of the statutes is recommended, and the fact that some six hundred amendments have been made since the last
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revision quoted as an evidence of the necessity for such a step. The com- pletion of the Capitol, the acceptance of the Agricultural College grant, and compliance with its terms, the enlargement of the Hospital for the Insane, and the foundation of a home for soldiers' orphans, are the most prominent recommendations of the message. The message closes with a just and eloquent tribute to the services of the brave and patriotic men by whose valor and sacrifices the Union has been maintained, and republican insti- tutions perpetuated.
The following are some of the important measures passed at this session of the legislature :-
An act to authorize the commissioners of school and university lands, with the governor and superintendent of public instruction, to settle and compromise certain indebtedness of the State; to provide for the manage- ment of the trust-funds of the State of Wisconsin; to provide a home for the orphans of Wisconsin soldiers; to provide for completing the State Capitol, and heating the same, and appropriating one hundred and ten thousand dollars for the same, to be paid in the years 1866 and 1867; to provide for the enlargement of the Wisconsin State Hospital for the Insane, and ninety-eight thousand five hundred dollars appropriated for the same; to provide for levying and collecting a State tax, for the year 1866, of one hundred thousand dollars; to apportion the State into senate and assembly- districts; to re-organize and enlarge the University of Wisconsin, and to authorize the County of Dane to issue bonds in aid therefor; to incorporate the board of regents of normal schools, and to define the duties thereof; to amend the general law of 1850, entitled " An Act to prescribe and limit the Rate of Interest;" to provide for the sale of the Agricultural College lands; to provide for a revision of the laws in relation to the assessment and collection of taxes; to provide for the rebuilding of the State Reform School, destroyed by fire.
During the session, there were four hundred and seventy bills introduced in the senate, and six hundred and forty-four in the assembly; and there have been five hundred and eighty-seven local and private laws, one hun- dred and forty-six general laws, one hundred and ten appropriations, seven- teen memorials, and eight joint resolutions passed, making eight hundred and sixty-seven enactments in all. Of the joint resolutions, three were for instructing our senators and representatives in Congress to secure the passage of acts of Congress at the earliest practical moment; giving their approval and consent to certain routes for railroads in the State; one sub- mitting the question of a constitutional convention to the people of the State; one declaring it to be the duty of Senator Doolittle to resign the office of United States senator; and one in reference to an artesian well in the Capitol park. The memorials were mainly for increased mail facilities, and for grants of lands for railroad purposes.
A stringent maximum freight-bill passed the assembly by a very large majority, but failed to secure the concurrence of the Senate. The latter body passed a bill, mild and moderate in its terms, that likewise failed to
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receive the sanction of the assembly. By this disagreement between the two houses, all legislation on the subject was defeated.
Reference has been had to a bill passed to provide a home for the orphans of deceased soldiers. Some further account of this institution will be given. The first bill for a soldiers' orphan home was introduced in the assembly in 1865; but the law authorizing the present establishment was enacted recently, although the Home was opened Jan. 1, 1866, the necessary means being contributed by private subscription. The Home was projected by Mrs. C. A. P. Harvey, who conceived the idea of converting the well-known Harvey U.S.A. General Hospital into a home for the class of children its name indicates. This lady obtained from Messrs. Marshall and Ilsley a prop- osition to sell the property lying on the shore of Lake Menona, formerly the property of ex-Gov. L. J. Farwell, at a price of ten thousand dollars, provided that the General Government would donate its share of the build- ings and improvements made thereon (at a cost of about twelve thousand), and provided, also, that it should be fitted up and furnished in readiness for the orphans of soldiers from Wisconsin who have died in the service during the late Rebellion, such fitting-up and furnishing to be done by private sub- scriptions, and then as a whole donated to the State, in which the title should be vested; all with a view to its permanent establishment under the auspices of the State, to be classed with its other benevolent and charitable institu- tions. The plan having been submitted to the secretary of war, by his order possession was given to Mrs. Harvey, subject to the conditions of Messrs. Marshall and Ilsley's proposition. The amount raised by subscription was $12,834.69. The grounds are situated about a mile from the Capitol Square, and the building was erected by Gov. Farwell in 1856.
The Home became a State institution March 31, 1866. Prior to the pur- chase of the property by the State, the institution had been opened by Mrs. Harvey and a temporary board of trustees. Under their direction, the build- ing was thoroughly refitted and furnished; and, at the time the State took possession, there were eighty-four orphans duly admitted, and properly cared for. Mrs. Harvey was the first superintendent. On the 1st of May, 1867, she resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. F. B. Brewer, who occupied the position until Jan. 1, 1868, when Rev. I. N. Cundall was elected to the position. After filling the place over a year, he resigned, and was succeeded by William P. Towers, who staid till March 1, 1872, when R. W. Burton succeeded. The latter gentleman occupied the position until the closing-up of the institution, in the year 1874. The history of the Home will be con- tinued in subsequent pages. In the year 1866 the State University was completely re-organized, so as to meet the requirements of the laws of Con- gress granting the lands for agricultural colleges; and there were appropri- ated for the endowment and support of the university the income of the university-fund, and the income of a fund to be derived from the sales of the two hundred and forty thousand acres of land granted by Congress to the State of Wisconsin. In pursuance of a law passed at the session of the legislature of this year, the county of Dane issued bonds to the amount of
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forty thousand dollars for the purchase of about two hundred acres of land, lying contiguous to the university grounds, for an experimental farm, and for the erection of suitable buildings thereon.
The proposals for sinking an artesian well in the Capitol Park, as author- ized by a resolution of the legislature, were opened on the 21st of May, 1866. The proposals were for sinking a well to the depth of five hundred feet, within which distance it was expected that water in sufficient quantity would be found. The contract was awarded to J. H. Underwood, for forty-nine hundred and fifty dollars.
The proposals for building two additional wings to the Hospital for the Insane were considered by the board of trustees on the 23d of May. Some thirty proposals were received, most of them for only parts of the work. The proposition of A. R. Moxley (one hundred and three thousand and seven hundred dollars) being the lowest, the executive committee were author- ized to accept his bid, and enter into a contract for doing the whole work. The two wings were to be completed by the 1st of July, 1867. Mr. Moxley subsequently declined accepting the contract; and the work was advertised again for the reception of proposals, certain changes having been made in the details. On the 10th of June, the bids were opened (sixteen), and the contract awarded to Andrew Proudfit, and Anderson, Davidson, & Co .; the former doing the mason-work, and the latter the carpenter-work. The aggregate cost of the work by the contract was to be ninety-eight thousand dollars. The apparatus for heating the new wings was provided for under a separate contract.
The board of Capitol building-commissioners, at a session held on the 21st of July, decided, that under the law of last winter, limiting the amount for completing the Capitol to eighty-five thousand dollars, while the bids for doing the work ranged from one hundred and fifty-one thousand five hun- dred dollars to two hundred thousand dollars, they would not be justified in letting any contract the present season. The whole matter would have to be referred to the next legislature.
The board of regents of the university, at their meeting in August, 1866, elected Prof. Paul A. Chadbourne of Williams College, Mass., president of the university. At the congressional election in November, 1866, Hal- bert E. Paine, Benjamin F. Hopkins, Amasa Cobb, Charles A. Eldridge, Philetus Sawyer, and C. C. Washburn were elected members of Congress. The vote for a constitutional convention was, -for convention, 22,431 ; against convention, 30,862.
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CHAPTER LVII.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. FAIRCHILD.
Events of 1867 - Legislation -Statistics - Death of Senator Hadley- Contest for the United-States Senatorship- Criticisms on the Legislature.
THE second year of the administration of Gov. Fairchild commenced Jan. 1, 1867. On the 9th, the twentieth session of the State legislature con- vened, and was organized in the senate by IIon. Wyman Spooner, lieutenant- governor, taking the chair as president, and the election of L. B. Hills as chief clerk, and Asa Kinney as sergeant-at-arms ; and in the assembly by the election of Angus Cameron as speaker, E. W. Young chief clerk, and Daniel Webster sergeant-at-arms. The session continued till April 11, when it adjourned, after ninety-three days' service. The annual message was read in person by the governor, on the 10th of January. A large por- tion of the document is occupied with a summary of the facts contained in the reports of the several State officers and the trustees of public institu- tions. Few of those reports are seen and read by the masses of the people; and, unless the information they give is thus reproduced by the governor, it does not get disseminated through the State. He reiterates liis approbation of the policy of investing the trust-funds in non-negotiable securities ; recommends memorializing Congress in favor of the assumption of the war- debts of loyal States by the General Government; an amendment to the insurance-law, so as to require all companies to report annually to the secre- tary of State; the limitation of the number of notaries public, and the requirement of a reasonable fee for their commissions; the fostering of the agricultural and other interests of the State by appropriate legislation; a thorough inquiry, with a view to ascertain precisely what course should be pursued, consisting with equity and sound State policy, in regard to the complaints against railroad-corporations; the adoption of measures to induce emigration from Europe; a liberal policy towards the several benev- olent institutions of the State, the State University, and the State Ilistorical Society; a more efficient military law, which shall provide for the mainte- nance of at least ten thoroughly-organized companies of militia; an increase of the salaries of the judges of the Supreme Court; and an appropriation of the proportion due from this State for the completion of the national ceme- teries. He also renews his remonstrances against special legislation. The
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message closes with an earnest recommendation for the adoption of the con- stitutional amendment, and a brief reference to the subject of reconstruc- tion, declaring it to be the duty of Congress to provide for the establishment of provisional governments over those portions of the country lately in rebellion, where the people have refused to acquiesce in the amendment.
On the 23d of January, the two houses met in joint convention, at which time the chief clerk of the senate proceeded to read so much of the journal of the senate as related to the action of the senate on the preceding day in the matter of an election of a senator in Congress from the State of Wis- consin ; from which it appeared that Timothy O. Howe received twenty- three votes, Charles A. Eldredge received nine votes, and E. S. Bragg received one vote, of the votes of the senators for senator in the Congress of the United States from said State.
The chief clerk of the assembly then read so much of the journal of the assembly as related to the said subject ; from which it appeared that Timo- thy O. Howe received seventy-two votes, Charles A. Eldridge received thirty-one votes, E. S. Bragg one vote, and J. J. Guppy one vote, of the votes of the members of the assembly; whereupon, it appearing that Tim- othy O. Howe, had received a majority of all the votes in each house, the president of the joint assembly declared the said Timothy O. Howe duly elected senator for the term of six years, commencing the 4th of March, 1868.
A joint resolution of the two houses was adopted, and approved by the governor, on the 26th of January, - that IIon. James R. Doolittle, United States senator from Wisconsin, having disregarded the resolution of the legislature of 1866, declaring it his duty to resign the office of United States senator for certain reasons set forth in said resolutions, is hereby instructed to resign the senatorial office.
On the 3d of March, Hon. Jackson Hadley, senator of the fifth senatorial district, died at his residence in Milwaukee. He had attended the session of the legislature until within a few days of his death. Though his limbs were paralyzed, and he was unable to walk, he took an active part in the busi- ness of the senate. His death was sudden, though not unexpected. Appro- priate resolutions were passed by the two houses, and the legislature adjourned to attend the funeral solemnities.
At a subsequent date, Henry L. Palmer was elected senator to fill the unexpired term of office of Senator Hadley. The legislature passed one hundred and eighty-one general laws, six hundred and nine private and local laws, and twenty-two joint resolutions. Of the latter, is one request- ing Senator Doolittle to resign; ratifying the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and submitting the same to a vote of the peo- ple; two relative to the North Pacific Railroad; relating to the improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi River; authorizing the governor to pre- pare a suitable medal for Cyrus W. Field; and one amending the constitu- tion of the State, relating to the right of suffrage.
Of the important laws enacted were the following: to authorize the gov-
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ernor to appoint commissioners to represent the State in the Industrial Exhibition at Paris in 1867 ; to regulate the hours of manual labor, and fix the same at eight hours a day ; for the relief of families of citizens of Wisconsin who served in the naval service of the United States ; to provide for levying and collecting a State tax for 1867 (four hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars); to establish a board of emigration; to provide for continuing the work on the State Capitol, and eighty-five thou- sand dollars appropriated for the same; three bills which effect the consoli- dation of the several lines of railroad running into Milwaukee (with the exception of the Lake Shore Road) in the hands of the St. Paul Railway Company.
The session was prolonged, and its business embarrassed, by the intro- duction of several local bills, in which individual members had a deep per- sonal interest; such as the Dells Improvement, the Beef Slough Boom Bill, and the repeal of the charter of the Black River Improvement Company. Of the members of this legislature, one newspaper says, --
"Individually there were many amiable, ligli-minded, and able men in both houses: there were some otherwise, as there always will be. The good speakers, the men of talent and excellent social qualities, were numerons; and they were regarded with great personal respect. Collectively, as a law-making body, in a great public crisis when statesmanship, and not partisanship, was wanted, this legislature must be pronounced a failure, and a damage to the State, and deserv- ing the seal of reprobation, which has already been placed upon it. Among other things, the members were extraordinarily greedy in the matter of perquisites. Each member has had thirty dollars' worth of stationery, and seventy-five dol- lars' worth of postage-stamps; and each senator had a copy of "Webster's Un- abridged Dictionary." This amounted to $14,029, besides all that was given to the regular and subordinate officers. It has been an idle legislature, working, on an average, not to exceed three hours a day, during five days of the week."
Another paper, more in sympathy with the party having the majority in the legislature, says, -
" When the legislature met, a general impression prevailed, that the session would be brief, and the amount of business done, small, as compared with previous sessions. None of these expectations have been realized. The session has proved unnsnally protracted; the amount of business done has been very large; and but little attention has been given to the assessment and collection laws. Indeed, the assembly finally postponed the senate bill on that subject, for want of time to examine it. Rings were formed in support of and in opposition to certain measures, and a sharp system of log-rolling organized; so that frequently votes were largely influenced upon other and independent bills, with little or no regard to their real merits or demerits. This has been more noticeable in the late session than pre- vions ones, and was the cause not only of prolonging the session, but perhaps of the passage of some measures which could not have succeeded upon their merits alone."
Hon. Orsamus Cole was re-elected associate justice of the Supreme Court, at the election in April, for six years from May 30, 1867.
. The bids for the completion of the Capitol rotunda to, and including, the base of the dome, and enclosing it by .. temporary roof, were opened on the
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18th of May, 1867; and the contract was awarded by the building-commis- sioners to William Goodnow of Milwaukee, for $83,636. The Milwaukee city papers, in the month of May, published a list of incomes of that city, as returned to the United States assessor, with the thousand dollars and other exemptions deducted. The largest income, and the only one above $100,000, was that of Alexander Mitchell, which was 8132,000. There were also nine other incomes above 830,000; viz., L. H. Kellogg, 871,384; M. H. Meaberry, 836,160; John Nazro, 831,070; G. C. Stevens, $31,053; D. Wells, jun., $33,395; M. S. Tyson, 830,662; N. Englemann, $30,117; G. Pfister, 834,403; F. Vogel, 834,403. There were also fourteen incomes between $20,000 and $30,000, and thirty-eight between 810,000 and 820,000. A list of the aggregate sales of leading business-houses shows that nineteen houses did a business of over half a million dollars; six more, of over a million of dollars; and all but one of them, over a million and a half ; and three com- mission-merchants, of over two milions of dollars; G. I. Jones & Co. leading the list with sales of $2,980,884.
The Republican Union State Convention convened at Madison on the 5th of September, 1867, Hon. Edward Salomon, president. On the infor- mal ballot for governor, Lucius Farchild received 219 of the 247 votes cast, and was unanimously renominated. Hon. Wyman Spooner received 254 votes, Hon. Henry D. Barron, 98 votes, and 8 votes scattering, for the office of lieutenant-governor. Mr. Spooner, having received a majority of the votes, was declared renominated.
Hon. Thomas S. Allen was renominated secretary of state by acclama- tion, and Hon. William E. Smith the same for state treasurer. For the office of attorney-general, Charles R. Gill received 138 votes, H. S. Magoon, 40 votes, Edwin Hurlbut, 37, Levi Hubbel, 9, and 10 scattering. Mr. Gill was unanimously nominated. Gen. Jeremiah M. Rusk was renominated bank comptroller by acclamation. For state-prison commissioner, Henry Cordier received 142 votes, George F. Wheeler, 98 votes, and 17 votes scat- tering. Mr. Cordier was unanimously nominated. For superintendent of public instruction, A. J. Craig received 131 votes, and J. G. McMynn, 120 votes; J. E. Munger, 6 votes. On a formal vote, Mr. Craig received 144, and Mr. McMynn received 119 votes. Mr. Craig was nominated unani- mously.
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