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 44
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The Democratic State Convention was held at Madison the 12th of September, 1867, B. F. Ferguson, president. On an informal vote for governor, J. J. Tallmadge received 106, Charles Dunn, 25, E. S. Bragg, 14, Alexander Mitchell, 14, and 5 scattering votes. Mr. Tallmadge was unani- mously nominated. G. L. Park was also unanimously nominated for lieu- tenant-governor. For secretary of State, Emil Rothe, having received 145 votes of the 158, was unanimously nominated. Peter Rupp, having received a majority of the votes, was unanimously nominated State treasurer. For attorney-general, E. S. Bragg received 77 votes, 13 for Judge L. P. Weath- erby, 21 for George B. Smith, 28 for A. B. Braley, and the remainder scattering. Gen. Bragg having withdrawn his name, Judge Weatherby
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was unanimously nominated. For bank comptroller, R. J. Harney was . nominated by acclamation. For state-prison commissioner, Ole Heg, having received a majority of all the votes, was declared unanimously nominated; as was also Lyman C. Draper for superintendent of public instruction. On the 12th Mr. Draper declined the nomination; and the place on the ticket was filled by the Democratic State Committee, by substituting the name of William H. Peck.
At the election in November, the Republican ticket was elected. For governor, Lucius Fairchild receiving 73,637 votes, and J. J. Tallmadge 68,873. Fairchild's majority, 4,564. The legislature of 1868 stood: sen- ate, 13 Union, 15 Democrats; assembly, 59 Union, 41 Democrats.
The work on the artesian well, near the south entrance of Capitol Park, was begun; but after going down a thousand feet, at a cost of 88,622.70, and finding no water, the work was reluctantly abandoned. At a subsequent date, the well was made to subserve a valuable purpose, as will hereafter be noticed.
CHAPTER LVIII.
SECOND ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. FAIRCHILD.
Events of 1868- Legislation -Statistics - Description of the State Capitol- Election Contest - Presidential Election.
THE State officers elected by the people of the State, in November, 1867, entered upon their duties the first day of January, 1868. Most of them met in the executive office at ten o'clock, A.M., and were sworn into office by Chief Justice Dixon of the Supreme Court. Lieut .- Gov. Spooner and State- prison Commissioner Cordier were absent. Having taking the oath, the officers returned to their respective departments. The only new officer was the state superintendent of schools, A. J. Craig, who had been for many years the assistant superintendent.
The twenty-first session of the State legislature convened on the 8th of January, 1868, and adjourned on the 6th of March, after a short session of fifty-nine days. In the senate, Lieut .- Gov. Spooner took his seat as presi- dent. L. B. Hills was elected chief clerk, and William H. Hamilton ser- geant-at-arms. In the senate, there were eighteen Republicans, and fourteen Democrats.
In the assembly, A. M. Thomson was elected speaker, E. W. Young chief clerk, and C. L. Harris sergeant-at-arms.
Gov. Fairchild, in his message, gives the important facts in relation to the several departments of the State, and its benevolent and reformatory insti- tutions. He refrains from recommending several changes in the fundamental law, which he would make, from an idea that the people would, at no dis- tant day, call for a constitutional convention.
The following are the recommendations of the message in brief : that the state land-commissioners, who have in charge the several trust-funds of the State, be authorized to invest those funds in United-States or other first- class securities, the outstanding State bonds having been nearly absorbed by them; the closing of the war-fund, as recommended by the secretary of state, and the payment of such claims as remain against it out of the gen- eral fund; the revision and amendment of the assessment and collection laws, and recommends the suggestions of Gen. Allen, secretary of state, relative thereto; the speedy codification or revision of the statutes; less legislation of a private and local nature; that the superintendent of public instruction be
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made, by law, an ex-oficio member of the Board of State University Regents, and officially connected with every State educational board; the further en- largement of the State Hospital for the Insane, or the erection of a new asylum; that ample appropriations be made for the support of the several benevolent institutions of the State, and a reasonable appropriation toward the support of the orphan asylums and hospitals in the city of Milwaukee; an appropriation of thirty-five thousand dollars to the State-prison to com- plete the north wing, and to pay current expenses; the abolition of the office of bank comptroller, as recommended by the present incumbent; the com- pletion of the State Capitol, and an appropriation to be expended as the work progresses; the appropriation of five thousand dollars, to be used by the Board of Immigration in circulating documents in Europe, and for other measures to induce immigration to this State; that the legislature use its influence to secure the early completion of the North Pacific Railroad, and a ship-canal around Niagara Falls, both of which are intimately connected with the interest of Wisconsin; that the legislature ask the Federal Govern- ment to insist on a full and satisfactory settlement of the question in regard to the right of expatriation, securing every right to the naturalized citizen that is possessed by the native born.
The message says that the State had an unaudited claim against the Gen- eral Government of two hundred and forty-eight thousand dollars. A part of it, under the stringent rules of the treasury department, may be dis- allowed. It is, however, a just claim, and, in that event, the State can properly call on Congress for relief.
The State University is reported as in a very satisfactory condition, and seems now to receive the full confidence of the people. The regents desire the erection of an additional building for the better accommodation of stu- dents who wish to enter it. The governor unites in the request, and hopes the legislature will favor the application. The message closes with a reference to national matters, and a brief expression of the governor's views upon the question of reconstruction.
There were one hundred and seventy-eight general laws, five hundred and fourteen private and local laws, twenty-three joint resolutions, and twenty- two memorials enacted and passed. Of the laws of a general nature were the following : to provide for the payment of the members of the legislature (this entitles each member to receive three hundred and fifty dollars, and ten cents per mile for the distance he shall have to travel going to and returning from the meeting of the legislature); to abolish the office of bank comp- troller, and transfer his duties to the state treasurer; to provide for the completion of the State Capitol, and one hundred and two thousand dollars appropriated, to be drawn out of the treasury in 1868, 1869, and 1870 (the law provides for the erection and completion of the rotunda); to accept a grant of lands made to the State by Congress to aid in the construction of the Sturgeon Bay and Lake Michigan Ship-Canal; to provide for levying and collecting a State tax for 1868 (two hundred and fifty-nine thousand dollars in addition to the amount authorized by existing laws); to provide
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for the assessment of property for taxation and the levy of taxes thereon; to regulate the salary of the judges of the Supreme Court; to provide for estab- lishing town libraries in the State, &c.
In reference to the legislature, " The Madison State Journal" says, -
"It is the first session held, under the constitutional amendment, which gives members a salary instead of a per diem. This amendment has produced a visible effect in abbreviating the session, though not materially diminishing the amount of business transacted.
"For many years, there has been no legislature which has had to deal with so few measures affecting special interests, and giving occasion for the presence of a large lobby force. The Beef Slough Bill was the only one that attracted any considerable number of outsiders to the capital. There have been no railroad controversies; and the popular clamor for legislation, regulating the tariff on rail- road freights, seems to have pretty much subsided. The most important general measure, probably, is the assessment law. A law was passed for the relief of the farm mortgagors of the La Crosse Railroad Company. The constitutional amend- ments proposed by the legislature of 1867 were both rejected. For submitting the question of woman-suffrage to a vote of the electors of the State, there was little favor, doubtless owing to the fact, that, with few exceptions, the class on whom it was proposed to confer the elective franchise have signified no desire for it. The proposed amendment, authorizing the State to aid in building railroads, had many strong supporters, and might, perhaps, have been carried, had it not been so long delayed in the senate. It finally passed that body, after being so amended, as to require further action on it by the next legislature. When it finally came before the assembly, only sixty members were present, others having left for their homes; and the bill was indefinitely postponed. A peculiar feature of the late session, which will distinguish it from all its predecessors, was its abstinence in the matter of postage-stamps. Not a postage-stamp was voted during the session."
Referring to the members of the legislature, the same paper says, -
"Mr. Dyer of Racine, and Mr. Barron of Polk, were, perhaps, the most promi- nent members. Mr. Barron's large legislative experience and untiring industry, joined with practical ability, always make him a power in a legislative body. Mr. Dyer was chairman of the judiciary committee, and thus held the leading position on the floor, which he discharged with an ability that justified his appointment."
A Democratic State Convention was held at Madison the 19th of Feb- ruary, 1868 ; and Hon. Charles Dunn was nominated for chief justice of the Supreme Court, and E. Holmes Ellis for associate justice. On the 26th of February, the Republican State Convention renominated Hon. Luther S. Dixon for chief justice, and Hon. Byron Paine for associate judge. The two last persons were elected in April.
The bids for completing the State Capitol were opened on the first day of May, and the contract awarded to C. S. Rankin & Co. of Cincinnati, O., for ninety thousand dollars. When this was completed, the Capitol had cost the State over $528,315.60.
The following account of the internal arrangements of the State Capitol is taken from "The Legislative Manual :"-
"The present Capitol exhibits an attractive outside appearance, and is gen- erally admired. The stone for its construction was supplied from quarries near Prairie du Chien and Madison. The inside is handsomely finished, and contains
Digtize
CROSSCUP & WES
REV. H. S. RICHORDSON.
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complete conveniences, although more are yet necessary. In the basement are the water-closets, boiler-room (from which the building receives heat), carpenter- shops, book-room, the roost of the war eagles, 'Old Abe' and 'Andy,' and some committee rooms. On the upper floor, the four passages of which are neatly laid with squares of blue and white flag, are the departments of the several State officers. In the north passage are the offices of the state treasurer and school-land commissioners; in the south passage, the offices of the superin- tendents of public property and of public instruction and the office of attorney- general; in the east passage, the offices of the governor and secretary of state; and, in the west passage, those of the adjutant-general, legislative clerks, and State Agricultural Society, the last of which contains some fine specimens of minerals and other scientific curiosities. From the centre of these passages, the rotunda and dome are seen to great advantage. The second floor is reached by wide iron stairways, ascending from the south and north passages. This floor is diversely laid with red, yellow, and black tiles; and in the centre a heavy iron balustrade marks the rotunda. In the east, is the senate-chamber; in the west, the assembly- chamber; in the north, the Supreme Court rooms and State Library; and, in the south, the choicely-filled rooms of the State Historical Society. The first pur- chase of books for the State Library was made in 1837; and it has received additions since, which make it very complete and valuable. The Historical Society rooms, always attractive to visitors, present an array of books, pictures, sculpture, and literary and other curiosities, which are not only interesting and suggestive to 'Badgers,' but to residents of other States. In one of these rooms, the torn and pierced flags carried by Wisconsin regiments during the late war are carefully preserved in a glass enclosure; and in another room is a rare collection of animal, mineral, and vegetable curiosities belonging to Mr. Isaac Lyon, father of Judge Lyon of the Supreme Court; and the greatest delight of this courteous gentleman is to give all visitors information concerning them.
"The collections in these rooms have for years past been regarded as very cred itable to the State, and to Hon. Lyman C. Draper, the patient and persevering originator of them. Mr. D. S. Durrie, the librarian, has held that office since Jan. 1, 1856, and has taken an active part in the management to the present time. Since the Chicago fire destroyed the historical depository there, these collections can be recognized as the largest and most valuable in the North-west.
"More iron stairways lead to the galleries and committee rooms of the cham- bers; and yet more, but narrower ones, lead to the store-room where the arms and munitions of the State are kept, and to the tholus, from which topmost elevation an impressive downward view of the whole rotunda is obtained. The outside of the tholus affords convenience for enjoying an exceedingly fine view of the city, lakes, and surrounding country.
"The height of the Capitol, from the basement to the gilt eagle on the top of the flagstaff, is 225 feet and 6 inches; and, exclusive of steps and porticos, the total length of the north and south wings is 228 feet, and of the east and west wings, 226 feet.
"Some impressive scenes have been witnessed in this Capitol during the war, when the legislature were acting on war measures, and also when the veteran soldiers, on their return, were welcomed with song and feasting in the chambers.
"As characteristic of the vim and energy of the residents of Wisconsin, it must be stated that the Capitol building progressed, and heavy expenditures were made on it, while they were sharply pressed to raise their share of men and means for the war.
"The Capitol is surrounded with walks, greenswards, shrubbery, and trees, which are carefully kept in good condition; and these, with the pearly white building rising in their midst, elicit the general expression, that Wisconsin has a choicely located and elegant Capitol."
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The following persons were nominated by the Democratic Convention for presidential electors, George B. Smith, G. L. Park, N. D. Fratt, A. G. Cook, M. M. Strong, H. N. Smith, S. Ryan, jun., and Theodore Rodolph; and the following persons by the Republican Convention, S. S. Barlow, II. D. Bar- ron, E. Enos, C. G. Williams, A. Worden, L. F. Frisby, W. G. Ritch, and W. T. Price. The Republican candidates for members of Congress were, Halbert E. Paine, B. F. Hopkins, Amasa Cobb, L. F. Frisby, Philetus Sawyer, and C. C. Washburn ; and the Democratic candidates, Alexander Mitchell, J. Winans, T. F. H. Passmore, C. A. Eldredge, Joseph Vilas, and A. G. Ellis.
At the election in November, the Republican electors received 108,920 votes, and the Democratic electors 84,740. The Republican electors, at a subsequent meeting in electoral college, cast the vote of Wisconsin for U. S. Grant for President, and Schuyler Colfax for Vice-President. The Repub- lican congressional ticket was elected, except C. A. Eldredge, Democrat, was elected from the fourth district, over L. F. Frisby, Republican.
The elections of the fall of 1868 were very exciting ; it being the presi- dential election. Much enthusiasm was felt in this State, as in the others. Public addresses and processions were the order of the day. The next legislature stood, -in the senate, nineteen Republicans, and fourteen Dem- ocrats ; in the assembly, sixty-eight Republicans, and thirty-two Democrats.
CHAPTER LIX.
SECOND ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. FAIRCHILD ..
Events of 1869-Legislation -Statistics - State Election of 1869-Contest in the Legislature for the United States Senatorship - M. H. Carpenter Successful.
THE twenty-second session of the legislature convened on the 13th of January, 1869, and adjourned on the 11th of March, after a session of fifty- eight days. The senate was organized by Hon. Wyman Spooner, lieutenant- governor, taking his seat as president, and the election of L. B. Hills chief clerk, and W. H. Hamilton sergeant-at-arms. In the assembly, Hon. A. M. Thomson was re-elected speaker, E. W. Young chief clerk, and Rollin C. Kelley sergeant-at-arms. On the 14th, the two houses met in joint conven- tion, when the governor read his annual message. The rotunda of the State Capitol was now completed, and a contract entered into for the erection of the dome, the work to be completed on or before Dec. 1, 1869.
From 1860 to 1870, the State expended one million two hundred thousand dollars for the erection of public buildings.
The most important business transacted in the legislature after the or- ganization was the election of a United States senator to fill the place of Hon. James R. Doolittle, whose term of office expired March 4, 1870. The contest in this case was without a parallel in the State, in the amount of personal interest it excited; and the nomination was reached much earlier than it was generally expected. Six formal ballots were necessary before the nomination could be made. Hon. Matthew H. Carpenter received the nom- ination on the sixth ballot, by a vote of forty-four against forty-three for other candidates. Mr. Carpenter's opponent was HIon. C. C. Washburn. Both these gentlemen had a large lobby present, working in their interest. The greatest excitement and enthusiasm prevailed. Every hotel in the city was crowded to its utmost capacity ; the boarding-houses were filled ; and some even slept in the Capitol, for want of other accommodations. On the 27th of January, the two houses met in joint convention; and the result in each house was announced by the chief clerks. In the senate, M. H. Carpenter received nineteen votes, and George B. Smith thirteen votes. In the assembly, M. H. Carpenter received sixty-seven votes, and George B. Smith twenty-eight; whereupon the president announced that Mr. Car-
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penter, having received a majority of all the votes, was declared elected United-States senator for the term of six years from March 4, 1870.
The State officers and legislature of the State of Minnesota visited Wis- consin, on invitation of the State authorities. They arrived at Madison Feb. 10. A formal reception took place at the assembly chamber ; and, after being introduced to the members, they were addressed by Gov. Fair- child, welcoming them to the State, which was replied to by Gov. W. R. Marshall of Minnesota. Speeches were also made by Hon. E. S. Bragg and IIon. II. D. Barron on the part of the legislature of Wisconsin, and by IIon. Warren Bristol and Hon. J. L. McDonald on the part of the legis- lature of Minnesota. The party, after an ample repast, proceeded by railroad to Milwaukee, to accept an invitation from the people of that city to visit them, where they were received by the Light Guard, and escorted to the different hotels. After a magnificent banquet at Music Hall, the party were invited to a grand ball. On the 12th, they visited the places of interest of the city, and returned to their homes highly pleased with their visit to Wisconsin.
The legislature adjourned March 11. The session was one of the shortest on record. Notwithstanding the distracting excitement in refer- ence to the election of United States senator, and the interruption of the session by the Minnesota visit, about as much business was transacted as at the previous session. Among the most important measures which were carried out were, the ratification of the suffrage amendment to the United States Constitution ; the proposed amendments to the State constitution, authorizing the abolition of the grand jury, the increase of the number of Supreme Court judges to five, the increase of the salaries of the governor to five thousand dollars, and the lieutenant-governor to one thousand dollars ; the establishment of the township system of school government ; the codifi- cation of the laws relative to highways and bridges, normal schools and strays; substantially repealing the law disfranchising deserters ; to provide for statistics for state and county boards of assessments; authorizing the secretary of state to levy additional taxes to those provided for by law, in order to meet existing appropriations. Liberal appropriations were made to the various State institutions, amounting to about two hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.
There were a considerable number of important bills introduced, which failed to become laws : bills to compel attendance at schools, to restore the town supervisor system of county government, to restore the death-penalty for murder, to submit to the people the question of holding a constitutional convention, establishing a uniform railroad passenger and freight tariff. Bills submitting to the people the extension of suffrage to women, codify- ing the laws for the collection of taxes, to enable the families of drunkards and spendthrifts to collect damages from persons who sell them liquor, to establish another hospital for the insane, and an institution for the care and training of idiotic and imbecile children, and many others, were killed in the senate. Among the prominent men in the senate on the Republican
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side were Mr. Taylor, Mr. Hazleton, Mr. C. G. Williams, Mr. Van Wyck, and Mr. Litttlejohn. On the Democratic side was Sat. Clark, Mr. W. P. Lynde, Mr. Bragg, Mr. Reed, Mr. Lander, and others. In the assembly, among the Republicans were Mr. Barron, Mr. Bingham, Mr. Baxter, Mr. Conklin, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Pound, and others. On the Democratic side, Mr. Maxon was the leader ; and George B. Smith, Mr. Allen, Mr. Richards, and Mr. Hamilton were prominent.
The legislature passed one hundred and eighty-eight general laws, four hundred and sixty-nine private and local laws, eight joint resolutions, and four memorials.
The Republican members of the legislature, on the 22d of January, requested Luther S. Dixon to be a candidate for re-election as chief justice of the Supreme Court, which he accepted; and he was re-elected in April.
On the 1st of September, the Republican State Convention met to nom- inate State officers, William Pitt Dewey president. On an informal ballot, David Atwood received fifty-nine votes, Lucius Fairchild sixty-three votes, William E. Smith fifty-four votes, A. Van Wyck fifty-two votes, for the office of governor. On the sixth formal ballot, Lucius Fairchild received one hundred and thirty-eight votes, and Anthony Van Wyck one hundred and twenty-five. Mr. Fairchild was renominated unanimously. For lieu- tenant-governor, Thaddeus C. Pound received one hundred and fifty-two votes, and was nominated. For secretary of state, E. A. Spencer received one hundred and twenty-nine votes, and T. S. Allen ninety-five votes. Mr. Spencer was nominated. He subsequently declined being a candidate; and Llewellyn Breese was appointed by the Republican State Convention to fill the vacancy. For state treasurer, Henry Baetz received one hundred and eighty-three votes, and was renominated. For attorney-general, S. S. Bar- low received one hundred and fifty-four votes, and was nominated. George F. Wheeler received one hundred and sixty votes for state-prison cominis- sioner, and A. J. Craig one hundred and twenty-three votes for superintend- ent of public instruction. Both gentlemen werenominated.
On the 8th of September, the Democratic State Convention was held at Milwaukee, E. S. Bragg president. The following persons were put in nomination : for governor, C. D. Robinson; lieutenant-governor, H. H. Gray; secretary of state, A. G. Cook ; state treasurer, John Black; attorney- general, S. U. Pinney; state-prison commissioner, C. M. Bordoe; superin- tendent of public instruction, P. K. Gannon.
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