The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches, Part 13

Author: Western historical company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago, Western historical company
Number of Pages: 714


USA > Wisconsin > Jefferson County > The history of Jefferson county, Wisconsin, containing biographical sketches > Part 13


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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Foremost among the sanitary operations of Wisconsin during the war of the rebellion was the organization of the surgeon general's department - to the end that the troops sent to the field from the State should have a complete and adequate supply of medicine and instruments as well as an efficient medical staff. In 1861, Governor Randall introduced the practice of appoint- ing agents to travel with the regiments to the field, who were to take charge of the sick. The practice was not continued by Governor Harvey. On the 17th of June, 1862, an act of the legislature became a law authorizing the governor to take care of the sick and wounded soldiers of Wisconsin, and appropriated twenty thousand dollars for that purpose. Under this law several expeditions were sent out of the State to look after the unfortunate sons who were suffering from disease or wounds. Soldiers' aid societies were formed throughout the State soon after the opening scenes of the rebellion. When temporary sanitary operations were no longer a necessity in Wisconsin, there followed two military benevolent institutions intended to be of a permanent character : the Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, and the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Madison. The latter, however, has been discontinued. The former, started as a State institu- tion, is now wholly under the direction and support of the General Government.


Whether in the promptitude of her responses to the calls made on her by the General Govern- ment, in the courage or constancy of her soldiery in the field, or in the wisdom and efficiency with which her civil administration was conducted during the trying period covered by the war of the rebellion, Wisconsin proved herself the peer of any loyal State.


TABULAR STATEMENT.


We publish on the following pages the report of the Adjutant General at the close of the war, but before all the Wisconsin organizations had been mustered out. It shows that 85,000 brave men were ready to forsake home, friends and the comforts of peaceful avocations, and offer their lives in defense of their country's honor. Twenty-two out of every hundred either died, were killed or wounded. Thirteen out of every hundred found a soldier's grave, while only 60 per cent of them marched home at the end of the war. Monuments may crumble, cities fall into decay, the tooth of time leave its impress on all the works of man, but the memory of the gallant deeds of the army of the Union in the great war of the rebellion, in which the sons of Wisconsin bore so conspicuous a part, will live in the minds of men so long as time and civilized governments endure.


Table showing total number of Volunteers originally in the several organizations from the State, and numerical strength at the close of war.


ORGANIZATION.


@th


1863.


1864.


1865.


Gain by


1863.


1861.


1865.


Veteran Re-


Enlistments.


Total.


Death.


Missing.


Desertion.


Transfer.


Discharge.


Muster- Out.


First Infantry, three months.


0.45


75


66


407


15


1508


235


57


47


298


874


Second Infantry, three years.


1051


57


80


290


179


110


237


2156


2.17


5


51


98


945


810


Fifth Infantry, three years ...


1058


210


684


25


50


.


25


204


2256


285


105


33


405


1424


Sixth Infantry, three years ..


1108


58


171


18


411


61


237


2143


321


79


75


513


1148


Seventh Infantry, three years ...


1029


7.1


343


12


189


67


218


1932


391


6


44


106


473


912


Eighth Infantry, three years ..


973


52


236


62


16


301


1643


255


3


60


41


320


964


*Ninth Infantry, three years.


870


109


180


43


1


219


1422


175


25


7


191


739


Tenth Infantry, three years ...


016


20


85


...


....


13


1034


219


21


23


316


455


Eleventh Infantry, three years.


1029


72


268


2.1


62


147


363


1965


3.18


25


9


319


126-1


Twelfth Infantry, three years ..


1045


84


314


22


177


1


519


2186


294


.....


3


71


6


321


797


Fourteenth Infantry, three years.


970


60


439


41


85


200


115


272


2182


287


13


97


23


407


1355


Fifteenth Infantry, three years ..


801


20


76


1


-


.


88


155


19


243


2200


363


46


115


38


386


1252


Seventeenth Infantry, three years.


941


77


298


10


136


213


287


1964


221


0


157


32


448


1101


Eighteenth Infantry, three years.


002


103


3.1


28


200


71


178


1637


220


78


208


265


8.13


Nineteenth Infantry, three years.


973


26


156


5


5-1


1484


136


46


152


345


805


990


12


120


6


1


1129


227


288


40)


66


261


483


1009


.....


994


1


148


4


1117


289


6


124


281


416


1003


70


4


1077


173


71


138


289


406


1018


20


282


40


13


1.144


122


20


65


165


772


1002


84


2


1


1089


25.1


31


125


232


4.17


Twenty-geventh Infantry, three years


865


236


68


3


1196


246


56


57


2.18


685


961


2


125


17


1137


231


31


84


221


673


961


2


114


11


1089


296


39


103


184


167 712


Thirty-first Infantry, three years ..


..


878


8


188


1078


11-4


·)


52


167


740


Thirty-second Infantry, three years ...


1174


275


...


58


27


189


925


Thirty-third Infantry, three years ...


. .


961


964


20


283


186


472


1066


11


1088


256


29


11


177.2 ........


090


9


15


1014


135


136


1444


211


29


195


680


913


8


10.4


780


780


No Report.


131.


. .


6


..


.


8771 . .


130


1


1008


57


18;


449


138/


6.16


Ferty-third Infantry, one year.


807.


38,


913


70


10


1


39


763


Forty-fourth Infantry, one year. ..


877


23.


1114


57


121


92


796


Forty-fifth Infantry, one year ... ..


859


142


1001


261


85


80


802


..


970


169


212


33


83


72


392


1934


22


46


47


204


320


Sixteenth Infantry, three years ..


1066


70


5.17


12


.


2


..


..


1002


152


15


.


4


130


1505


226


..


31


196


1006


Twenty-third Infantry, three years ....


Twenty-eighth Infantry, three years .. Twenty-ninth Infantry, three years ... Thirtieth Infantry, three years .. ..


906


69


220


23


1


1219


60


52


46


340


.


.


.


·


5


.


892


16-1


.


.


.


...


1066


196


37


170


637


Thirty-fourth Infantry, nine months ... *Thirty-fifth Infantry, three years ..... Thirty-sixth Infantry, three years ....


Thirty-seventh Inf., one, two & three,


Thirty-eighth Inf., one, two & three ...


1022


1081


21


208


640


..


.


.


1


LOSSES DURING THE SERVICE.


Original


Strength.


810


....


..


...


...


.....


78


1266


261


6


51


134


466


3.18


Third Infantry, three years ...


979


70


284


1


Substitutes.


810


3


5


7


76


719


First Infantry, three years ....


.


...


770


763


578


...


578


·


...


.


206 . .


38


214


1.15


708


25


64


.


..


.


..


"Thirty-ninth Inf., one hundred days ... Fortieth Infantry, one hundred days .. Forty-first Inf., one hundred days .....


Forty-second Infantry, one year.


370


100


.


..


4


· ·


.


·


·


..


1


. .


.


..


.


.


.


4


..


·


.


.


...


.


.....


26


336


1466


*Thirteenth Infantry, three years.


183


006


267


41


116


524


Twentieth Infantry, three years


Twenty-first Infantry, three years ....


1171


Twenty-second Infantry, three years.


139


Twenty-fourth Infantry, three years ...


Twenty-fifth Infantry, three years .....


Twenty-sixth Infantry, three years ....


.


..


..


...


570


.


. ..


. .


79


7


....


...


06


GAIN BY RECRUITS.


GAIN BY DRAFT.


.


780


..


.


993


·


....


3


270


...


Forty-seventh Infantry, one year .. ....


927 ..


58


985


34


23


29.


87


812


Forty-eighth Infantry, one year ..


828


832


9


67


·


173}


775


Forty-ninth Infantry, one year .. ..


986


16 . .


1002


18


6


28


141


127 *


...


...


...


843


8


87


34


714


6


42


16


41


406


Fifty-second Infantry, one year


486


25 ..


8


14


5


47


315


Fifty-third Infantry, one year.


380


First Army Corps, Infantry ..


1124


295


597


164


83


202


76


61


2602


3661


..


91


67


634


1444


First Cavalry, three years ..


1127


137


630


212


18


1


385


2510


271


5


103


33


557


1541


Second Cavalry, three years.


1186


324


608


30


18


357


2523


215


9


126


64


418


1691


Fourth Cavalry, three years ...


1047


32


810


140


16


260


2305


350


23


74


2


474


+754


Milwaukee ....


83


1


. .


·)


34


303


First Battery Light Artillery


155


17


53


42


Second Battery Light Artillery.


153


5


35


2


48


243


12 ..


6


-1


30


188


Third Battery Light Artillery ..


170


85


32


33


270


26


3


4


60


177


Fourth Battery Light Artillery ...


151


1


60


1


38


43


294


24


1


15


1


82


171


Fifth Battery Light Artilley ...


155


5


64


....


...


34


276


29


. . ......


9


1


68


237


Seventh Battery Light Artillery.


158


10


50


1


92


344


Eighth Battery Light Artillery.


161


2


90


10


66


329


25


1


13


14


53


223


Ninth Battery Light Artillery ...


155


4


53


78!


296


6


6


1


56


227


Tenth Battery Light Artillery ....


47


89


30


2


11


279


24


4


....


60


91


Eleventh Battery Light Artillery ..


87


1


1


6


342


30


1


10


81


105


123


Twelfth Battery Light Artillery


99


86


121


2


188


14


1


3


39


106


Thirteenth Battery Light Artillery .....


156


22


10


.


.


.


.


. ..... ..


..


...


361


12


4


286


Battery A, Heavy Artillery ..


129


103


80


20


185


1


17


16


40


105


Battery B, Heavy Artillery ..


149


30


6 ...


8


7


1


31


124


Battery C, Heavy Artillery ..


146


11


Battery D, Heavy Artillery ..


146


12


1


230


.


1i


150


Battery E, lleavy Artillery ....


151


2


153


2


.. .


..


..


2


153


1


6


146


Battery F, Heavy Artillery ..


151


.


.


.


·


.


·


-


.


154


..


.


.


·


...


...


10


144


Battery K, Heavy Artillery ..


148


10


145


Battery L, Heavy Artillery ..


152


154


3


. .


..


.....


..


105


13


37


..


15


No Report.


Gibbons' Brigade Band ... ....


13


1


. ....


33


Blunt's Brigade Band ...


171


16


21


1


2444


lo


Army and Navy ..


546


168


....


714


Out of State.


14


12


97


537


5217


394


6868


Total.


56792


3361


11245


2752


2361


5961


1798


1325|


15784


91379


10868


25º


3362


2961


15193


54052


Remaining in service Nov. 1, 1865.


* November 1, 1865. + October 1, 1865.


* I'rafted men who paid counmutation ; volunteers, substituted and drafted men, mustered out before assignment; musters in the field reported by the War Department, without stating organization.


2 To the number of 015 remaining in the service, November 1, 1865, should be added 145 transferred from the Twentieth and Twenty-third Regiments.


91


25


25


lleavy Artillery ..


29


1]


...


.


·


5


671


110


Battery G, Heavy Artillery ...


152


4


156


1


10


144


Battery 11, lleavy Artillery ..


151


10)


152


Battery 1. Ileavy Artillery ..


150


13


163,


157


. .


..


.


.


155.


6


145


Battery M, Heavy Artillery ..


152


.


194


34


8


4


58


47


Sharp Shooters, ...


..


1


32


·


...


....


33


do


U. S. Colored Troops.


..


do


52


..


..


..


...


..


¥0868


-


.


.


.


·


·


.


..


.


958


Fiftieth Infantry, one year ....


942


16


Fifty-first Intantry, one year ..


841


...


.


9


193


215


No Report.


93


9


93


No Report.


14


48


212


24


1


5


61


213


Sixth Battery Light Artillery.


157


18


64


1


.


.


4


..


. .


.


.


...


..


.


134


20


2


17|


92


3


..


.


..


3


31


.


·


.


.


.


·


..


.


·


.


4


.


.....


..


..


.


79


304


5


9


36


197


29


...


.


.


..


·


.


·


...


3


·


10


14.1


3


.)


15


Unassigned


4685


..


......


..


.....


36 *


..


.....



.


.


.


.


.


..


...


4


1


..


..


.


68


25


....


171


.


Third Cavalry, three years ...


511


389


33


611


.


. .


.. . ...... ..


92


HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.


TENTH ADMINISTRATION .- LUCIUS FAIRCHILD, GOVERNOR -- 1866-1867.


The inauguration of the newly elected State officers took place on Monday, January 1, 1866. The legislature, in its nineteenth regular session, convened on the tenth. H. D. Barron was elected speaker of the assembly. The "Union " and " Republican " members were in a majority in both branches of the legislature. "Our first duty," said Governor Fairchild in his message, "is to give thanks to Almighty God for all His mercies during the year that is past." " The people of no nation on earth," he continued, " have greater cause to be thankful than have our people. The enemies of the country have been overthrown in battle. The war has settled finally great questions at issue between ourselves." Among the joint resolutions passed at this session was one submitting the question of a constitutional convention to frame a new constitution for the State, to the people. The legislature adjourned on the twelfth of April, having been in session ninety-three days. At the general election in November of this year, there were elected to the Fortieth congress : H. E. Paine, from the first district ; B. F. Hopkins, from the second; Amasa Cobb, from the third; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Pniletus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. All were republicans except Eldredge, who was elected as a democrat. The proposition for a constitutional conven- tion was voted upon by the people at this election, but was defeated.


The twentieth session of the legislature commenced on the ninth of January, 1867. Angus Cameron was elected speaker of the assembly. The legislature was strongly " Repub- lican-Union." The message of Governor Fairchild was read by him in person, on the tenth. On the twenty-third, the two houses, in joint convention, elected Timothy O. Howe United States senator for the term of six years, commencing on the fourth of March next ensuing. This legislature pissed an act submitting to the people at the next Fall election an amendment to section twenty-one of article four of the constitution of the State, providing for paying a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars to each member of the legislature, instead of a per diem allowance, as previously given. A sine die adjournment took place on the eleventh of April, after a service of ninety-three days.


To provide for the more efficient collection of license fees due the State, an act, approved on the day of adjournment, authorized the governor to appoint an agent of the treasury, to superintend and enforce the collection of fees due for licenses fixed by law. This law is still in force, the agent holding his office at the pleasure of the executive of the State.


On the 27th of March, Chief Justice Dixon resigned his office but was immediately appointed by the governor to the same position. At the election in April following, associate Justice Cole was re-elected, without opposition, for six years from the first Monday in January following. On the 16th of August, Associate Justice Downer having resigned, Byron Paine was appointed by the governor in his place.


The republican State ticket, in the Fall, was elected over the democratic-resulting in the choice of Lucius Fairchild for governor; Wyman Spooner, for lieutenant governor; Thomas S. Allen, Jr., secretary of state; William E. Smith, for state treasurer; Charles R. Gill, for attorney general ; A. J. Craig, for superintendent of public instruction ; Jeremiah M. Rusk, for bank comptroller, and Henry Cordier, for state prison commissioner. Except Craig, all these officers were the former incumbents. The amendment to section 21 of article 4 of the constitution of the State. giving the members a salary instead of a per diem allowance, was adopted at this election. As it now stands, each member of the legislature receives, for his services, three hundred and fifty dollars per annum, and ten cents for every mile he travels in going to and returning from the place of the meetings of the legislature. on the most


93


WISCONSIN AS A STATE.


usual route. In case of any extra session of the legislature, no additional compensation shall be allowed to any member thereof, either directly or indirectly.


ELEVENTH ADMINISTRATION .- LUCIUS FAIRCHILD, GOVERNOR (SECOND TERM) -- 1868-1869.


The Eleventh Administration in Wisconsin commenced at noon on the 6th day of January, 1868. This was the commencement of Governor Fairchild's second term. On the eighth of January, 1868, began the twenty-first regular session of the legislature of Wisconsin. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. Of the laws of a general nature passed by this legislature, was one abolishing the office of bank comptroller, transferring his duties to the state treasurer, and another providing for the establishing of libraries in the various townships of the State. A visible effect was produced by the constitutional amendment allowing members a salary, in abreviating this session, though not materially diminishing the amount of business transacted. A sine die adjournment took place on the sixth of March.


At the election in April, 1868, Chief Justice Dixon was chosen for the unexpired balance of his own term, ending on the first Monday of January, 1870. At the same election, Byron Paine was chosen associate justice for the unexpired balance of Associate Justice Downer's term, ending the Ist day of January, 1872.


At the Fall election in this year, republican electors were chosen over those upon the democratic ticket, for president and vice president ; and, as a consequence, Grant and Colfax received the vote of Wisconsin. Of the members elected at the same time, to the forty-first congress, all but one were republicans - Eldredge being a democrat. The successful ticket was : H. E. Paine, from the first district; B. F. Hopkins, from the second ; Amasa Cobb, from the third ; C. A. Eldredge, from the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, from the fifth, and C. C. Washburn, from the sixth district. These were all members, form their respective districts, in the previous congress-the only instance since Wisconsin became a State of a re-election of all the incum- bents.


On the thirteenth of January, 1869, began the twenty-second regular session of the State legislature. A. M. Thomson was elected speaker of the assembly. A very important duty imposed upon both houses was the election of a United States senator in the place of James R. Doolittle. The republicans having a majority in the legislature on joint ballot, the excitement among the members belonging to that party rose to a high pitch. The candidates for nomina- tion were Matthew H. Carpenter and C. C. Washburn. The contest was, up to that time, unparalleled in Wisconsin for the amount of personal interest manifested. Both gentlemen had a large lobby influence assembled at Madison. Carpenter was successful before the republican nominating convention, on the sixth ballot. On the twenty-seventh of January, the two houses proceeded to ratify the nomination by electing him United States senator for six years, from the fourth of March following. One of the most important transactions entered into by the legis- lature of 1869 was the ratification of the suffrage amendment to the constitution of the United States. Both houses adjourned sine die on the eleventh of March-a very short session. At the spring election, on the 6th of April, Luther S. Dixon was re-elected without opposition, chief justice of the supreme court, for a term of six years, from the first Monday in January next ensuing. In the Fall, both democrats and republicans put a State ticket in the field for the ensuing election : the republicans were successful, electing Lucius Fairchild, governor ; Thad- deus C. Pound, lieutenant governor; Llywelyn Breese, secretary of state; Henry Baetz, state treasurer ; S. S. Barlow, attorney general; george F. Wheeler, state prison commissioner ; and A. L. Craig, superintendent of public instruction. The office of bank comptroller expired ·on the 31st day of December, 1869, the duties of the office being transferred to the state


94


HISTORY OF WISCONSIN.


treasurer.


At this election, an amendment to sections 5 and 9 of article five of the constitution of the State was ratified and adopted by the people. Under this amendment, the governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of five thousand dollars, which is in full for all traveling or other expenses incident to his duties. The lieutenant governor receives, during his continuance in office, an annual compensation of one thousand dollars.


TWELFTH ADMINISTRATION .- LUCIUS FAIRCHILD, GOVERNOR (THIRD TERM)-1870-1871.


On the third of January, 1870, commenced the twelfth administration in Wisconsin, Gov- ernor Fairchild thus entering upon his third term as chief executive of the State; the only instance since the admission of Wisconsin into the Union, of the same person being twice re-elected to that office. It was an emphatic recognition of the value of his services in the gubernatorial chair. On the twelfth of January, the twenty-third regular session of the legis- lature of the State commenced at Madison. James M. Bingham was elected speaker of the assembly. Before the expiration of the month, Governor Fairchild received official information that over two hundred thousand dollars of the war claim of Wisconsin upon the General Govern- ment had been audited, considerable more than one hundred thousand having the previous year been allowed. In the month of March, an energetic effort was made in the legislature, by members from Milwaukee, to remove the seat of government from Madison to their city; but the project was defeated by a considerable majority in the assembly voting to postpone the matter indefinitely. According to section eight of article one of the constitution, as originally adopted, no person could be held to answer for a criminal offense unless on the presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in certain cases therein specified. The legislature of 1869 proposed an amendment against the "grand jury system " of the constitution, and referred it to the legislature of 1870 for their approval or rejection. The latter took up the proposition and agreed to it by the proper majority, and submitted it to the people at the next election for their ratification. The sine die adjournment of both houses took place on the seventeenth of March, 1870. On the first day of January, previous, the member of congress from the second district of the State, B. F. Hopkins, died, and David Atwood, republican, was elected to fill the vacancy on the fifteenth of February following.


Early in 1870, was organized the "Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters." By an act of the legislature approved March 16, of that year, it was incorporated, having among its specific objects, researches and investigations in the various departments of the material, meta- physical, ethical, ethnological and social sciences; a progressive and thorough scientific survey of the State, with a view of determining its mineral, agricultural and other resources; the advancement of the useful arts, through the application of science, and by the encouragement of original invention; the encouragement of the fine arts, by means of honors and prizes awarded to artists for original works of superior merit; the formation of scientific, economical and art museums; the encouragement of philological and historical research; the collection and preservation of historic records, and the formation of a general library; and the diffusion of knowledge by the publication of original contributions to science, literature and the arts. The academy has already published three volumes of transactions, under authority of the State.


The fourth charitable institution established by Wisconsin was the " Northern Hospital for the Insane," located at Oshkosh, Winnebago county. It was authorized by an act of the legis- lature approved March 10, 1870. The law governing the admission of patients to this hospital is the same as to the Wisconsin State Hospital.


95


WISCONSIN AS A STATE.


On the third day of July, 1870, A. J. Craig, superintendent of public instruction, died of consumption, and Samuel Fallows was, on the 6th of that month, appointed by the governor to fill the place made vacant by his death. The census taken this year by the General Govern- ment, showed the population of Wisconsin to be over one million sixty-four thousand. At the Fall election for members to the forty-second congress, Alexander Mitchell was chosen to represent the first district; G. W. Hazelton, the second; J. A. Barber, the third; C. A. Eldredge, the fourth; Philetus Sawyer, the fifth; and J. M. Rusk, the sixth district. Mitchell and Eldredge were democrats; the residue were republicans. The amendment to section 8, of article 7 of the constitution of the State, abolishing the grand jury system was ratified by a arge majority. Under it, no person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense without due process of law, and no person, for the same offense, shall be put twice in jeopardy of punishment, hor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offenses when the proof is vident and the presumption great ; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended unless, when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.


Governor Fairchild, in his last annual message to the legislature, delivered to that body at ts twenty-fourth regular session beginning on the eleventh of January, 1871, said that Wisconsin State polity was so wisely adapted to the needs of the people, and so favorable to the growth and prosperity of the commonwealth, as to require but few changes at the hands of the legisla- ure, and those rather of detail than of system. At the commencement of this session, William E. Smith was elected speaker of the assembly. A very carefully-perfected measure of this egislature was one providing for the trial of criminal offenses on information, without the inter- ention of a Grand Jury. A state commissioner of immigration, to be elected by the people, was provided for. Both bodies adjourned sine die on the twenty-fifth of March. On the thirteenth of January preceding, Associate Justice Byro Paine, of the supreme court, died ; whereupon he governor, on the 20th of the same month, appointed in his place, until the Spring election should be held, William Penn Lyon. The latter, at the election in April, was chosen by the people to serve the unexpired time of Associate Justice Paine, ending the first Monday of Jan - ary, 1872, and for a full term of six years from the same date. On the 3d of April, Ole C. ohnson was appointed by the governor state commissioner of immigration, to serve until his uccessor at the next general election could be chosen by the people. To the end that the administration of public charity and correction should thereafter be conducted upon sound principles of economy, justice and humanity, and that the relations existing between the State nd its dependent and criminal classes might be better understood, there was, by an act of the egislature, approved March 23, 1871, a "state board of charities and reform" created -to onsist of five members to be appointed by the governor of the State, the duties of the members eing to investigate and supervise the whole system of charitable and correctional institutions upported by the State or receiving aid from the State treasury, and on or before the first day of December in each year to report their proceedings to the executive of the State. This board vas thereafter duly organized and its members have since reported annually to the governor heir proceedings and the amount of their expenses, as required by law.




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