tercourse with foreign nations, "to ask nothing that was not right, and to submit to nothing that was wrong;" but until that just sentiment pervades the governments of the earth, we should at all times be prepared to meet this necessary evil, as a last resort to redress our wrongs or enforce our rights. By the act of congress of the 13th of May, 1846, it was expressly declared that by the act of the republic of Mexico, a state of war existed between that government and the United States, and it became the duty of the President of the United States under the constitution and laws, to prosecute the war with all the means placed under his control by congress. After the most signal victories of our armies, the President presented the olive branch of peace to the Mexican government, acting from the most humane prin ́ciples, and contrary to the usages heretofore observed by civilized nations when in a state of war. The Mexican government has appeared more disposed to dictate a peace to the United States than to negotiate one with them upon principles of justice and reciprocity. The President in the firm discharge of the high duties that have devolved upon him in the prosecution of the Mexican war, is entitled to the thanks of every true American, and the lasting gratitude of his country. The late Capt. Quarles, from this territory, in the army of the United States, fell nobly with a large portion of his company, on the battle-field before the city of Mexico, with their country's flag waving triumphantly over them, in the face of the enemy. The memory of Capt. Quarles, and the men who fell in battle under his command, in the defence of the rights of our common country, will long be cherished by the grateful people of Wisconsin.

During the past year, treaties have been negotiated by a commissioner on the part of the United States, with the different bands of the Chippewa Indians of the Upper Mississippi and Lake Superior, who have ceded to the United States a large tract of country west of the Mississippi. A part of the ceded country is intended for the future home of the Winnebagoes. And should the treaties negotiated be ap proved by the president, and ratified by the senate, their removal may be expected during the next summer or fall. Several parties of the Winnebagoes have crossed the Mississippi, and have been troublesome to the inhabitants bordering on the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. Gen. Fletcher, the United States sub-Indian agent, informed me by letters, that he had called on the commanding officer of the Iowa mounted dragoons, for a mounted force to remove the intruding Winnebagoes. I have learned that the dragoons had taken about one hundred of them across the Mississippi to the neutral country. Capt. Knowlton, commanding Fort Crawford, sent several detachments in

pursuit of the Winnebagoes who were depredating on the property of the border inhabitants, and removed them west of the Mississippi.

On the 6th ultimo I received a petition, numerously signed, complaining that a party of about one hundred of the Winnebagoes were intruding on the inhabitants at or near the Beaver Dam and Fox Lake, Dodge county. I have addressed the sub-agent for the Winnebagoes, and requested of him that the mounted troops stationed at Fort Atkinson might be ordered to remove the intruding Indians.

I have also addressed the commissioner of Indian affairs on the subject of Indian intrusions on the inhabitants of Wisconsin, and requested that an order may be directed from the war department for mounted troops for their removal. This measure I deemed advisable, should the mounted troops now stationed at Fort Atkinson not remove the intruding Indians without an order from the war department. The extinguishment of the Indian title to the Menomonee county, is a subject of much interest, particularly that portion of their country bordering on the Fox and Wisconsin rivers. Owing to the proximity of the settlements to the Menomenee country, and the great accession to the population in northern Wisconsin, during the past year, that country is now required for settlement and cultivation. Congress ap propriated two thousand dollars to negociate a treaty with the Menomonees for their country, and it was expected that the treaty would have been held during the past season. A resolution of the senate of the United States, of the third of March, 1843, prohibits provisions being made with Indians for the payment of debts by treaty stipulation. The commissioner of Indian affairs, in his annual report to the secretary of war, has expressed his views fully on the subject of holding a treaty with the Menomonee Indians, and concludes by stating that the department has been compelled, at least for the present, to abandon all idea of negotiating with the Menomonees.

The organization of the militia of the territory I have considered of the first importance for the protection of our frontier. Orders have been issued, through the office of the adjutant general, directing the commanding officers of regiments and separate battallions to enroll the militia of their several commands, and make their returns to that office: which would enable the adjutant general to make a general return of the militia of the territory to the adjutant general of the army, when the territory would be entitled to her quota of the public arms, under the act of congress of 1808; which would furnish a supply of arms for the volunteer companies and a surplus to distribute to the militia in cases of emergency. The militia are the natural strength of the country;

their strength and efficacy depends upon their organization and discipline. Wisconsin has an extended frontier, and in the event of an Indian war would be more exposed than any other part of the United States; hence the absolute necessity for a prompt organization of her militia. The government is now engaged in a war with Mexico, and Wisconsin may be called on to furnish volunteers, and should be prepared, at all times, to meet the calls of the general government. The volunteers engaged in the Mexican war have proven to foreign powers that our citizen soldiers are equal to any troops that have ever faced an enemy. I have always entertained the opinion that the standing of our government in the estimation of foreign powers greatly depends upon our knowledge of arms, and our willingness to use them on all proper occasions.

Since the last annual session of the legislative assembly, Silas Wright, a great statesman of the Empire State of this Union, has fallen by the hand of death, in the meridian of his life and usefulness to his country. When a member of the United States senate, he was an able supporter of the rights of the people of Wisconsin. He was in favor of a system of policy, tending to promote her great agricultural and commercial interests. He was a firm patriot, a sagacious statesman, a friend of equal rights and universal freedom. For his self-sacrifice as a politician for what he believed would promote the best interests of his country, he has justly been called the "Cato of America." I respectfully recommend to the legislative assembly, that a joint resolution of the council and house be passed, expressive of the high estimation in which the memory of Mr. Wright is held by the people of Wisconsin. This I deem a deserved tribute of respect to the memory of a great and good man.

The appropriation made by congress to defray the current expenses of the legislative assembly for the present fiscal year, having in part been expended during the late special session, the unexpended balance is so limited in amount that the present session will necessarially be a short From the steps taken by the late convention for the organization of a state government, it would seem that the less legislation done at the present would best accord with the wishes of the people.

one.

The legislative assembly will have my co-operation in every well-directed effort to promote the public good. I trust your deliberations will be conducted in harmony and good feeling, and so as to best promote the prosperity of the people of Wisconsin.

HENRY DODGE.

Madison, February 7th, 1848.

After the delivery of the message, his excellency the Governor retired from the representative hall, and

On motion of Mr. Collins,

The convention adjourned.

Mr. Burt moved that the house adjourn till 2 o'clock, P. M

which was agreed to.

TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.

Mr. Patch introduced the following resolution, to wit:

"Resolved, That one thousand copies of the governor's message be printed in the English, five hundred copies in the German, and five hundred copies in the Norwegian languages."

66

Mr. Reed moved to amend the rusolution by striking out the word

one," in the number of copies to be printed in the English language, and inserting the word "two," in lieu thereof.

Which was decided in the negative.

And the ayes and noes having been called for,

Those who voted in the affirmative, were

Messrs. Featherstonhaugh, Gardner, Holliday, Jackson, Newell Patch, Reed, and Burns, (Speaker,)—8.

Those who voted in the negative, were

Messrs. Botkin, Cass, Cothren, Drake, Martin, Pole, Stewart, Virgin, Wakeley, Walker, Walworth, and Williston,-12.

Mr. Gardner moved to amend the resolution by striking out the words, one thousand, and inserting the words "fifteen hundred."

66

Mr. Walker called for a division of the question.

And the question having been put on striking out the words " one thousand,"

It was decided in the negative.

Mr. Pole moved to amend the resolution by adding thereto, the words, "provided that those in the German and Norwegian languages be printed for the same as those in the English language."

Which was decided in the negative.

And a division having been called for,

There were six in the affirmative, and thirteen in the negative. Mr. Kinney moved to amend the resolution by striking out all after the word, "resolved," and inserting the following:

"That one thousand copies of the governor's message be printed in the English languague, and that. Moritz Schaeffler be employed to print five hundred copies in the German language. Also, that James D. Reymert, the editor of the Northern Light, be employed to print five hundred copies in the Norwegian language."

Which was agreed to.

The question then recurred on the adoption of the resolution as amended,

And having been put,

It was decided in the affirmative.

A message from the council by their secretary.

"Mr. Speaker:-The council have passed a resolution of this house entitled "resolution relative to employment of fireman to governor's

room,

&c."

Mr. Kinney introduced the following resolution, to wit:

“Reolved, That Beriah Brown be employed to do the incidental printing of this house, until otherwise ordered."

Mr. Reed moved that said resolution be laid upon the table;

Which was disagreed to.

Mr. Botkin moved to amend the resolution by striking out the name of "Beriah Brown," and inserting that of "William W. Wyman ;" Which was decided in the negative.

And the ayes and noes having been called for,

Those who voted in the affirmative, were

Messrs. Babcock, Botkin, Burt, Gibson, Holliday, Jackson, Pole, Stewart, Virgin, Wakeley, and Williston -11.

Those who voted in the negative, were

Messrs. Cass, Cothren, Drake, Featherstonhaugh, Gardner, Hanrahan, Kinney, Martin, Mooers, Newell, Patch, Reed, Walker, Walworth, and Burns, (Speaker,)-15.

Mr. Featherstonhaugh moved to amend said resolution by striking out all after the word "resolved," and inserting the following:

"That the house proceed to declare by ballot, whom they will employ to do the incidental printing of this house during the present ses

sion."

Which amendment was accepted by Mr. Kinney as a modification of the original resolution.

Mr. Gardner moved to amend the resolution by striking out all after the word "resolved," and inserting the following: