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rules of the Senate, submitted the following report which was read and adopted, viz:

The select Committee to whom was referred the revision of the Rules of the Senate, recommend the adoption of the rules of the last Session, as printed, with the following amendments:

To Rule 4. Strike out in the 2d line the word "article" and insert "rule."

To Rule 8. Strike out in the 2d line the word "should," and insert "shall."

To Rule 9. Strike out in the 2d and 3d lines the words "any five of their" and insert the words "a smaller."

To Rule 14. Strike out the words "to be composed of three members each," and insert after the words "directed by the Senate" the following: The Committee on the Judiciary shall consist of five members, and the other Committees of three members each. To Rule 28. Strike out in the 5th line the words to commit." To Rule 30. Page 8, strike out the words "which have been adopted in Committee of the whole, but not acted on in the Senate."

To Rule 35. Add the following words: "Previous to the reception of such report, further procedings in the call shall not be suspended, except by a vote of two-thirds of the members present."

To Rule 37. Strike out all after the word "members" where it occurs in the 4th line and insert the following: "Amendments and other propositions reported by the Committee of the whole shall be disposed of in the same manner as if proposed in the Senate."

To Rule 42.-Strike out the word " twenty" in the first line and insert "fifty."

To Rule 43.-Strike out in the 1st line the word "one" and insert "three."

E. WAKELEY,

J. C. SQUIRES, Committee.
B. PINKNEY,

Mr. Whittlesey moved that the same Committee be instructed to procure printed two hundred copies of the Rules as revised.

Which was agreed to.

A Message from the Assembly, by Thomas McHugh, Esq., its Chief Clerk.

MR. PRESIDENT ;—

I am directed to inform you that the Assembly is now organized and ready to proceed to business.

Messrs. Holmes and Chase, have been appointed a Committee on the part of the Assembly to act in conjunction with a similar Committee on the part of the Senate, to wait upon his Excellency the Governor, and inform him that the two Houses are now organized, and ready to receive any communication which he may have to make to them.

The following appointments of the Sergeant at Arms, were then read:

SENATE CHAMBER, Madison, Wisconsin,

To the Hon. the Senate,

I have this day appointed

John L. Sweney, Assistant Serg't At-arms.

John Schreck, Second Assistant Serg't At-arms.
Truman L. Smith, Door Keeper.

Charles Wheeler and G. F. Becker, Messengers.

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And James Carson, Fireman, for the Senate during the present session

THOMAS HOOD, Serg't At-arms of the senate.

Mr. McLane from Joint select committee appointed to wait upon His Excellency the Governor made the following report:

The Committee in behalf of the Senate to wait upon his Excellency the Governor in conjunction with a joint committee from the Assembly and inform him that the two houses are organized, and ready to receive any communication he may have to make to them, report that they have discharged their duty, and that the

Governor has informed them that he will on to-day at 11 o'clock A. M. Send a copy of his message to each of the two houses.

GEO. R. McLANE.

ALVA STEWART.
Committee.

A message from His Excellency the Governor, by H. S. Orton, Esq., his private Secretary.

To the Senate and Assembly,

GENTLEMEN:

Since your last annual session, nothing has transpired, of extraordinary importance in the civil affairs of the State. During the past season, our citizens have enjoyed unusual prosperity, in the ample products and remuneration of their industry and enterprise. Abundant harvests, and high markets, an inerease in monied circulation and the downward tendency of the rates of interest; a prevailing confidence among business men, and in business enterprises, continued accession to our population by emigration, the energetic prosecution of internal improvements under the skillful management of companies, the extension of permanent agricultural improvements and the rapid growth of our cities and villages, are among the encouraging indications of the present, and give cheering promise of the future.

We have sufficient reason for congratulation in the condition and prospects of our State.

In respect to many advantages, she occupies a highly favorable position that cannot well be overlooked, either by the emigrant seeking a home in the West, or by those wishing to make safe and profitable investments of capital.

It appears by the returns of the last general census, that the ratio of increase in population has been greater, and the health of the people better, in Wisconsin, than in any other State in the Union. And in soil, climate, mineral resources and commercial position, she may justly claim to be equal, and in many respects superior, to the other Western States.

With a large area of territory, and comparatively a very small

part unsuited to cultivation, and all of it favorably situated in respect to wood and water, she offers superior inducements to the agriculturalist, and is destined ere long, to become one of the richest States in the Union, in the production of the soil.

The Western portion of our State, while the soil is of the best quality for agriculture, also contains exhaustless beds of mineral, which are only awaiting the application of capital and labor, to enrich those whose attention and enterprise they may enlist. And it is somewhat remarkable, that while it is known that so much wealth lies hidden only a few feet below the surface, in this mineral region, as is sufficiently attested by successful experiments already made, and the very able report of the Hon. David D. Owen, United States' Geologist, that comparatively so little has yet been done to measure its resources, and make them available to the urgent demands of trade and commerce.

It is reported, however, that during the past season, this important interest has been receiving more attention, and is attracting to this portion of the State, a more just share of emigration and capital.

Our lumber interest is by no means unimportant. From the best means we have to ascertain its extent, the amount of lumber manufactured in the State annually, cannot be less than one hundred and fifty million feet. And when railroad facilities of carriage are brought to the vicinity of this immense lumber region, we may reasonably expect a vast increase in the product.

It is estimated that there is within this State, over twenty million acres of Congress lands; embracing about two-thirds of the entire State, a great portion of which is now surveyed and in market.

This immense tract of country is generally of excellent soil, and many portions of it, richly charged with silver, copper, lead, iron, and other valuable minerals.

It is certainly a question of momentous importance to us, what disposition ought to be made, by the Congress of the United States, of this two-thirds portion of our State.

Various propositions are now pending before Congress, respecting the unsold government lands in the different States. And whatever may finally be the prevailing measure of the General Government on this subject, it must necessarily, greatly affect us, favorably or otherwise, however insensibly it may be felt elsewhere. It must be conceded, that our State, at least, is deeply interested in having these lands brought into actual occupancy and cultivation, as speedily as possible. If, therefore, their donation to actual settlers, and in limited quantities, will, by the encouragement of emigration, be most likely to produce this result, then it follows, that the proposition embracing this principle, is the one to receive our countenance and support.

But if this principle cannot be adopted, then, better for us, by far, will it be, if these lands are kept constantly in market, at the present Congress price, than that any measure should obtain, that will have the effect to keep them out of market, or to increase their cost to the settler; which would be detrimental in the highest degree, to the State, and her future advancement in wealth and population.

To the fact that Congress lands of excellent quality and favorable location, can be obtained in this State, at the present price, we are, and have been, very much indebted for the emigration we have already received, and are still receiving: and these lands, if continued in market, even at the present price, being the nearest and most convenient to the Eastern sea-board, of any other in the Western States, will remain a great inducement for its continuance. This subject is earnestly commended to your attention, at the present Session, that you may express to the Congress of the United States, by memorial or otherwise, the sentiment of this State, upon the important propositions there pending, upon a subject of so much concern to the State.

By the construction of the Milwaukee and Mississippi Railroad thus far, and the surveys and estimates of the routes of other roads, it has been made apparant, that Railroads can be constructed in this State, at an average cost, of from ten to eighteen thou

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