Southport Telegraph

MADISON CORRESPONDENCE.

Madison, August 8, 1848.

By reference to the House Journal yesterday, I perceive that the bill to authorize the Governor to employ a private Secretary was killed—and that a bill to change the name of John B. Buebe to John B. Bobe, and also one to change the name of Baruch Schleisonger to Baruch Schleisenger Weil, were passed, and that Mr. Chapman made a report on the subject of a free soil petition, which in the matter of orthography, etymology, syntax and prosody, is a curiosity.—and further than this, I perceive nothing of interest, admitting what I have already mentioned as being of that character.

The Senate, to-day, went into committee of the whole, on the general file of bills. There were none of importance. There was a communication from John White and David Merrill, Register and Receiver of the Milwaukee and Rock River Canal lands, on the subject of the business of their offices which set at defiance the authority of the State Legislature. A bill was got up and discussed at considerable length, the object of which was to compel a settlement forthwith on the part of these men. It was laid on the table for the present.

In the afternoon the two Houses went into joint session, and elected H. I. Dousman, J. B. Estes, Curtis Reed, John A. Bingham, and A. S. Story, commissioners of the Fox and Wisconsin Rivers improvement when the Senate adjourned.

In the House to-day, Mr. J. Brown, reported a bill authorizing the treasury to negotiate a loan to pay the present indebtedness of this State. The bill providing for the appraisal of the school and university lands was passed. The House then resolved itself into joint session for the purpose of electing commissioners of the Fox River Improvement and then adjourned.

Madison, August 9, 1848.

After the morning hour, Mr. Sholes, called up the bill relative to confining the jurisdiction of the Justices to their own towns. An amendment was appended to it, to strike out 'town or precinct,' and insert county. Lakin, Williams, Dennis and Horn, advocated this amendment, and Hobart, Chase, Mills, Kinney, Billings, and Sholes, opposed it. A move was made to refer the bill to the committee on Judiciary, but was finally withdrawn to get an expression of the Senate, on the district proposition, as to town jurisdiction, instead of county. The vote was taken and stood ten against the proposition to strike out 'town or precinct' and eight in favor of it. The eight in favor were Boyd, Horn, Lakin, Merrill, Fenton, Dennis, White, Williams.

The session is so near its close that I can hardly hope a bill embodying the principle, will be got through this session. It is gratifying to know that a reform so important and radical, has so many friends on its first introduction.

The bill introduced yesterday relative to a settlement with the Receiver and Register of the Canal Lands was passed today.

Ch. F. Morgan, Anson Peace and W. Moore have been appointed by the Senate (subject yet to the action of the House) appraisers of the school and university lands in the county of Racine. Col. White plead hard that the bolters of Racine county should be prosecuted by the Legislature, and that he should have the sole power of dictating for Racine the county, but although some were disposed to stand by him on that ground, he could not get a majority into it.

There are some hopes that the Legislature will adjourn on Monday next, though I think it doubtful. There is a scheme on foot to perpetuate what by it strikes me, will be an outrage upon the rights of the people. It is to make May the time for the meeting of the Legislature, to the end that there may be an excuse for electing a United States Senator at this session. The leaders publicly acknowledged that the chance for men of their ilk at the next session is rather slim, and all they get, must be done whilst the power is in their hands. I hardly conceive such a measure will carry, but when I am aware of the spirit around me, and in view of the exceedingly transpiring, I am led to inquire in wonder what is coming next. Nothing but the most extraordinary infatuation could lead to such an operation.

Yours, S.

Madison, August 11, 1848.

By reference to the House journal of yesterday, I see that the bill reducing the fees of Registers of Deeds was passed with sundry amendments. The bill to exempt certain persons from serving as jurors (city and village trustees and their clerks) was laid on the table. The bill providing for a peremptory settlement with the Register and Receiver of Canal Lands was referred to the Committee on Judiciary, which is considered equivalent to killing it.

The bill providing for a loan to defray the expenses of the present session of the Legislature was passed with some amendments. This bill had previously passed the Senate, and provided for borrowing eight thousand in gold or silver coin, for not less than six nor more than twelve months, at rate of interest not exceeding 12 per cent., to defray the expenses of the present session. The main amendment by the House was striking out the gold and silver.

In the Senate, yesterday, the loan bill above alluded to was passed. The Senate considered in committee of the whole, several bills and among the others, a bill superseding the present act relative to town and county government.

In the Senate today, the bill revising the rules of practice and pleadings in the State, was finished in committee of the whole, reported to the senate and passed.

The bill defining the powers and duties of the State Superintendent was returned from the House with the Salary of the Superintendent increased from fifteen hundred to two thousand and other amendments. The Senate refused to concur in the amendments, and returned it again to the House.

The Senate also refused to concur in the amendment striking out the word 'gold and silver coin,' in the loan bill and returned it to the House.

The Senate spent the afternoon mainly in the consideration in committee of the whole of the bill relative to town and county government, without completing it.

A bill providing for the meeting of the Legislature on the 2nd Wednesday in January, has passed both Houses.

In the House, today, a bill to incorporate the Fond du Lac and Beloit Rail Road, was taken up for consideration, and laid upon the table. The bill relating to Registers of Deeds was taken up and passed with some amendments. The House refused to concur in the amendments of the Senate to the State Superintendent bill.

A resolution, fixing the time of adjournment on Thursday next, was passed.

The bill authorizing a loan, from which the Senate refused to strike the words 'gold and silver coin,' was concurred in by the House, and has become a law.

The House had an evening session, and pending a call, more bills were passed, than were probably ever passed in the same length of time. They were passed so rapidly, that members were compelled to use the utmost activity in dodging, to save their heads; and some who were so fortunate to have the umbrellas with them, elevated them as a means of defense. From passing bills, they went to passing paste cups and candles, and finally resorted to chair cushions, until some aspiring individual in shoving a chair cushion at his neighbor's head across the room, brought it in contact with the chandelier, which was upset, and its glassware deposited on the floor, when a calm ensued and the evening session was terminated. The House next day repealed the resolution requiring evening sessions.

Madison, Aug 12, 1848.

The Senate this morning, laid the adjournment resolution on the table and made it the special order of the day for Wednesday next. The Senate spent most of the day in committee of the whole on the town and county government bill. An amendment altering the present town system to the old commissioner system passed the committee, but it cannot be got through the Senate. A great many amendments were appended but the bill has not yet got through the committee.

Committees of conference were appointed on the disagreeing vote of the two houses on the Registers and State Superintendent's bill. They will probably both become laws.

The Senate had an evening session, and passed through committee a long bill relating to electors.

There will be an effort made to complete the business so as to adjourn, on Friday morning next, but I am apprehensive it will not be successful.

Madison, Aug 11, 1848.

By reference to the House Journal of Saturday I see that a resolution was adopted, preventing members from speaking more than 15 minutes on the same subject.

A bill to incorporate the Madison and Beloit Rail Road, which had previously passed the Senate, was passed.

The House did considerable business but I perceive nothing of general interest among it.

In the Senate to-day, the reports of two committees of conference, one on the State Superintendent's bill, the other on the Registers bill, were made. The former was concurred in, and having been previously concurred in by the House, became a Law. The latter was laid on the table, to await the action of the House and will probably be passed so that after the first of January, the recording of an ordinary deed will be almost one half of what it now is.

The Senate ordered to a third reading today, a bill providing for general elections, and a bill revising the present town and county government system. This latter bill makes some material alterations in the present system the main alteration being, in reducing very considerably the present number of town officers.

The prospect is favorable that the two Houses will be able to adjourn on Thursday, although it is by no means certain.

Yours, S.