History of the Territory of Wisconsin, from 1836 to 1848: Preceded by an ...

Manitowoc, one; Winnebago and Marquette, one; Portage and Sauk, one; Crawford and Chippewa, one, and St. Croix and La'Pointe, one.

The delegates were to assemble on the third Wednesday (fifteenth) of December, and have full power and authority to form a republican constitution for the State of Wiscon sin.

Each delegate was to receive two dollars and fifty cents per day for his service and ten cents per mile for travel, going and returning; and the officers such compensation as the convention should allow, all to be paid by the Territorial treasurer.

The constitution adopted by the convention was to be published in all the newspapers in the State, at a sum not exceeding twenty dollars per paper. The convention was required to submit it to a vote of the people for their approval (not rejection) and to provide how the votes cast on that subject should be taken, canvassed and returned, and to submit it to the Congress of the United States, and to apply in such manner as they may deem proper for the admission of the State of Wisconsin into the Union.

The act further provided that a census should be taken between the 1st and 15th day of December, of all persons residing in the territory on the 1st day of December. It was to be taken by suitable persons appointed by the Governor-one in each county.

It was further provided, that if the constitution should not be adopted, the Governor should forthwith issue a proclamation for an election of delegates to form another coustitution at such time as he might designate, the delegates to meet on the fourth Monday after such election.

The annual session of the Legislature was by the same act postponed from the first Monday of January to the first Monday of February.

The election for delegates to the convention to form the second constitution took place at the time prescribed by law November 29. The candidates in most of the counties had been nominated by the political parties to which they were respectively attached, and although party lines were not in all cases strictly adhered to, much the larger number represented in their political opinions the party majorities in the counties which they respectively represented. There were about 25 Whigs and about 44 Democrats.

As the convention assembled so near the close of the year, and its session was continued until the 1st of February in the next year, any further notice of its members or their proceedings will be reserved for the next chapter.

The following table exhibits the population of the Territory on the 1st of December, 1847, as shown by the census:

CHAPTER XXIX.

TERRITORY OF WISCONSIN- 1848.

The second convention to form a constitution for the State, in pursuance of the act of the Territorial Legislature of October 27, 1847, met at Madison on the 15th day of December, at noon.

A large majority of the members-elect were in attendance, and were called to order by STODDARD JUDD, and on motion of F. S. LOVELL, Hon. CHARLES DUNN of La'Fayette county, was appointed president pro tem., and on like motion THOMAS MCHUGH was appointed secretary pro tem. Other temporary officers were appointed, when a committee of three was appointed to examine the credentials of members, and report thereon at the next meeting of the convention. On motion of Mr. WHITON, the rules of the last convention were adopted, until others should be adopted.

The convention then adjourned until 10 o'clock the next day.

On the second day of the session, the committee on credentials reported the names of sixty-three delegates as elected, with regular credentials; that EZRA A. MULFORD was entitled to a seat as a member from Walworth county, although by an error made by one of the clerks of election, fifty votes were returned for Cyrus A. MULFORD instead of EZRA A. The result of this error was to give the certificate to TIMOTHY MOWER, Jr., who, the committee reported, was not elected.

CHARLES H. LARRABEE, of Dodge county, ORSAMUS COLE, of Grant county, and WILLIAM MCDONNELL, of Green county, were admitted to seats in the convention, on motion.

Two others of the sixty-nine delegates- WILLIAM H. KENNEDY Of Portage, and GEORGE W. BROWNELL of Saint Croix-were absent at the organization of the convention. They appeared on the following Monday, the 20th of December, and were, on motion, admitted to seats.

The following is a complete list of the members of the convention, with their residences, etc. :

NAMES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SECOND CONVENTION, WITH THEIR RESIDENCES, PLACE OF NATIVITY, AGES AND OCCUPATION.