PROCEEDINGS IN WISCONSIN On January 6, 1846, the day on which the territorial legislature convened in annual session, Governor Dodge submitted his annual message to the two houses in joint session. Aside from certain introductory remarks the first subject treated by the Governor was that of statehood, the message recommending the passage of a law for the submission of the question to a popular referendum on the part of the voters.1 To this invitation the legislature responded by creating a joint committee composed of two members of the Council and four members of the house of representatives for the consideration of the Governor's recommendation.2 In accordance with this resolution the speaker of the house appointed as members of the joint committee Elisha Morrow, Thomas P. Burnett, Benjamin H. Mooers, and Orson Sheldon; while the Council chose Moses M. Strong and Michael Frank. On January 12 Moses M. Strong reported to the Council "A bill in relation to the formation of a state government in Wisconsin," which was read the first and second times; similar action occurred in the house of representatives a few days later (January 19).5 On January 16, Michael Frank, from the joint select committee, laid before the Council the committee's report on the subject of state government and, on motion of Moses Strong, 500 copies were ordered printed. Similar action with respect to printing the report was taken by the house of representatives on For the pertinent portion of the message see post, 59. " Journal of the Council, 1846, 24; Journal of the House of Representatives, 1846, 29-30. House Journal, 33; Council Journal, 32. 'Council Journal, 44. 5 House Journal, 96, 101. • Council Journal, 77–78. For the report, taken from ibid., 333-42, see post, 60. January 20, the proceedings here being enlivened by a vigorous debate over the question of printing in foreign languages as well as in English. On January 21 the house went into committee of the whole for the consideration of the statehood bill, and again on January 22 for further consideration of the bill. On January 23 and 24 the statehood bill was under consideration in the house,10 being ordered to its third reading and passed on the last named date. The Council, meanwhile, considered the bill in committee of the whole on January 16 and 17,11 ordering it to be engrossed and read a third time. On January 19 a resolution to instruct the judiciary committee to amend the bill so as to provide for negro suffrage was introduced and defeated by a 7 to 6 vote.12 The same day the bill was reported correctly engrossed, read the third time, and passed.13 On January 24 the amendments of the house of representatives to the statehood bill were concurred in;14 January 31 the bill was reported sent to the governor;15 and the same day it received the executive's signature.16 11 Council Journal, 80-91. For the debate see post. 93-116. 12 Ibid., 94. 13 Ibid., 95-96. 14 Ibid., 147. 15 Ibid., 227. 16 For the act, taken from Laws of Wisconsin, 1846, 5-12, see post, 117-24. |