Box 23, Folder 4: Wisconsin: Geographical & Topographical 1844

24 LONG'S EXPEDITION

They are represented to have been subservient to the interests of the British, during the late war. This settlement is now the seat of justice for Brown county, in the Territory of Michigan, and the ordinary courts of law are established." Prairie du Chien contained a similar popuulation [population], of about five hundred, occupying about eighty buildings, the principal part of which were of logs, arranged in two streets, parallel with the river. On the 26th of August, the party encamped at the mouth of the Milwaukee river; where they found "two American families, and a village of Pottowatomies: it is the division line between the lands of the Menomonees and the Pottowatomies; the latter claim all south of it." At the portage between the Wisconsin and Fox rivers, they found "a good waggon road, and a Frenchman lives on the spot, who keeps a number of horses and cattle, for the transportation of baggage, for which twenty-five cents per hundred weight is demanded."

In 1823, Major Long commanded a party, on an expedition similar to that of Governor Cass, that traversed the country from Chicago to Prairie du Chien, where they found only about one hundred and fifty souls. From thence they went up the Mississippi and the St. Peters, and back by the north shore of Lake Superior.

In 1832, another expedition passed through the country, under the direction of Schoolcraft, and from his pen we have a volume published in 1834, being a "Narrative of an expedition through the upper Mississippi to Itasca lake, the actual source of that river."

HISTORICAL SUMMARY. 25

The Sauk war, which broke out this year (1832,) perhaps did more than any thing else to turn the attention of emigrants and others to this country, by bringing it into notice. It is not proposed here to enter into details concerning this Indian disturbance, having but little to add to what has already been published upon the subject.

Soon after these troubles were ended, the lands were surveyed, by order of the Government, and not till then was commenced that rapid settlement of the country which has now filled it with a population of at least a ^more than one^ HUNDRED THOUSAND SOULS.

Since this country became a portion of the United States, Wisconsin has successively been under the government of Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. The territory once belonged to Virginia, or at least she has now the full credit of having ceded it, together with all the "territory northwest of the Ohio river" to the United States. Up to the year 1800, Wisconsin was under the authority of the Territorial Government established in Ohio. In that year she was attached to "Indiana Territory, and remained so until 1809, when the "Illinois Territory" was organised, extending north to Lake Superior, and of course including Wisconsin. When Illinois took her place in the Union, in 1818, our Territory was finally attached to Michigan and remained so until the organization of the present Territorial Government, in 1836.

We see, therefore, that within the space of one hundred and sixty-six years, Wisconsin has been successively ruled by two kings, one State, and four Territo-

26 INDIANS.

ries, and we have finally set up for ourselves, without any great and exciting events to produce these revolutions. The people have submitted to each change without a struggle or a murmur. They have been under the government of France from 1670 to 1759^63^, or 89^93^ years. Of Great Britain, from 1759^63^ to 1794, 35^1^ " Of Virginia and Ohio, from 1794 to 1800, 6 " Of Indiana, from 1800 to 1809, - 9 " Of Illinois, from 1809 to 1818, - 9 " Of Michigan, from 1818 to 1836, - 18 " Total - - 166 years.

In the more settled portions of the Territory, but few Indians are now to be found; most of them having removed to the north, or to the west side of the Mississippi. Occasionally a band of Menomonees take up their winter quarters on the head branches of Rock river, and other places, and bring their peltries to Milwaukee ^& other places^ for sale. The Chippewas are the most numerous, occupying the country bordering on Lake Superior, and about the source of the Mississippi. The Sioux or Dacotas, whose country lies principally on the west side of the Mississippi, occasionally cross that stream and occupy a portion of our Territory at the north. These, with a few Winnebagos, and an occasional Pottowatomie, make up the tribes of Indians occupying or inhabiting Wisconsin. The Stockbridge and Brotherton Indians, on the east side of Lake Winnebago, and the Oneidas, a few miles west of Green Bay, emigrated from New-York about the year

INDIANS. 27

1833. They are in character and habits much more like the whites than like the wild Indian. They are sober, honest, and industrious farmers, and occupy fixed places of above.

The Brothertowns ^& Stockbridge^ have been admitted to all the rights and privileges of citizens of the United States — and the Stockbridges are taking the necessary measures to secure to themselves the same advantages. A great number of them are, however, opposed to this measure. ^They have a repres?? in the Le??^

The Chippewas and Sioux are at enmity with each other, and have been, (notwithstanding all the efforts made to reconcile them) as long as they have been known by white men. Their deadly hatred will probably become satisfied only by the entire extermination of one of these powerful and warlike tribes. The warriors on both sides are distinguished for many acts of daring bravery. In two battles fought in the summer of 1839, between these tribes, it is estimated that two hundred Indians, mostly of the Chippewas, were kiiled [killed].

The Indians have, by various treaties, ceded to the United States ^nearly^ all their lands in Wisconsin except a portion lying between the west end of Lake Superior and the head waters of the Mississippi. This, therefore, is all that now remains in possession of the original owners — the Indians.

The GOVERNOR is appointed for three years, by the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. He is, ex-officio, Superin-

28. Government.

tendent of Indian affairs within the Territory; and his salary is two thousand five hundred dollars per annum, - paid by the General Government. The Governor is required, by the "organic law" establishing the Territorial Government, to reside within the Territory; is commander in chief of the militia; and has the power of vetoing the acts of the Legislature. He may at any time be removed by the President of the United States; is required to commission all officers under the laws of the Territory; and it is his duty to take care that the laws are faithfully executed.

The Secretary is appointed in like manner, and holds his office for four years, unless sooner removed by the President of the United States. It is his duty to record and preserve all the laws and proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, all the acts and proceedings of the Governor in his executive department; to transmit one copy of the laws and one copy of the executive proceedings to the President of the United States, and at the same time two copies of the laws to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is authorized to act as Governor, in case of the death, removal, resignation, or necessary absence of that officer. His salary is twelve hundred dollars.

The Legislature consists of the Governor, a Council of thirteen members, elected for four years, and a House of Representatives, of twenty six members, elected for two years. The members are apportioned among the different counties, according to the population, (Indians excepted). By a recent law of Congress, the members of the Council are hereafter