Resolved, That in our opinion, whenever any people have entered in good faith upon a struggle against tyranny and for the inestimable rights of liberty, American law and American policy require that the general government should observe strict neutrality between the contestants, and that while it should scrupulously observe every duty it owes to established governments, it should also, (remembering our own history, and thanking God for our deliverance) abstain in act and policy from anything which might prejudice the cause of liberty or aid the interests of oppression.

Resolved, That the course of the Hon. Matt. H. Carpenter of Wisconsin, in the United States senate, in his exprsssions of sympathy for the cause of the Cuban patriots in their heroic efforts to shake off the shackles of oppression, and secure the sacred right of self government receives the endorsement of this legislature, as we believe it does that of the American people.

Approved March 11, 1870.

NUMBER 9.

JOINT RESOLUTION relative to a grant of land to aid in the construction of a railroad from Madison to Portage City.

Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That our senators in congress be instructed and our representatives requested to lend their aid and influence in procuring an extension of the time for the completion of the railroad from Madison to Portage City until the first day of July, 1874, and procuring an amendment of the act of congress, approved June 3, 1856, so as to authorize the Madison and Portage City Railroad Company upon the completion of said road according to the provisions of said act, by and with the consent of the governor of this state, to select, subject to the approval of the secretary of the interior, from any lands of the United States in the state of Wisconsin that are now subject to sale and entry, to the same extent and quantity as mentioned and provided for in said act of congress, and to extend said grant to the state of Wisconsin for the benefit of the Madison and Portage City Railroad Company, so that the governor of the state may select from any lands of the United States in the state of Wisconsin that are subject to sale and entry, the quantity of land granted

in and by the act aforesaid, to the state of Wisconsin in aid of the construction of the railroad above mentioned, or procuring an act of congress granting to the Madison and Portage City Railroad Company out of and from any lands of the United States. in the state of Wisconsin, the same number of acres as was granted by the act of congress herein before mentioned, upon their complying with the terms and conditions of said act, and authorizing the governor of this state to convey such lands to said company when selected, with the same force and effect as if granted under the acts aforesaid.

Approved March 14, 1870.

NUMBER 10.

JOINT RESOLUTION requesting our senators and representatives in congress to use their efforts to procure the passage of a law providing for connecting with our present postoffice facilities, a system of telegraphing.

Resolved by the assembly, the senate concurring, That the senators and representatives now in congress assembled, from the state of Wisconsin be and they are hereby each of them ear nestly and respectfully requested to use their most efficient efforts to procure at an early day, the passage of a law providing for connecting with and adding to the present postoffice facilities a complete system of telegraphy, so as to bring within the reach and means of the great mass of the people, this

most desirable means of communication.

Resolved, That the governor of the state of Wisconsin be requested to transmit to each of our senators and representatives in congress, a copy of the above resolution. Approved March 14, 1870.

NUMBER 11.

JOINT RESOLUTION instructing representatives in congress to favor an amendment to the election law.

WHEREAS, by virtue of a federal law, members of the congress of the United States are hereby required to be elected

in the several states, on the second Tuesday of October in each year, in which they are required to be elected.

WHEREAS, the constitution of this state requires a general election to be held therein annually on the Tuesday next succeeding the first Monday in November, for the election of such state and county officers as are required to be elected in any year, and,

WHEREAS, under such provision of the state constitution a general election is required to be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, in each of the years 1870 and 1871, for the election of certain of the members of the state legislature and other state and county officers, and,

WHEREAS, under a general law of this state, elections for members of congress have heretofore been held biennially on the day fixed as aforesaid for holding elections, and,

WHEREAS, the constitution of this state can only be amended after a proposal therefor has been first submitted by two consecutive legislatures, and thereafter ratified by a majority of the people of this state, and can not be accomplished before November, 1871, and,

WHEREAS, two elections, one in October and the other in November, would occasion great trouble, inconvenience and expense to the people of this state, therefore,

Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That the congress of the United States are hereby most earnestly requested to except the state of Wisconsin until the first day of January 1871, from the operation of any law requiring the election of members of congress in the several states on a particular day.

Resolved further, that the governor be, and is hereby requested to forward a copy of the foregoing to each of our senators and representatives in the congress of the United States.

Approved March 17, 1870.

NUMBER 12.

JOINT RESOLUTION amending section four of article four of the constitution of this state.

WHEREAS, The congress of the United States has passed the following: A bill to establish a uniform time for holding

elections for electors of president and vice president of the United States, and the representatives in congress in all the states of the union: Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled, that the electors of president and vice president shall be appointed in each state on the second Tuesday of October, in the year in which they are to be appointed, and that representatives in congress shall be elected in each state on the second Tuesday of October next preceding the beginning of the term of congress to which they are elected; and so much of the act relative to the election of a president and vice president of the United States and declaring the officer who shall act as president in case of vacancies in the offices both of president and vice president, approved March 1, 1792, and of the act to establish a uniform time for holding elections for electors of president and vice president in all the states in the union, approved January 27, 1845, as is inconsistent with this act is hereby repealed; and

WHEREAS, It is desirable that there should be but one general election, so called, held in each year in this state; therefore;

Resolved by the assembly and senate of the state of Wisconsin, That section four of article four of the constitution of this state be amended so as to read as follows: Section 4. The members of the assembly shall be chosen annually by single districts, on the second Tuesday of October, by the qualified electors of the several districts, such districts to be bounded by county, precinct, town or ward lines, to consist of contiguous territory, and be in as compact form as practicable.

Resolved, That section one of article thirteen of the constitution of this state be amended so as to read as follows: Section 1. The political year for the state of Wisconsin shall commence on the first day of January in each year, and the general election shall be holden on the second Tuesday of October of each year.

Approved March 16, 1870.

NUMBER 13.

JOINT RESOLUTION to amend article four of the constitntion of the state of Wisconsin.

Resolved by the senate, the assembly concurring, That article four of the constitution be amended by adding thereto [two]

other sections which shall read as follows: Section 31, The legislature is prohibited from enacting any special or private laws in the following cases: 1st. For changing the name of persons or constituting one person the heir-at-law of another. 2d. For laying out, opening or altering highways, except in cases of state roads extending into more than one county, and military roads to aid in the construction of which, lands may be granted by congress. 3d. For authorizing persons to keep ferries across streams, at points wholly within this state. 4th. For authorizing the sale or mortgage of real or personal property of minors or others under disability. 5th. For locating or changing any county seat. 6th. For assessment or collection of taxes or for extending the time for the collection thereof. 7th. For granting corporate powers or privileges, except to cities. 8th. 8th. For authorizing the apportionment of any part of the school fund. 9th. For incorporating any town or village, or to amend the charter thereof. Section 32. The legislature shall provide general laws for the transaction of any business that may be prohibited by section thirty-one of this article, and all such laws shall be uniform in their operation throughout the state.

Approved March 17, 1870.