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. 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.

MEMORIAL to congress for the re-granting of the land heretofore granted to aid in the construction of railroads from lake St. Croix to Superior and Bayfield.

To the honorable the senate and house of representatives of the United States in congress assembled:

The memorial of the people of Wisconsin, represented in the senate and assembly, respectfully showeth :

That in the year 1856 a grant of public lands was made by congress to the state of Wisconsin to aid in the construction of a railroad from the St. Croix river or lake, between townships twenty-five and thirty-one, and from thence to the west end of lake Superior and to Bayfield, in said state.

That said grant embraced the odd numbered sections for six miles in width on each side of the line of said road, and the time for the completion of said road was limited to ten years from the date of said grant.

That in 1864, by an act of congress, the time for the completion of said railroad was extended four years, and also an additional grant of land consisting of the odd numbered sections in four other miles of territory on each side of the line of said railroad was made to aid in its construction.

That the state of Wisconsin has heretofore chartered two several railroad companies successively, and conferred upon them the said grant of land, upon condition of the completion of the said railroad by them respectively within the time fixed in the act of congress; but the said companies have each in turn failed to comply in any great degree with the terms of their said charters, and with the acts conferring upon them the said grants of lands, and that such delay and failure of the said companies have rendered the state of Wisconsin incapable of securing the completion of the said railroad within the time fixed by act of congress.