2nd Wisconsin Legislature

The Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 10, 1849, to April 2, 1849, in regular session. Senators representing odd numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Senators representing even numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term.^[1]

Major events

March 4, 1849: Inauguration of Zachary Taylor as the 12th President of the United States.
November 6, 1849: Nelson Dewey re-elected Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation

February 8, 1849: Joint resolution related to Slavery and the Slave trade, 1849 Joint Resolution 2
March 6, 1849: Act to extend the boundaries of the county of Marquette, 1849 Act 73
March 8, 1849: Act in relation to the boundaries of the counties of Columbia, Adams, Sauk, Chippewa, La Pointe, and St. Croix, 1849 Act 77
March 8, 1849: Act to extend the boundaries of Winnebago county, 1849 Act 79
March 10, 1849: Joint resolution relative to a proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States, concerning the election of Senators in congress, 1849 Joint Resolution 5
March 22, 1849: Act submitting the question of the extension of the right of suffrage to a vote of the People, 1849 Act 137. Setting a referendum for the 1849 general election which would grant voting rights to African Americans living in Wisconsin. The referendum passed, but the legality was challenged. The Wisconsin Supreme Court finally upheld the result of the 1849 referendum in the 1866 case of Gillespie v Palmer and others.^[2]
March 31, 1849: Joint resolution instructing the Hon. Isaac P. Walker to resign his seat as United States Senator, 1849 Joint Resolution 9.
March 31, 1849: An Act in relation to homicide. Created Wisconsin's first law criminalizing abortion.

Party summary

Senate summary

Assembly summary

Sessions

1st Regular session: January 10, 1849 – April 2, 1849^[1]

Leaders

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: John E. Holmes, Lieutenant Governor^[1]

Assembly leadership

Speaker of the Assembly: Harrison Carroll Hobart^[1]

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Second Wisconsin Legislature (19):^[1]

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Second Wisconsin Legislature (66):^[1]^[3]^[4]

Employees

Senate employees

Chief Clerk: William Rudolph Smith
Assistant Clerk: P. N. Bovee
Enrolling Clerk: G. W. Boardman
Engrossing Clerk: Henry B. Welsh
Transcribing Clerk: William Dutcher
Messenger: Moritz Morgenstine
Doorkeeper: J. S. Delno
Fireman: S. B. Sibley
Sergeant-at-Arms: W. Shellmer

Assembly employees

Chief Clerk: Robert L. Ream
Chief Clerk pro tem: Daniel Noble Johnson
Assistant Clerk: William Hull
Assistant Clerk pro tem: Alexander T. Gray
Enrolling Clerk: Aaron V. Fryer
Engrossing Clerk: J. J. Driggs
Transcribing Clerk: Lyman Cowderey
Messenger: Marshall Ten Eyk
Doorkeeper: C. W. White
Fireman: Samuel Noyes
Sergeant-at-Arms: Felix McLinden

References

^ a b c d e f Heg, J. E., ed. (1882). "Annals of the Legislature" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 179–180.
^ "Ezekiel Gillespie, Lost and Found". Wisconsin magazine of history. Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
^ a b "In Assembly". Wisconsin Express. January 16, 1849. p. 1. Retrieved August 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "List of Members of the Assembly of the State of Wisconsin", Wisconsin Express January 30, 1849; p. 4; via Newspapers.com
^ "Members of the Legislature Elect". The Weekly Wisconsin. November 15, 1848. p. 2. Retrieved August 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.