Page 216 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

112 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.
mony. Thereupon the worthy foreman rose from his seat,
and swore he would no longer sit there to hear the objections
of that fellow. That he had taken an oath as a Juror, to
decide the case according to the evidence, and if he could not
hear the whole story from the witness, he should leave. Ac-
cordingly he made several strides towards the door, when the
Justice rose from the bench, and approaching the Juror, placed
his hand upon the Colonel's~shoulder, and begged that he should
return to his seat, promising that the troublesome attorney
should not again interfere. After some persuasion, he con-
sented to do so-at tho same time, while pressing his hat more
firmly upon his head, he exclaimed, LLWell, I'll try it once
more, but damned if I will stand any more of that fellow's
nonsense." The attorneygave up in despair, and the opposite
counsel had it all his own may.
It was not until the years 1831-2 that the Government of
the United states purchased the country lying between Lake
Michigan and the Mississippi, Fox and Wisconsin Rivers.
Hitherto these Isnds, with the exception of a narrow strip on
both sides of the Fox River at Green Bay and the Reservation
of the New York tribes, were owned, as already stated, by the
Menornonee and Winnebago Indians. These tribes were nume-
rous and powerful, not what they are at the present day.
Further purchases were from time to time made, until the
Indian title to nearly all of the land in the State has been
extinguished. The tardiness of the Government in acquiring
title to the land, was a great drawback to the settlement and
improvement of the country, and will sufficiently account for
its slow growth during so many years. Those who came with
a view to settle here, could obtain no land. No inducements
were offered, no encouragement given by the Government to
emigrants; on the contrary they were looked upon with suspi-
cion by the different parties then in possession. First, by the
natives, who believed, but too truly, that the ingress of the
whites would not only drive away the game, but eventually
deprive them of their homes and their country; again by the