The Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1856, to March 31, 1856, in regular session, and re-convened from September 3, 1856, to October 14, 1856.
This was a pivotal legislative session in the fall of the Democratic Party in Wisconsin and the rise of the new Republican Party—the Republicans would dominate the state government for most of the next 100 years. The start of the session saw the dispute over the 1855 Wisconsin gubernatorial election, in which the Democratic incumbent governor, William A. Barstow, was forced to resign from office three months into this term after the Wisconsin Supreme Court threw out a number of apparently fraudulent votes.
Before he left office however, Barstow was involved in an extensive railroad bribery scandal, which ultimately also implicated his Republican challenger, Coles Bashford, and a huge portion of the members of the 9th Wisconsin Legislature. The scheme saw railroad promoters, led by Milwaukee mayor Byron Kilbourn, bribing legislators and other state officials with railroad company bonds and stock in exchange for securing land grants for the La Crosse and Milwaukee Railroad route. An 1858 investigation found $900,000 worth of bribes had been paid (nearly $33,000,000 adjusted for inflation), averaging $10,000 per official. Although legislators from both parties received the corrupt bonds, Democrats ultimately took the bulk of the blame.[1][2]
Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assemblymembers were elected to a one-year term. Assemblymembers and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1855. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 7, 1854.[3]
^"The Corruptionists–––Who are They!". Wisconsin State Journal. October 30, 1858. p. 2. Retrieved February 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Report of the Land Grant Investigation–Startling Disclosures–nearly the whole Legislature of 1856 bought up". Vernon County Cencsor. May 26, 1858. p. 2. Retrieved February 19, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Annals of the legislature". The Blue Book of the state of Wisconsin 1881 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 191–192.
and 19 Related for: 9th Wisconsin Legislature information
challenger, Coles Bashford, and a huge portion of the members of the 9thWisconsinLegislature. The scheme saw railroad promoters, led by Milwaukee mayor Byron...
The Tenth WisconsinLegislature convened from January 14, 1857, to March 9, 1857, in regular session. This was the first legislative session after the...
passed by both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature and signed by the Governor of Wisconsin—unless the Legislature has sufficient votes to override a gubernatorial...
The Eighty-Sixth WisconsinLegislature convened from January 3, 1983, to January 7, 1985, in regular session, and also convened in six special sessions...
The Seventy-Ninth WisconsinLegislature convened from January 6, 1969, to January 4, 1971, in regular session and also convened in two special sessions...
The Twentieth WisconsinLegislature convened from January 9, 1867, to April 11, 1867, in regular session. This was the first legislative session after...
The Wisconsin State Capitol, located in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsinlegislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and...
The Thirteenth WisconsinLegislature convened from January 11, 1860, to April 2, 1860, in regular session. Senators representing even-numbered districts...
The One Hundred First WisconsinLegislature convened from January 7, 2013, through January 5, 2015, in regular session, though it adjourned for legislative...
relatively close. During the 105th WisconsinLegislature (2021–2023), Wisconsin was again under divided government. The Wisconsin Supreme Court re-asserted a...
The Seventy-Seventh WisconsinLegislature convened from January 13, 1965, to January 2, 1967, in regular session. This was the first legislative session...
is the 2026 Wisconsin Senate election, which will determine which party controls the State Senate going into the 108th Wisconsinlegislature. Tony Evers...
Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly is the presiding officer of the Wisconsin State Assembly, the lower house of the WisconsinLegislature. Article IV...
The Fifteenth WisconsinLegislature convened from January 8, 1862, to April 7, 1862, in regular session, and re-convened from June 3, 1862, through June...
Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 9th District from 2002 to 2014. He previously served in the Wisconsin Assembly, representing...
politician from Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He is the current majority leader of the Wisconsin Senate, since 2021, and has represented the 9th Senate district since...
court-ordered redistricting in Wisconsin is expected to lead to Democratic gains in both chambers of the WisconsinLegislature. Regularly scheduled elections...
The Sixth WisconsinLegislature convened from January 12, 1853, to April 4, 1853, in regular session. They reconvened from June 6 to July 13 to sit as...
for control of Legislature". Wisconsin Examiner. Retrieved June 4, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) "Cowles, Wisconsin Senate's longest-serving...
Global Information