6th Wisconsin Legislature
The Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 12, 1853, to April 4, 1853, in regular session. They reconvened from June 6 to July 13 to sit as a court of impeachment for Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Levi Hubbell.
This was the first legislative session after the expansion and redistricting of the Senate and Assembly. The Senate grew from 19 to 25 seats; he Assembly grew from 66 to 82 seats.
Senators representing odd-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 odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 2, 1852. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 4, 1851, or were elected in the 1852 election for a newly created district and were serving a one-year term.
Major events
- March 5, 1853: Wisconsin State Assembly voted to impeach Wisconsin Circuit Court Judge Levi Hubbell
- July 11, 1853: Judge Levi Hubbell was acquitted in a trial of impeachment in the Wisconsin State Senate
- September 21, 1853: Lieutenant Governor Timothy Burns died in office.
- November 8, 1853: William A. Barstow elected Governor of Wisconsin
- January 2, 1854: Inauguration of William A. Barstow as the 3rd Governor of Wisconsin.
Major legislation
- February 11, 1853: Act to divide the County of La Crosse and create the County of Jackson,
- February 16, 1853: Act to incorporate the County of Shawanaw,
- March 4, 1853: Act to incorporate the State Historical Society of Wisconsin,
- March 7, 1853: Act for the division of the county of Washington, and the creation of the county of Ozaukee,
- March 14, 1853: Act to divide Saint Croix, and create the counties of Pierce and Polk,
- March 19, 1853: Act to organize a Seventh Judicial Circuit, and to provide for the election of a Judge thereof,
- March 19, 1853: Act to provide for contesting elections of members of the Senate and Assembly,
- March 25, 1853: Act providing for the Geological Survey of the State,
- April 2, 1853: Act providing for the organization of Joint Stock Companies,
- June 6, 1853: Act to amend article four of the Constitution, , to change state senate terms from two years to four years. This act was eventually put to a referendum in 1854, where it was defeated by a 2-to-1 margin.
- July 6, 1853: Act to divide the county of Jackson, and create the counties of Buffalo and Clarke,
- July 6, 1853: Act to submit to the people the question of a Prohibitory Liquor Law,
- July 12, 1853: Act to provide for the punishment of murder in the first degree, and to abolish the penalty of death, . With this act, Wisconsin became the first U.S. state to abolish the death penalty.
Party summary
Senate
Assembly
Sessions
- 1st Regular session: January 12, 1853 - April 4, 1853
- Special Impeachment session: June 6, 1853 - July 13, 1853
Leaders
Senate
- President of the Senate: Timothy Burns, Lieutenant Governor
- President pro tempore: Duncan Reed
Assembly
- Speaker of the Assembly: Henry L. Palmer
Members
Senate
Members of the Wisconsin Senate for the Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:| District | Counties | Senator | Party |
| 1 | Calumet, Manitowoc, Sheboygan | Horatio N. Smith | Democrat |
| 2 | Brown, Door, Oconto, Outagamie, Marathon, Portage, Waupaca | James S. Alban | Whig |
| 3 | Eastern Washington | Andrew M. Blair | Democrat |
| 4 | Western Washington | Baruch Schleisinger Weil | Democrat |
| 5 | Northern Milwaukee | Edward M. Hunter | Democrat |
| 6 | Southern Milwaukee | Duncan C. Reed | Democrat |
| 7 | Racine | John W. Cary | Democrat |
| 8 | Kenosha | John R. Sharpstein | Democrat |
| 9 | Northern Waukesha | George R. McLane | Democrat |
| 10 | Southern Waukesha | Marvin H. Bovee | Democrat |
| 11 | Dane | Thomas T. Whittlesey | Democrat |
| 12 | Walworth | Eleazer Wakeley | Democrat |
| 13 | Lafayette | E. B. West | Whig |
| 14 | Jefferson | Alva Stewart | Whig |
| 15 | Iowa, Richland | Levi Sterling | Whig |
| 16 | Grant | Joel C. Squires Until May 1 | Democrat |
| 16 | Grant | From June 8 James Wilson Seaton | Democrat |
| 17 | Western Rock | Ezra Miller | Democrat |
| 18 | Eastern Rock | John R. Briggs, Jr. | Whig |
| 19 | Bad Ax, Chippewa, Crawford, La Crosse, La Pointe, St. Croix | Benjamin Allen | Democrat |
| 20 | Fond du Lac | Bertine Pinckney | Democrat |
| 21 | Winnebago | Coles Bashford | Whig |
| 22 | Dodge | Judson Prentice | Whig |
| 23 | Adams, Marquette, Sauk, Waushara | David S. Vittum | Democrat |
| 24 | Green | Thomas S. Bowen | Democrat |
| 25 | Columbia | James T. Lewis | Democrat |
Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:Employees
Senate
- Chief Clerk: John K. Williams
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas Hood
Assembly
- Chief Clerk: Thomas McHugh
- Sergeant-at-Arms: Richard F. Wilson