Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-08-17
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WEDNESDAY. AUGUST. u, 1886.
THE ELECTION.
TO THE PEOPLE Of WISCONSIN TERRITORY !:

TO THE PEOPLE OF MiSCUNSlN IEhhi luhI a.
NO. II.
We began this address for the purpose of
fmpressinr upon your minds the paramount
importance Of the approaching canvass, and
The high character Of the duties and RESPONSE
bilities which will devolve upon you in the
election Of our first Legislative Assembly. -
|for this purpose, we have endeavored to point
put some Of the most prominent cases in which
The action of the Legislature, and particularly
IDf the first one, will bear upon your individual
welfare, without pretending to trace in its
eamifcatiops, the connection between legisla-
hive policy and private happiness-satisfed
that your attention being drawn to the matter,
your own reflections would convince you that
livery act of the law-making power immedi-
htely concerns each one of ye,l: Fer tslaaze=sse
purpose, and in like superficial manner, we
ehall endeavor, briefly, to show how intimately
ature generations are concerned in the policy
81 our first Legislature.
As soon as sufficient population is contain
ID in this Territory, it will be divided into
Two, and possibly into three, Independent
States. The laws to which the people are
accustomed in their Territorial organization,
whether they be good or evil, will be closely
followed in the regulations adopted by each Of
6he new governments. We have instances
Enough Of the proneness of every people to
Continue the forms of government to which
ahey are habituated, even after they have cho-
zen new homes, new associations, and new
Scenes. 1t was only through the storm Of a
evolution, that our country rid herself Of the
Nominations of the parent government; and
wen after the establishment of her indepen-
lence, she took pattern, in the formation of her
Jew system, after her ancient usages, and made
government very similar in form to that which
She had discarded. But this is not all. Up
b this day, the fundamental laws Of the Union,
ind Of every State in the Union, save one, are
IF English origin--the same that crossed the
cean with our pilgrim fathers. Even to this
lay, the Common Law, with its boosted sglo-
ions uncertainty and acknowledged chicanery
ind absurdity, lis observed in the Courts ofevery
state except Louisiana, and she furnishes a
fill stronger illustration of the force of habit
n that State the old Roman Civil Law, with
IS worse barbarisms, introduced by her first
ettlers from France and Spain, is still in force!
fhe people of the State Of Rhode Island have
ever made constitution for themselves, but
I've tothis day under the original charter from
he British crown, notwithstanding it is so
|Pgue that a year since it was debateable
pint which Of two U. s. Senators, olecsed by
10 different legislatures, was entitled to the
BAT. The State of Kentucky, whose citizons
fere principally from Virginia, copied the
Constitution Of the latter State almost verba-
i'm; and though it has been once or twice al
bred, it still retains its principal features. But
is unnecessary to 60 further to show the dis
Osition of the people to copy the defects as
Tell as the virtues of their old institutions in
rming new ones. As shorta time as the ci-
lens of Wisconsin we5eander the lame and
ppotent laws Of Michig + 1t is most proba-
e, that the statute book Of that Territory, will
the text of our first Legislature. Equally
necessary is it, to go into detail to show the
sinclination of the people to alter or abolish
" of their institutions, even after they are ac-
owledged to be defective. 1t comes from
3 same principle Of dislike to change. It's
lily recognized in the great instrument which
clared our separation from the government of
pat Britain, and our experience abundantly
oves 1t. We all know how hard it is to eff
ct change in any Of the leading or even
lnor features of our government. There are
me provisions in the Constitution Of the u
Jed States, which almost every one regrets.
vt although many have been striving against
en- for long while, the hand Of innovation
pears no moro likely to reach it than years
p. Thank heaven that such is tho case:
hank heaven that the people are fearful Of
(lhng up the wheat in plucking out the tares!
lherwise there would be no security, no safe
no certainty, in any human institution.
his inclination to copy, and dislike to change,
psf engraft the evil as well as the good fea-
fes Of our laws, upon the state governments
reaffer to be formed from this Territory, and
eca gh t.css they must reach Individual citii-
.. Hence the conclusion that posterity Is
betty and intimately concerned in the degree
wisdom and integrity which is carried into
first Legislative Assembly.
Having called the attention Of the people to
paramount importance Of the coming cleo
p ana reminded them Of their great and So
mn RESPONSIBILITIES and duties upon the occa-
M we are naturally led into consideration