Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-07-07


n Territory in which from motives of mu-
tual benefit their interests will be advanced.
and their preferences and wishes not dis
regarded.
WAsHINGToN Cry, June ), 1870.
The dispute that has for some time ex-
isted between The State Of Illinois and the
Territory Of Wisconsin, is rapidly assn
ming an animated aspect, and before it is
brought to an issue, will undoubtedly lead
TO kind Of border war.
The territory which is claimed by Hill
nois and Wisconsin, lies north Of a line
drawn due cast, through the sou'hery bend
or extreme Of Lake Michigan and south of
latitude lorty-two degrees and thirty mi
nutes. The east and west line was esta-
blishcd by the irrcpealable articles of the
Ordinance Of 1897, and is the line claimed
by Wisconsin. The line OF latitude was
prescribed by an Act Of Congress, without
the consent Of Wisconsin, and is the line
claimed by Illinois. Within the limits of
lhc disputed boundary there is free white
population Of seventy thousand souls, go
verncd by The constitution and laws of Hill
noS.
The tract OF country .hus in dispute COM
prises fourteen counties. The people of
illinois residing on the territory claimed by
Wisconsin, are very anxious TO become
subject to Wisconsin, for the purpose of
avoiding the heavy taxation imposed on
them by the deep indebtedness, ii not ac-
tuaI insolvency of their state, and have re-
Solccd that they are OF right, and ought to
be absolvcd from allegiance to that domn-
ion.
The condition in which Wisconsin finds
herself is by no means novel; as will be
seen by those who VIII read with attention
the early history of these United States.-
That history presents many curious facts
well worthy Of the consideration Of illinois
and Wisconsin.
The State of Ncw-Yorll claimed the ter
ritorv east as far as the Connecticut river.
The king made n decree that the river was
her line. Congress has done the same for
Illinois.
New Hampshire claimed west to the
Hudson or within few miles Of it, The
right Of both was founded upon their char
tcrS.
Botd states made grants to individuals of
the lands situated within the disputed dis
1rict; bat those Of New Hampshire were
the most extensive; and the settlers chief
iy held under her authority
The contests for Jurisdiction, which arose
between those states, over the settlers, COM
PEELED them either to submit to two govern
mcuts, which was impossible, or to organ
izo for themselves They preferred the
latter and resi- 5tcd both. For some time
thoy were governed by committees appoint
cd by themselves. during which period they
were called the New Hampshire Grants"
Finally they formed a permanent govern
mcnt for themselves without the permits
sion or concurrence OF either OF those
states or OF the United States, declared
their independence, and called the State
Vermont.
Her historian sayS:-"W lille N. IIamp-
shire and New York were extending their
claims ever the whole territory OF Yer
mont, Vermont adopted the same policy;
and in conformity to the petition of the in
habiant%, extended her claim over large
part of the territory Of both these states"
Her union with the states was resisted
during the war Of the revolution. After lis
termination San admission into the conic-
dcracy OF the states ceased IL be an object
of any Importance, or even desire. Yer
mont was happy in being free from the load
of debt which lay upon the United States;
and was not perpIcXed by the constant calls
of Congress to raise the necessary sums of
money But she accepted Of admission
in 1891, having dictated her own terms
The right of the people Of Vermont
which was thus in the end acknowledged
10 be constituional--had no other lounda-
ti2n than the inability Of New York, and
New Hampshire TO agree upon a boundary
or to enforce their jurisdiction.
The people by their union and frmness
obtained a right which did not belong 10
them in pursuance of any grant from the
King or the United Stacs-th the right to
form an Independent state out of the terri
tory of two other states.
Where the boundaries of state are fixed
by fundamental articles, established by the
United States, and the ri ;ht to form a state
government by the people within those IL
mits is secured TO them by those articles,
and declared TO be irrevocable except by
common consent, the example of Vermont
teaches that to obtain their right they have
only to assert it, and that in doing so they
violate no provisions of the constitution.
T~cniy-screnh Congress. -Thc election