Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1840-12-29

the Territory, owing to the wide extent of
territory, and the sparseness of the popu-
lation in thesrArespectve counties, and
hence should not be surprised if two dis
tinct modes oil county government for the
east end the west. should be adopted by
the Legislature in order to secure 10 each
the peculiar system 10 which they are at
tached and which the geographical position
OF the two counties as we'll as the distnc-
tive characteristics of the people Of these
extremes, will perhaps render necessary,
such state of things, however, should be
avoided if practicable.
A bill to incorporatethe village Of South
port, was reported to day by the commit
tee on interpretations. B.
THURSDAY, Dec. Oath.
Since the rejection of the resolutions of
yesterday and the hitherto successful OPP
position of2the various attempts and ma
npuvers to effect an adjournment of the
Council, majority in that body to day
have gravely and deliberately sanctioned
a precedent which Iventureto say has not
| parallel in the history or practice of any
legislative body, this side the Atlantic; it
is no less than decree Of that body that
they would not sit from the 25th Dec. to
the third day of January next inclusive,
and that-the secretary of the Council be di-
rected TO inform the House Of Representa-
tives thereof, which is a recess or adjourn
ment of that body by themselves, by an un-
conditional independent resolution for an
adjournment of ten days; no concurrence
of the other branch Of the legislature or
appreciation of his excellency the Cover
| nor was solicited or obtained, but in def
ance Of an express provision of the consti-
tuition Of the United States prohibiting Ell
their branch of Congress from an adjourn
ment for longer period than three days,
without the concurrence of the other, and
in direct contravention Of thesknown prac-
tice of the Legislative departments Of the
various States of the Union, this enlight.
ened body have had the wisdom to Disco
yer, in this age Of "reform" that the Coun-
Gil Of Wisconsin have the power to ordain
and decree and to create such ordinance
and decree, that the wheels Of government
in this purely republican empire Of the
west, shall not move but must stop for ten
days, or at least that nothing shall be done
in the executive, or Legislative departments
Of the Territory for that length of time,
this principle has been established by vote
Of the Council, it would seem. And by
implication, the same parliamentary law
under which the above precedent has been
established by The Council, may be applied
and thus secure for that body the unre-
strained power of Independent adjourn
ments to any indefinite period. How far the
exercise of this extraordinary power, by a
body, majority Of whom, have for the
last few years been so clamorous against
executive usurpations'' will be sanctioned
and approved by the new administration,
and the constituent clements Of our own
Territorial Legislature, | leave TO be deci-
ded ''by whom it may concern" but am
greatly deceived, if when this proceeding
comes to be calmly reviewed by those on
whom rests the responsibility of the mea-
sure, it shall appear that no violence has
been done TO legislative usage and paria-
mentary practice in the states, to say moth
ing Of the discourtcsy which it betrays to-
wards his exceIency and a coordinate
branch Of the Legislative assembly.
Yours respectfully, B.