Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-12-21


them for other services which they render. This
change or any other which shall diminish the num-
Der of officers, is therefore recommended, and |
shall be happy to with you In any change of
the system by which the people will be relieved
from unnecessary taxation.
1t is as usual in the commencement OF the settle
ment of country for the settlers render all such
services as are required on behalf of the public,
without compensation; and in Virginia and Ken
lucky am informed this is still part OF their sys-
TENS OF county government, and the honor OF the
office is its reward But here the reverse is the
case, and the perncious doctrine prevails that the
offices were created to put money in the pocket OF
the holder
The public charges are largely increased and
unnecessarily | think, by the organization of the
counties in which there are but few more lnhab
tants than are required to fill the offices. The
whole number of votes given in SIX counties at the
last election, varied only from ttceny-0ne TO FORTY
eight in each county.
In several counties am informed that all wild
lands are assessed at not less than two dolaIs and
fifty cents per acre and some even as high as seven
or eight dollars, when adjoining lands of Govern
ment can be purchased for one dollar and twenty
five cents 1t is believed that but few IN
dividuas have been able to sell the wild lands
which they own for cash within the last three years
at any price, and many man Is compelled TO for
felt all he has paid for his and-olten hundreds OF
dollars-because he is unable to procure IN these
times, when all classes but the money-brokers feel
the severity of the pressure for money, the amount
of his taxa tax which would be enormous IN It's
amount even if business was prosperous and mo-
ney abundant.
In those countries where nlne-tenhs OF the set
tiers are occupants of the public land, they are in
fact almost wholly exempt from taxation, while the
few owners OF real estate, OF merchandise and OF
stock in companies, required to pay all county
charges. Can it be possible that all the land own
I'D H., h, payb IS toy faro
yearl Shall sale of eighty acres, to pay a tax of
two dollars, be valid and the owner lose his prop
| erty foreverl
The power to compel any one species of proper
| ty to pay ALL the taxes for the support OF govern
ment, if granted by Congress, ought not to be eX
| ercised. To exclude all Improvements made upon
land from taxation is to require all wild, uncuva-
ted land to be taxed higher than cultivated land,
which is forbidden by the acts OF Congress. The
| Ordinance of 1857 provides, that, in no case
shall nonresident propnetors be taxed higher than
residents" And the act to establish this govern
ment provides-'' nor shall the lands other prop
erty of residents be taxed higher than the lands
! or property ofthe residents. To exclude the pro-
| perty of resident from taxation and to tax all the
property which is owned by a nonresident is GER
| tauy violation of these provisions.
| The more learn of the practical operation of
this SYSTEM the Objectionable does 1t become.
| Numerous sales have been of lands by the Terrific
nv before the issuance of the pateut to any ndlvid
ual. While the title is yet IN the United States,
the Territory undertakes to sell and convey these
| lands to some other person than the purchaser OF
the Government. The acts Of Congress declare
90 that tax shall be imposed upon the property
of United States and that no law shall be pass
ed interfering with the primary disposal of the soil
| Instead of diminishing the tares, when 1t was
found that the rate of taxation was higher than the
| people could generally pay, the legislation appears
to have been entirely in favor of the taX-tie spec
| uators. My predecessor approved, on the 18th
| January, lS40, a law 10 deprive every citizen
whose land NAV have been sold for taxes OF the
right to contest the legality of the sale three years
thereafter. The Legislature, in effect, undertakes
to grant the land owned by individuals to tax spe-
culators, for the amount OF taxes which they have
paid whether the taxes have been legally assessed
or not, or the sale made according to law. | can
think the legislature has, ought TO have such
power and from its exercise | must therefore
dissent 1t deprves a citizen of the privilege of
the courts, sue for the recovery of theirs While
twenty years gwen In which to contest the va
lidity of any other title a tax title must not be
questioned after three years: and this provision Is
made, too, after the Legislature had in another stat
ute declared that conveyance to a tax title specu-
lator should be prima tacie evidence that the sale
to him was regular, and according to the terms of
the act. Can any citizen doubt that such laws
ought to be submitted to Congress?
A more efficient system for the support of COM
mon Schools is demanded by the people in several
parts of the Territory, and | bring the subject to
your notice In the hope that you may be able to de-
wise plan which will prove to be entirely satistac-
tory. In some OF the counties the school fund
could be largely increased If adequate provision
was made for the disposal of portion of the land
reserved for the OF schools and it is presumed
Congress would give the authority to sell on appll
cation for that purpose. The power to lease them
for four years glven by the act of 1923, al
so to nrOtact them from tTeSDaSSers
The establishment of High Schools ought to be
encouraged ; and the means having been provided
for the support of a University | would respectful
y urge the necessity OF It's location, and that provl-
sion be made for the commencement of some one
or more of its branches. 1t is our duty to secure
the means of education to every class of society
but common schools are Justly entitled to our first
care being the foundation of all others, and
sential institution for the preservation of American
liberty.
The annual report ofthe Adiutant General which
is herewith presented, and which has been pre-
pared by that officer, with his usual ability and fl
deity to the public service, shows that there
be no efficiency under the present organization
Being without general officers, the returns are I'M
perfect, and II is impossible TO present It's number
and condition to the Government OF the United, so
as TO entitle Wisconsin to her full quota OF arms
By communications which have lately been re-
ceived from the Secretary of War, it appears that
the qnota which she is authorized to receive IS for
ty-nine muskets for each of the last three years.
So soon as you shall have made provision for their
reception and distribution, the War Department
will be informed of your action, that they may be
Transported to the Territory early as practicable.
propose to cause enquiry to be made, why the
officers now in commission who have not obeyed
the requirements of the law, have been, or should
be continued.
The subject Of the remornl Of tie Indians from
Wisconsin | beg leave TO suggest as one entitled
70 immediate consideration. Although danger
at this time is apprehended from their hostility,
their presence is prendcial the extension OF the
settlements in district OF country part of which
is known to be filed with the richest minerals, and
other portions covered with valuable groves OF pine
and oak. Their contguity to the settlers enables |
them to commit depredations for which no renu-
meration can be obtained either from the Govern
-. -. A. Jg,Osa -ho have eufTarad