Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-01-05

quence of there having been no legislative
body at Madison, from the 18th Of Dec.
last, up TO the 4th inst. 1t is also gener-
ally understood that the Hon. Council did
moi adjourn, parliamentary usagcs for the
sake ofconvenience being dispensed with;)
they only declared, they would not sit in
the Capitol for the space often days. We
cannot of course supply our readers with
journal of the sitiings, or other doings Of
the Hon. members during the intermediate
time; nor do we suppose it would afford the
Hon. gentlemen any special qualification,
were a journal ofthirteen days eating and
drinking for the good of the people, to be
a matter Of general publicity.
1t appears from the journals of both hou-
ses, that-the responsibility of suspending
business, was assumed by the
Councl; and if the act be virtuous one,
they are entitled to the c-edit-if it be an
understandable measure, they, and they a.
lone, must answer before the people. We
are by no means disposed, to make any
political capital out Of the aforementioned
transactions; we only state as a matter of
fact, what is shewn by the Legislative jour
nails, and the people can draw their own
conclusions. We have not in our posses
sion the yeas and-ncyS on the vote in the
Council il may be proper to that both
members Of the council from this county,
strenuously opposed suspcndin5 the bust
ness Of the Session. Il also appears from
the journals ofthe House, that decided
majority in that body were in favour of con-
tinung the business Of the session without
interruption, until the Council left Madison
when Of course il would have been use
less for the House to have remained in ses-
sion.
Our readers are aware, that we have
hitherto manifested much solicitude thro'
the columns of this paper, with regard to
a number of subjects of legislation, which
we deem of general interest to the people
Of this Territory; and we have on many
occasions expressed strong anxiety, that
these subjects would be thoroughly can
vassed, during the present session of the
one, if we express our regret that the time
of the legislature, should be appropriated
to any other purpose, than that for which
they were elected by the people. Much of
the business before the Legislature, is Of vi
tai Importance to our furure welfare and
prosperity as a Territory, and strong ex
pcctations have been excited in the public
mind, that much would be accomplished
during the present session.-Fhe reform
which is called for in our town and county
organizations, by al least nineteen twenti-
eths of the electors in the eastern counties
Of the Territory, would require all the time
that could possibly be spared to that pur-
pose to perfect It. And shall the voice Of
the people be disrcgarded! Shall we be o.
bliged to remain another year, under our
aristocratic and anti republican organiza
ton! Will our legislature at the close Of
the session, excuse themselves by saying,
they had not time to effect the change?-
But this is not all: Our common school sys
tenn needs reorganizng; every moments
time allotted by law to the Legislature is re-
ouiredto devise system of instruction that
will secure the welfare of the rising gene
ration. Our country's hopes arc interwo-
ven with the future success of our common
schools Many other subjects Of legsla-
ton, which are demanded by the people,
call for immediate action.
Of the apologies which we have seen
rendered, for suspcnding the business of
legislation, none seem to us very cogent or
conclusive. One ofour territorial exchan-
ges gravely asserts that the Legislature had
no important business before them, and
further says that the adjournment will tend |
to facilitate the business of the session! |
This idea Of the editor must certainly be |
an original one, for we do not remember
of ever before hearing that the best meth
cd Of advancing the business of Legislation
was for the members TO go abroad on par
ties Of pleasure, eat public dinners, and at
tend to matters foreign from legislation.