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

created, TO defray those contingent expen-
ses, by acts Of the Legislature, part of
which is now in the shape Of bonds, or
certificates bearing ten per centum interest,
and for their payment the faith OF the Ter
ritory is pledged. These were issued by
his predecessors; but there is no record in
this office showing the amount, or the
names Of the persons to whom they were
issued or the services rendered. This debt,
it is supposed, amounts to about thirty -nine
thousand dollars, forthe payment of which
it does not appear that any adequate provi-
sion has been made by those by whom it
was incurred.
The power Of appropr;ating money TO
defray the expenses Of the Legislative AS
sembly, is reserved to Congress, by the
act establishing the Territorial Govern
ment. The amount expended is appropri-
ated by Congress, upon an estimate to be
made by the Secretary Of the Treasury Of
the United States The expenditure is, Of
course limited to the objects and sums spe-
Gifted in the estimate. 1t is not perceived
therefore hOW the Territory can become le-
gally chargeable with any of those expen-
by Congress for the payment of the men,
bers Of the Legislature, and all of the off,
GERS Of the Territorial Government, and
for the contingent expenses of that Gov
ernment, it appears 10 me that the power
to contract a debt for these purposes, and
TO zevy q tao upon the people for its pay
ment, was not intended to be granted
and was not granted-to the Governor and
Assembly. The holders Of the bonds can
have no other remedy than by application
to Congress.
If the laws creating this Debt had been
submitted TO Congress before they took eff
feet, Congress would, it is presumed, have
dsapproved Of such Of their provisions as
exceeded its appropriations, or given lis
assent to them and thus assumed the debt.
This; and yet greater evils are likely to
arise from the mode of legislation hereto
fore pursued. The great number Of sta
tutes which have been passed since this
Territorial Government was established,
and their character, show the Importance
OF the provision that they " shall be sub
mitted to Congress- for its action upon
them.
Excessive legislation is an evil Of the
greatest magnitude; and rapid changes in
laws are injurious to private rights and to
the public interests. Mr.. JEFFERSON said
''the instability Of our laws is really very
"serious inconvenience. think we ought
''to have obviated it by deciding that a
"whoe year should always be allowed to
relapse between the bringing in of bill
land the final passage of it. 1t should ai-
'.terwards be discussed and put to the vote
"wilhout the possibility Of making an al
iteration in it; and if the circumstances Of
'the case required more speedy decision,
'sthe question should not be decided by a
''simpIe majority, but by majority Of at
''least two-thirds Of both houses"
The act establishing the Government of
Wisconsin, in the Sd section, requires the
Secretary Of the Territory to transmit an
nual!y on or before the 1st Monday in De-
cembcr, 'rwo copies Of the laws TO the
Speaker of the House Of Representatives,
for the use Of Congress-"
The 9th section provides that call the
claws Of the Governor and Legislative
ASSEMBLY shall be submitted TO, and, if
'disaPproved by the Congress ofthe United
Estates, the same shall be null and Of no
''efect."
These provisions it seems to me, require
the laws to be actually submitted to Con-
gress before they take effect.
They changed the law by which this
country was governed while it was part
Of Michigan. The law provided the laws
should be reported to Congress, and that
they should "be in force in the district I'M
''til the organization of the general assem-
"bly therein, unless diSapprored Of By
congress-"
The opinion of my predecessor, which
was expressed to the first Legislature as
sembIed after the organization Of this Co
vernment, in his Message, delivered at Bel
mont on the Goth day Of October, 1886,
fully sustains the view of this subject which
have presented He said-' We have
.convened under an act Of Congress of
ssthe United States establishing the Terri
s.torial Government Of Wisconsin, for the
"purpose Of enacting such laws as may
s.be required for the Government Of the
"people Of this Territory, after their dp-
"proral by Congress-"
But the amount Of the Public Debt does
not appear to be limited to the sum Of &c.
OOO. dollars. 1t may be increased by va
rious items, with the enumeration of which
| will not at this time trouble you> wilh the
exception Of one Of 100000 dollars, in
Cured on account Of the Milwaukee and
Rock River Canal The Legislature au-
thorized the Governor TO negotiate loan
for this amount, and TO issue Bonds there
for, in the name Of the Territory, bearing
seven per cent. interest, by which the Ca
nal Lands became pledged for their re-
demption. Buff there are not enough Of
those lands sold 10 meet the payments, or
the purchasers do not pay for their land