Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-11-23


al representatives in a language that cannot be
misunderstood. We repeat it then, if proper re-
spect is had to the expressed will of the people, the
favorite schemes of the wing party in Congress
will not be persisted in
MORALS OF RACINE CoUSTY.-The state OF NOR
ais in any community, may be inferred from the
frequency or unfrequency of crime. The condition
OF any people may be regarded prosperous and
happy where there exists but little or no necessity,
to have recourse to the laws for the punishment Of
crime The District Court which closed Its session
at the court house in the village of Racine on Sat
urdav last had not single criminal case put on
trial, and if we correctly informed, there were
no criminal cases on the calendar. The grand jury
were dismissed by the court without having SIN
gle complaint presented before them. And if our
information may be relied upon there was no bust
ness before the grand jury at the last July court,
neither was there any at the November court one
year ago.* We venture say that the like paral-
lei cannot be found in any other county in the West
of equal population. While the criminal calendar
of many counties in the west, especially in the
neighboring counties of Illinois, have exhibited
catalogue of crime, the people of this county may
congratulate themselves, upon their comparative
exemption from these stains upon their reputation.
1t may perhaps be said by those who are acquaint-
ed with the condition of society in this section of
country, that the why so little evidence of
crime appears on the records of courts is that
we are slow to enforce violations of law and that
public sentiment gives cOuntenance to crime here
more than elsewhere. Nothing can be further from
the truth In portion of the east is public senti
ment more decisive, in discriminating between
right and wrong, and bringing offenders to justice.
The reason why crime is of less frequent occur
renee among us than in many other portions of
country are of character not to be mistaken-
The primary causes of crime in the United States,
are every where the same-these causes, (to our
honor be it said) exist to but very limited extent
in Racine County. By this we mean our COM
parative freedom from grog shops and tipping
houses. These invariably the schools of vice
and the nurseries of crime. Wherever these exist,
supported and countenanced by public sentiment,
crime always abounds. Public sentiment on this
subject, we are happy to say, is of heathfu cha
racter in this county That man who for paltry
son OF his fellow man, finds no counenance in COM
munty But we are comparatively free from another
class, whose practices no less lead to crime and
outrage-we mean gamblers and blacklers. IF
perchance gamblers do exist among US, they seek
the covert of the thief and the darkness of the in
cendiary-they shrink from the light of day, and
the whitening frown of public opinion.
In view of this gratifying aspect of society in this
county, who of us does not rejoice that his lot has
been cast In this portion of the west? Surely, if
any consideration will induce the refined, the intel
hgent, and the viruous from abroad to settle among
us, 1t must be this characteristic of our population.
Men of talent and of moral worth, who come to
seek home in the west will regard the intellectu-
al and moral condition of the society in which they
are expected to mingle matter of the first impor-
lance. The vicious, the unprinciped, and the de-
bauched, will be likely to seek congenal spirits
and so lcng county bears its present reputa-
ton, they will be inclined to direct their steps to
some other portion of country more suited to their
tastes and habits.
1t we would perpetuate the good character which
| our county sustans, then every good citizen
has duty to perform. Let the virtuous, the So
u, e.
and the Incorporate, be discountenanced. Let the
industrious mechanic and laborer, be preferred to
the struttlng dandy, and the sefstyled gentleman.
Every citizen is interested in maintaining good or
der and morals in community. The safety of our
lives, the protection of our property and all that we
possess, essentially depends upon this. Where is
the man who would as soon entrust the security of
his family, or his property, in a community where
drunkness and gambling, prominent vices of
the people, as in community where these practi-
ces meet with no favor or appreciation? Whatever
then may be mans creed or religious opinions,
If he be an honest man, he can but admit that his
interests both civil and pecunlary, are best promo
ted IN that community where virtue is encouraged
and rewarded, and vice discountenanced.