Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-03-01

4
reason for declaring this boundary. But, when,
the power was reserved to leave the ,choleof Wis
consin attached to Illinois, if she did see fit to
divide 1t, we look in vain for the reason object
of the movement. No; the ordinance declares that
congress may, if they deem it expedient, form one
or two states IN that part of the territory north of
an east and west line drawn through the southerly
extreme of Lake Michigan. They wished to Sc
cure immutably certain rights to Illinois, in the
event of division of the country and in the abb
sence of an exact knowledge of the nature of the
country, they declared line through a known
prominent point, south of which under no crcum-
stances, shall the territory of Illinois be invaded
| Congress has declared the southern boundary of
| Wisconsin north of the line in dispute, and in
! doing she has complied with the ordinance. Hi
nois has not only legal claim, but claim in equi-
ty to the disputed district which cannot be taken
! from her. .i- rr
But further, as regards the designs Of the franz
ers OF the ordnance you will see by reference to
the map, that in the states which were then formed
particular was taken to secnre to each, as
nearly possible, equal advantages Ohio is
bounded on the south by stream of the name,
tributary to the Mississippi she has her ports on
the great northern chain oflakes. Indiana is boun
ded similarly on the south, and she has also her
ports the great chain of lakes but we are told
the ordinance was framed to exclude Illinois from
! these advantages Why this partaIityl Where
shall we look for the reason There can be no
doubt but that they intended to secure to Inoisall
the advantages guaranteed to the others; which
advantages congress could make mmutable in
forming the g one or two states. -lt
There is still another pointi the matter. Con-
gress was party to the ordinance and from it
we would look for as much wisdom on the subject
as we should expect to find elsewhere The north
ern line of Illinois was formed at time when the
making of the ordinance was more fresh in the pub
lie mind than now. In establishing this line where
it now is, congress unequivocally declared what
construction it put upon the ordinance. 1t formed
the " fifth stat" or Wisconsin, IN that part of the
territory north Of an east and west line, and felt
that 1t was doing all that was ever required
cannot help but think that Wisconsin has no
right whatever to the territory in dispute but for
the sake of argument, and to present some ques-
tons o. expediency, we will waive the question of
right. TIE boundary, all admit may be changed
by common consent and why should not that con-
sent be passed by Wisconsin. Suppose we have
right, what are we to gain by the acquisition
The right is nothing nor is it worth urging, if no
benefit will result from establishing it. Have we
not all the advantages of location we want? and
In all conscience territory is sufficient in extent.
We have the Mississippi washing our whole wes-
tern border we have Lake Michigan on our
whole eastern, with many points susceptible of
improvement for harbors, as any state bordering
on the lakes. We have all desirable varieties of
soil and climate and such is the nature of our ter
rltory, that by the advantages of emigration held
out equally in all portions, the political power is
justly balanced, and will so continue, thereby pre-
venting sectional fears and jeaousies by securing
to all equal advantages. This latter advantage we
are called upon to relinqush, by the acquisition of
territory which we do not want; and this brings
to consider other points connected with this ac-
QUESTION.
Is it from pure love of the rights of Wisconsin,
that we have had agents from the state of Illinois,
urging this matter upon the attention of the Legsla
ture and the people Is there not some advantage
which they wish to secure, or some evil from which
which they wish to escape Let us see Every
day makes 1t more plain, that the increasing trade
of the territory demands some improvement within
! her borders connecting Lake Michigan with the
Mississippi river; and recent movements have
made 1t evident that long some work will be
| constructed The people are becoming awake to
the matter, and their representatives, before many
sessions of the Legislature pass, will adopt some
o~;Il ala fo,,
what will be the effect of it? None are so blind
but they see. 1t will be to divert the lead and
other trade to the New York market by way of the
lakes; and to make cities of importance at the con-
Meeting points of such improvements on the lake
and the Mississippi. The agitation of the bounda-
/ ry question now, comes from the people of Galena.
1t is to secure these advantages to themselves that
they are moving in the matter and not only to Sc
cure new advantages but to prevent losing advan-
tages they already possess. They complain that
they the flag end of Illinois that the north
being in the minority of numbers, the south has
used them Tor its own purposes; has oppressed
them with debt and taxation to construct improve
ments which benefit the south alone and to be
relieved of this they ask Wisconsin to assert her
right to their territory. Have we not reason to
fear that this northern part of Illinois is anxious to
have Wisconsin placed in the same situation with
regard to her, that she occupies with regard
to the south? They want a rail road from Gale
ma to Chicago. The state of Illinois, broken
down in her finances and resources, cannot and
will not construct it. But should we attach this
district TO our limits, and it become part of the
state of Wisconsin, having the control of the Leg
islature, it would, who can doubt but the ener-
! ges of the state would be at once taxed 10
make, this Improvement, and not only taxed to
make it, but other improvements would most prob
ably be denied for the benefit of other sections.
| should such improvements tend to diminish the i'm
portance OF these points. Is not this result shad