Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-07-20
STATE GOVERNMENT.

llC dlSCUooIOIi VI 'ii"1'S' =
10 our future interests, cannot be viewed
rs improper, and it is but poor compll-
ment to the intelligence of the people, to
suppose that any i'll, will result from the
consideration of questions Of public policy.
Our readers have the ability to distinguish
sophstry from argument, and passionate
appeals from sober reason. Under these
impressions we shall from time TO time
bring the subject of the adoption Of a state
government by the people Of Wisconsin,
before the public; and if the positions which
we assume, are erroneous or untenable,
we shall have no objection to thcir being
publicly controvertcd. 1t is not Our lnftn-
Ton TO exclude from the columns Of the
Telegraph, any communication on this sub
ioct, written with spirit of candor, how
ever mach it may conflict with our eX-
pressed opinions
We have heard but two prominent OBJ
iectons urged against the adoption Of a
state government. Isl, Wisconsin has not
the requisite number Of inhabitants. 2nd,
The expenses Of a state government would
be burdcnsome to the people. While these
obicctions arc honestly entertained, they
should be fairly met, The result Of :. &c
census throughout the Territory, is not yet
fully known, but it is safe to estimate our
present number of inhabitants at $4,000.
Although Congress has a right to admit us
into tho Union with even this number, still
there is no disposition to obtain admission
with less number than that by which we
have the right to dcmand admission. When
we speak of admission, or I" immediate adj
mission" into the Union, it of course is not
understood to mean, thot VIC oro TO como
into the Union without all Tic usual pre-
liminarics for such purpose. Were the
people Of Wisconsin at this time unanlm-
ous}y resolved on admission, the matter
could not well be accomplished in less than
two and half years from the present pc
rod, and most likely it would require three
years. In less than two years we shall
have the requisite number of inhabitants,
TO enable us to demand admission, provided
that the ratio Of increase for the last two
wears, is safe basis upon which to calcu-
late our future increase. The argument,
therefore, that we have not the requisite
number Of inhabitants, to warrant the agi-
ration Of this question is not valid
With respect to the second objection, that
the expense Of state government would
be burdcnsome to the people, it viii be
found upon Investigation that the adyonta-
yes both political and pccuniary, which
would be gained by our becoming an indie
pcndont state, would far ovcrbnlance the
expenditures necessary to sustain the gov
crnmcnt Most of the estimates which
have been made Of the probable expense
of u state government for Wisconsin, have
exhibited too much of extravaganza and
ant-rcpublicanism; especially was this the
case in the report on state government,
made by the committee to the Legislature
~ Madison, last winter. The people do
not want a magnificent government, but
they desire an economical government
Such government we trust they will 60
for, and never consent to hold out any in
duccmcnt to office seeking by giving high
salaries to public officers. The state of
Rhode Island with population Of los 800
supports Il state government at an expense
OF $37, 107, being 81 cents and 3 mills to
each individual. The population of Della
ware is only 10000, and yet tho state Of
Delaware is not only out Of debt. but taxes
are lighter in that state, than i'll almost any
other state in the Union. Now the 0sscr-
ton which is often made that the cost OF
supporting a government in a small state,
is nearly as great as the support Of gov
crnmcnt in large state, is not justified
bv facts. II the state of Delaware with 4
population of not over SO, 600 can MAIN
t;lln y state government VIII less burdens
Of taxation, than a great majority of the
states in the Union, why cannot small
state in the west conduct It's affairs with
equal economy! At the expiration OF the
next three years, We shall, in all probabili-
~ have a population as great as that Of
Delaware. 1t can he demonstrated, We
think, to the satisfaction Of all but Office
seekers and cNpcctants that State govern
mcnt can be supported in Wisconsin for
$3.50. 600 PER annum. 1t is very probable
that political aspirants, and those who seek
10 live on the spoils OF otlico, rather than by
honest industry, viii never be satisfied viii
low estimates.