Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-02-08
STATE OF WISCONSIN.


very generally in favor of becoming attached to
Wisconsin, and that in successive numbers of the
Advertiser the subject will be kept before the peo-
ple The articles in the Advertiser are ably writ
ten, and present the strong points as to the right OF
Wisconsin to the Disputed Tract in clear and
forcible manner. We have not room for the argu
ments relative to the right of Wisconsin to extend
jurisdiction over the territory lying north of the line
established by the Ordinance of 1797-we only no.
tce few of the considerations in the ADVERTISER
which induce the inhabitants of northern Illinois to
become part of Wisconsin.
"Within a few years past, public attention has,
several occasions, directed itself to the Northern
Boundary line of Illinois.
Law and right declare this line to be, 60 an East
and Vest line dra,cn through the SoutherLy bend,
or ertreme Of Lake Michigan.
But the present line places within the State OF
Illinois an extensive, populous and wealthy district
of country that of right belongs to Wisconsin.
The inhabitants of that district have not only
right to be in Wisconsin, but it is a right, In the
assertion and recovery of which the inhabitants of
the whole district north of that line-and which
may be called the disputed territory-have an IN
calculable interest.
The interests of that district, growing out of ge-
ographical position-similarity of pro1ucts-sltua-
ton of ports and course of trade wholly identl-
cal with Wisconsin, and wholly foreign to Illinois.
The community of interests subslstlng between
Wisconsin and u.s. the inhabitants of the district,
never can exist between Illinois and Nature
herself forbids it.
Nine tenths of all our domestic trade is with Wis
consin, but the conflicting laws and other inconve
niences resulting from persons thus trading togeh
er, residing in different Jurisdictions, daily d.
mln1shing that trade, which, under other clrcum-
stances, would rapidly increaCe.
Look at the district as it now is-the tag end of
the State of Illinos-ts interest wholly disregard
ed In State leglslatlon-ln short, treated mere
prOcince-taxed, laid under tribute in the form of
taxation for the benefit of the South and Middle
So open and declared is the disregard in which the
State holds this district, that whenever the State
dispose of even an Office under the General
Government, the State always has, and always will
send upon a Southern man. We mention this
not fault finding with any officer but merely
one item of evidence, to show the estimation in
which the State holds the district and its inhabt-
ants.
OF all the great scheme of Internal Improvement
how small part was ever pretended to be for the
benefit OF the disputed district
Count the great sums voted for the improvement
of navigable streams, and how little has been
given for this district
Compare the present and probable future condi-
ton of the district, the lag end of llllnols-a
State hampered with the accumulated evils of 90
years of bad lie gisation-a State overwhelmed with
debt,-compare thus with what would be our
dltion a respectable portion of the State of Wis
consin-living under the fostering care of a State
having identical interests with us-a State young,
vigorous, free from debt--n internal resources Sc,
cond to none in the Unon-a State that, with this
district restored to it, may at distant day, take
rank next after New York.
But 1t is unnecessary to urge further what,prOb-
ably, every man in this district knows perfectly
well, viz: that the position stand in while part
Of Illinois, Is, when compared with what our posi-
ton must be as part of Wisconsin, a position of
decided and increasing inleriority anu disadvantage.
If the brief and imperfect view we have taken be
in the main true, the People of the district, of right
belonging to Wisconsin, suffering a grievous
wrong-0re depr1ced Of their oacn by remaining
within the jurisdiction of Illinois. The discussion
that has heretofore taken place on the subject In
duces us think, that the People of the district
well know and understand this; and yet strange
to tell the ri ght being with them-the light and It's
great value and Importance being well understood
the only tie by which Illinois holds u.s. IS oar
tune 0c3HteScence an tbe 1S@pdti0n Of Mtnols!-lt
is needless to inquire whether this usurpation orig
mated in mistake, otherwise. 1t is atSarpGtiOn,
and any other character it may seem to have is
given to 1t by our acquiescence."
With regard to the course recommended in order
W oiCCt dOSilCu OpJCCt, llIdltCl
a successful issue, the Editor remarks as follows:-
''The course that we recommend, Is that the
inhabitants OF the disputed district, petition the Go
vernment OF Wisconsin to pass law, authorizing
the free inhabitants of the whole Territory nclud-
ing the disputed territory, to meet at the usual pla
of holding elections, &c. and vote Yea, or Nay,
upon the question OF forming a State Government
for the State of Wisconsin.
I'd, Also, to petition Wisconsin to assert iuris-
diction in and the disputed district, by organi
eng counties, judicial districts, and making repre-
sentative apportionment therein, and providing for
Off cers according to the laws OF Wisconsin.
Now, this is referring the matter directly to the
Peope-to the holders of the right to be restored to
Wisconsin.
If Wisconsin assumes jurisdiction, and proceeds
to form State Constitution, with the disputed dis
rict part of it, the United States entirely
cut off from all interference in the matter. And tor
this reason: Wisconsin is State, without any fur
Their act on the part of the United States. The Or
dinance of 1857, makes all the authorized sub-div-
sions of the Northwest Territory, STATES, and fixes
their bOundarles-cOnnects them with the Union
by temporary Government, and when any of the
said StateS shall contain SIXTY THOUSAND free IN
habitants such State shaU be admitted into the I'm
| ION upon equal footing with the original States
and shall be at liberty to form permanent Consi-
tuition and State Government upon republican prn-
clples and IN conformity to the Ordinance. If
however, any of these States desire to form per-
| manent Government and be admitted before such
State has $4,000 inhabitants, the consent of Con-
gress be first had, and this is all the right of
interference, all the discretionary power Congress
has in the matter
But when Wisconsin has 60, 900 inhabitants. the
formation OF permanent Government and admis-
sion into the Union, matters of strict right and
no question can be raised, constitutionally in Con
gress, except, LIST, has Wisconsin $4,000 free in
habitants I'D, Is her constitution republican -
and, 80, in conformity with the articles of the Or
dinance of 1877"
On the subject of Wisconsin assuming part of
the State Debt of Illinois, the Advertiser has the
following language:
'.Perhaps it will be said that the course we re-
commend is reputation of the State debt
This is not true. Illinois is indeed bankrupt
her debt immense and even with the hea West IA Y