Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-12-09


OF Iha House Of REPRESENTATIVES
we nave met for the purpose OF de-
tcrmining whether any additional pro-
visions Of law arc required by the in
habi,anis Of this Territory, 10 secure
10 them the enjoyment OF either their
civil or political rights, ar to promote
their welfare, which we, exercising
only the limited powers delegated 10
Inc legislative branch Of this govern
meht By Congress. can enact. There
are, doubtless, many individual cases
in which relief can be granted from the
effects OF previous erroneous or mad
canalc legislation; bat, in my opinion,
the people only, in the exercise Of
their sovereign power as an Independ-
ent state. can correct The evils which
aDDear to be incidental 10 this colonial
fra Of government, in It's Judicial, lc-
ei.lative, and executive departments.
The appropriation by Congress for
the fiscal year Of 1914, founded npon
The estimates Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury Of the amount required g
defray the expenses OF tho Assembly,
will moi; according to the arts of Con
rress, allow . session 10 be hcId Tor the
usual term of seycnly-iive days. 80
far as have learned the opinions or
wishes Of The people, they arc deer
dcdly in favor Of shorter sessions than
have hitherto been held; for 1t IS gem
erally believed that they have been
prolonged without any apparent bcne-
fit to the Territory. These are my
own opinions also; and, therefore, you
will allow me 10 express the hope that
your pre- sent session may be as short
as the public interest will permit
Your earliest attention, it IS presu-
med viii be given to the subject OF the
Indebtedness of the Territory for Lee
pislaiivc and other expenses, hereto
fore incurred. The amount ought TO
be ascer,ained, and provision made Tor
its payment If debts have been ere
aicd on the faith Of the Territory, the
people ought TO he informed OF their
character and extent; but the oppor-
tunitv should no longer be gwen t. the
public creditors TO say, that Wisconsin
will not pay her debts
\ revision Of the statutes, and espe-
c:ally Of those establishing the system
of taxation, reducing their number ana
the amuan, OF the taxes, would be
more useful, and in my Judgment more
acceptable to the people, than The pas
sage of many new laws.
The complaint continues 10 be just
ly made that tho country IS burthencd
with numerous laws aud heavy taxa
ton. A code of laws with bat few
provisions, and those plainly drawn,
and seldom changed, is the best evi-
dcncc of good government But
when The laws are uncertain, incongru-
pus, and inappropriate or written w!lb
many words and vague sentences, or
when they contain numerous and con-
flicting provisions on the same snolec'
a weak, ignorant and corrupt Judge
may destroy The rights Of the cluzenS
nv his int, rprGtanon and adn'nlS'ra'
lion Of them. Aud when, IN addition
the formations and restrictions impo-
sed by he acts Of Congress are wh"l-
L. disreu,raenl, there can be no longer
any security for pe5snnsl liberty or
as we have seen, to the rlsht !" prop
orty; neither have the people a'aF p :.
lection against increased taxation or IN
accumulation of the public debt
The experience Of previous years
forbds the hope That sneh evils can be
rendered under the present form of
governments For tins reason, aud be-
h2ving rs do that the happiness of
the people aud the prosperity of the
country viii be advanced by the ad0p-
ton OF State Government, respect
fully recommend the passage Of law
appointing Il day for the free inhabil-
ants of this district 10 vote upon the
question whether permanent govern.
ment shah he formed according To the
Articles of Compact OF 1877, And |
would recommend thai day be select
cd on which no other election is held,
tina, the opinion to he expressed may
be, il possible. uniniinenced by local
or political parties by which tho elcc
tons are usually controlled
There are NOW, it IS admitted hy ev-
cry person acquainted with our set
Elements, more than sixty thousand in
habiiants within the limits oCthiS Ter
..,..,.. oil ,,.;thfn IN, limits E>cl htr