Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-12-12
Governors Message
DELIVERED TO THE TwoIioUsEs OF Assem-
RIy At M,ntSov Drrry,r,

bly, AT MADISON, DECEMBER 4.
Gentlemen ofthe Council and of the H. Rep
We have met for the purpose of deter
Inning whether any additional provisions
OF law are required by the inhabitants of
Ibis Territory, 10 secure to them the en-
Joyment Of either their civil or political
rights, or to promote their welfare, which
we, exercising only the limited powers
delegated to the legislative branch of this
government by Congress, can enact.-
There are, doubtless, many individual
cases in which relief can be granted from
The effects Of previous erroneous or made
quate legislation; but, in my opinion, the
people only, IN the exercise of their
sovereign power as an independent state,
can correct the evils which appear TO be
incidental TO this colonial form Of govern
tneni, IN its judicial, legislative, and ex-
ccutive departments,
The appropriation by Congress for the
fiscal year Of 1914, founded upon the es-
t.mates Of the Secretary of the Treasury
of the amount required to defray the ex-
pences of the Assembly, will not according
TO the acts OF Congress, allow a session to
be held of the usual term rs days. So far
as have learned the opinions or wishes of
the people, they are decidedly in favor of
shorter sessions than have heretofore
been held; for is generally believed that
they have been prolonged without any ap-
parant benefit to the Territory. These
are my own opinions also; and, therefore,
you will allow me to express the hope thot
Your present session may be as short as
Your earliest attention, it is presumed
will be given to the subject the indebted
ness of the Territory for legislative and
other expenses, heretofore incurred. The
amount ought 10 be ascerained, and provs.
ion made for its payment If debts have
been created on the faith Of the Territory,
the people ought TO be informed Of their
character and extent; but the opportunity
should no longer be given to the public
creditors to say, that Wisconsin will not
pay her debts.
A revision Of the statutes, and especial
j. Of those establishing the system Of taxa
ton, reducing their number and the a.
mount Of the taxes, would be more useful,
and in my Judgement, more acceptable to the
people, than the passage many neU laws.
The complaint continues to be Justly
made that the country is burthened with
numerous laws and heavy taxation. A
code Of laws with but few provisions, and
those plainly drawn, and seldom changed,
is the best evidence Of good gov eminent.
But when the laws arc uncertain, incon-
gruous, and inappropriate, or written with
many words and vague sentences, or when
they contain numerous and conflicting
provisions on the same subjects, a weak :,
ignorant and corrupt Judge may destroy
the rights of the citizen by his interpreta-
ton and administration of them. And
when, in addition, the limitations and re-
strictions imposed by the acts of Congress
are wholly disregarded, there can no
longer be any security for personal liberty,
or, as we have seen, to the right of pro-
perty; neither have the people any pro-
lection against increased taxation or an ac-
emulation Of the public debt
The experience of previous years forbids
the hope that such evils can be remedied
under the present form of government
For this reason, and believing as do that
the happiness of the people and the pros
perity of the country will be advanced by
the adoption of a state government, re-
specttulIy recommend the passage Of n law
appointing day for the free inhabitants
OF this district to vote upon the question
whether permanent government shall be
formed according to the Article of Compact
Of 1897. And would recommend that a
day be selected on which no other election
Is held, that the opinion to be expressed
may be, if possible, uninhuenccd by the
local or political parties by which the elec-
tons are usually controlled.
There are now, Il is admitted by every
person acquainted with our settlements,
more than sixty thousand inhabitants with
in the limits of this Territory; and within
the limits by the Ordinance and subsequent
acts OF Congress for the Fifth State in the
Northwestern Territory, there is estirla
ted TO be over one hundred and twenty
thousand.
If there shall be q majority in favor OF
state government, propose that a law be
passed requiring the governor to make tina
fact known by proclamation, and authori
zing the sherils Of the several counties
within this district thereupon to cause ar
enumeration Of the inhabitants to be made
and returned TO the Legislature at It's mex
session.
The pecuniary and other Advantages IL
be obta; ned by the people by a change oil
government, have been heretofore so full,
presented by me to the Assembly, that
shall not trouble you again with their re
petition. As arguments in lis favor, they
have daily increased in strength and i'm
portance; and they remain unanswered
The Ordinance of l7S7 grants to the poo
pie the right to form states within certain
districts, and 10 Congress the rgh, to ad
NIT such states into the Union. The con
stitutlons of the states Of Tennessee an,
Michigan were formed under this provis
ion; the right therefore cannot now b
questioned. The North Western state
were created by the Ordinance and BY tn
people, and not by the acts of admission.
The course pursued by the citizens o
Tenne ssee is entitled 10 great weight, as
was taken soon after the Ordinance an
the constitution Of the United States wer
adopted; when the language and the ntcn
ton Of the provisions for the formation o
new states could not have been misunder
stood either by the citizens Of Tennessee