Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-12-12

ed in the said territory not less than three
nor more than five states, and the bound
aries of the stlte so soon as Virginia shall al
ter her act OF cess.on and consent to the
same shall become fired and established as
foliors, &C." Virginia gave her consent.
The "east and we Inc drawn through the
southerly bend or extreme of Lake Mlchi-
gan,n became therefore an established boun-
dairy line, equally with the other lines there
in described, if Congress found .sit expedient
to FORM more than three states. On the adj
mission of Ohio the question was determin-
ed that there should be more that three
states formed and having now ACT ually adj
mi ted four into the union, the remaining
'.terrtory which lies north of an east and
west line drawn through the southerly bend
or extreme of Lake Michigan according to
the terms of the ordinance, must compose
the fifth.
In the year 1918 an act was passed by
Congress TO enable the people ofthe Illinois
territory TO form a constitution. She had not
sixty thousand inhabitants, aud therefore APP
piled TO Congress to grant her permission.
authority having been given to Congress to
admit state with less number.
1t is conceded in this act, that Congress
and the people of Illinois undertook to make
an alteration of her boundaries not contem-
plated by the ordinance, when they gave to
that state the line oflatitude of forly-two de-
groes and thirty minutes for her northern
boundary instead of the west line from the
extremity of the Lake. In the 2nd section
OF that act description of the boundary as
now claimed by Illinois followed by this pro-
! viso; "That the convention, when formed
shall ratjythe boundaries aforesaid ;orHER,
WISE THEY SHALL BE AND REMAIN AS NOW
PRESCRIBED BIZ TIE ORDINANCE for the gov
eminent of the territory northwest ofthe river
Ohio And in the 18th section there is al
so proviso that the constitution ~. henever
: formed shall be republican and not repxgnaat
to the ordinance of the 18th of July. 1887.
! &c. creeping so maca of said Articles as
relate to the states therein to be formed
which is clearly an admission that the alter
alton ofthe boundaries was repugnant to the
ordinance.
Was this the alteration which Congress
was authorized to make? If it was, why
did she ask Illinois to ratify her act! The
Articles of compact may undoubtedly be
changed 'by common CONSENT and it is
true that Congress and Illinois have given
their consent to the alteration; but The fifth
state, whose rights are the same upon this
question as those Of Illinois, has not con-
sented,and could not consent to any change
of those Articles until she has obtained
her sovereignty and independence.
These views, it gives me pleasure to as
SIRE Won a ra SllSt oipa1 hv tho
OF the Legislature Of this Territory. |
avail myself of this occasion to quote the
following sentences from the preamble to
the Resolutions relating to the southern
boundary, and the admission of Wisconsin
into the union as state,' which were ap-
proved by Governor Dodge on the 18th of
January, 1910.
Whereas the southern boundary of this
Territory, and Of the state to be formed
therein, IS fired and established by the or
dinance of July 18th, 1897. on a line run
ming due arest from the souherly bend or
crtreme of Luxe Michigan to The Missis-
s;ppi rirer:
And whereas, although said ordinance
is declared to be forever unalterable. I'M
less by common consent, large and val
state Of Illinois, contrary to The manifest
right and consent of the people Of this
Territory; &C.
The Resolutions following this preamble
request that, on a certain day, the inhabi-
tanls Of the Territory do vote for or agains,
, the formation of a state government, inclu-
ding all that district Of country north Of the
line above mentioned; and invite the nha.
; btants in that part Of the district claimed
! by Illinois TO express their sentiments in
relation 10 is formation, and, in the event
of an election being ordered by the Cover.
nor, to choose delegates to the state con
vention.
; The committee 10 whom this subject hat
r been referred, n their report say, tina, Il
| has been declared as the opinion of for.
mer Legisla tive Assembly Of this Terrific
ry shat all that district Of country lying
: between the northern boundary line Of the
5 state Of Illinois, and line drawn west
; from the southern extreme Of Lake Michi
+ gan to the Missis sippi river, righ,fulIy be-
, long to the Territory Of Wisconsin, p
Y This opinion, with the arguments and rea-
r sons in support Of it, have been spread be-
e fore Congress.
1 To recede now from the grounds at tina
time taken, or TO relinquish in any manner
s the just rights of the Territory to the iu
= risdiction of that district, in the opinion o.
. your committee would be to disappont The
D hopes and defeat the most cherished desires
: and wishes of both tie inhabitants of thai
y district and the people Of this Territory."
Concurrng as do in the opinions thus
: expressed at former sessions of the legisa
e tune, and which | presume are still enter
: tanned by these gentlemen who were then
i members, ii will only be necessary for me
e 10 adver; at this time 10 some Of the autho-
e rites upon which my opinions are founded
fl / observe that an east and west line
b drawn through the southerly bend or ex.
I treme of Lake Michigan is described OF
: adverted to, as a boundary, by the govern.
i ment of the United States, in several in
: stances:
: FTSt-In the 9Th article Of compact. If
: the ordinance of 1877.
: Second-The act of Congress of the
18th of April, 1902, 10 enable the people
D OF Ohio TO form state government.
g Ihird-The act Of Congress of January
IL 1S05 m nrovida for !, +o,,n-x.xx. .