Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-03-28
SOUTHPORT TELEGRAPH.
TUESDAY, MARCH %, lS43.
THE LEGISLATURE.-Thus far the

MARS11 20, Io43
THE LEGISLATURE.-Thus far the
Legislature have been able to accomplish
but little in the way Of legislation, owing to
the difficulties existing between that body
and the Executive branch Of the Govern.
menL The legislature have evinccd n de-
sire to proceed with the business OF legis-
lation, while the Governor has shown q
DISPOSITION TO throw obstacles and impedl-
ments in the way If the Governor has
sincere desire that legislative session
should be held, how is his action IN refer
ence to the legislature to be accounted for !
Why did he recognize the legislature az
legally constituted body during the space
Of six days from the time Of its organiza-
ton without questioning its validity, and
then send in his message enqulrlng whe-
thcr the legislature were acting IN accor-
dance with his peculiar notons9 Why al
err laboring strcnuously to prove that he
had an unquestionable right according TO
law to call special session, did he sud-
denly pretend iha; some new discovery had
been made, and throw out inslnuailons that
that the holding Of a special session under
any circumstances might be illegal! But
we cannot stop to trace his Excellency
through all his late freaks TO embarrass the
repI esentatives Of the people.
There are various reasons now pressing,
why the Governor should wish to defeat
the holding of session. One reason IS,
the passage Of the law Of congress giving
the people Of the Territory the privilege to
elect their Justices, sheriffs and judges Of
probate: this law Of congress requires the
legislature Of the Territory, to provide
the time and manner Of such election. If
the present session of the legislature should
DO dissolved without acting in the matter,
the Governor will retain the appointing
power Of the aforementioned officers ano-
Their year Doty is conscious that as soon
as he is Invested Of his patronage power he
will be rendered mere political dwarf,
sad that the individuals who now cling 10
his support will chiefly desert him. Hence
it will not be strange if the Governor
should make a desperate struggle to re-
tain his appointing power.
In view Of the circumstances, we are
glad 10 find the legislature disposed to re-
sort to every honorable means to hold
session; and i, is hoped that both houses
at Madison, will evince determination to
have the business Of legislation 60 forward,
by making cvorv possible compromise and
concession which is not incompatible with
honor, principle or law Now that con-
= grsss has granted the people Of this Ter
. rilorv, the right 10 elect their own justices,
&; shcrffs, &c, every citizen will anxousIy
await the action of the legislature-the
people expect action; they demand it.
The system Of bargain, sale, and corruption
which has been carried on by means of
Executive patronage, is destined we trust
to be brought to termination. The in
huence which has been brought TO bear on
our elections through the agency Of the
Executive, has had a tendency TO destroy
the purity Of the elective franchise. 1t
will avail the Governor Of this Territory
but little to make his annual eIectioneering
tour through the several counties pending
elections, if he has no Justices or sherlIs'
commissions IN his gilt wherewi.h to pur-
chase votes.