Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-15

Territorial Printer" Having passed through
both branches Of the Assembly, It was
gent to the Governor for bis approval. This
bill provides that the Territorial printer shall
do the incidental printing Of the two houses,
The laws and journals, and also provides that
the said printer shall publish newspaper at
the seat Of Government.
The following message from the Governor,
containing his objections to the bill, was re-
ccivd by the Council, on Wednesday, the 25th
inst.
l"To the Legislative Council:
The bill entitled IAN act to provide for the
election Of a Territorial printer" is herewith
returned without my signature, and respect
fully submit my objections thereto.
LIST. II requires the territorial printer TO give
bond ''to the Territory Of Wisconsin II
is well known to every lawyer. that no suit or
indictment can be maintained in her name; and
that for this reason all prosecutions for VIOLA
lions of the laws of the Territory are, and ev.
er have been, in the name of "ths United
Sia,es.'' A bond given to minor might as
well be sued and collected in the name of the
minor. A Territory does not possess any
portion of the sovereignty of state; and until
she becomes state, the entire sovereignty over
her is in the United States She is compelled
20 enforce her laws in the name and by the
authority of the government which she repre-
sents, and in virtue Of which all her acts are
passed.
The supreme court of the United States
have decided that Congress possesses and ex-
ercses "ths absolute and undisputed power of
governing and legislating" for the territories;
and also that "Congress exercises lover them]
the combined powers Of the general, and Of
state Government. Cranch's Reports,
1921 Peters Reports SAC.
The bond, therefore. dos not, 10 my opinion,
secureihat accountability to which all public
officers should be held.
This section provides that the bond shall be
held deposited with the clerk of the supreme
court. The clerk is an officer of the court, and
not of the Territorial government He is ap-
pointed by the court and holds his Office during
lis pleasure. He is responsible to it fol The
performance of his duty Of keeping safely. and
for the use of the Territory, the bonds Of pub
lie officers. is not enjoined upon him either by
the court or by law. II he is guilty of misbe-
havior or if he should destroy bis bond. the
Assembly has no power to remove or punish
him. 1t appears to me, therefore, that this
section provides that d bond shall be given by
the printer, which when executed will be good
for nothing, and that when executed il shall
be thrown away.
I'd. The 7th section conflicts with the act Of
Congress which declares that 'no act. resolu-
ton, or ORDER Of the legislature any territory.
directing the expenditure of the sum lapproprl-
ated for the support Of government therein,
shall be deemed sufficient authority for 'such
disbursement" This section declares that the
receipt Of the superintendent shall be suffi-
cient voucher to authorize the Secretary OF the
Territory to pay to said printer the amount
therein specified"
The secretary has the law to judge for him.
self whether voucher is sufficient to anthor.
ize him to make the payments and i. is also
his right, because ID is his duty, as conceive,
to determine whether the ''amount" charged
by a public creditor is the proper sum to be
paid for the service rendered. If the Assembly
was to daclare that a favorite printer should
receive eleven thousand dollars for service
which was not worth more than five thousand,
and which others equally competent offered and
we're ready to perform for FIVE thousand, sure
Is no one can doubt ,chich sum onght to be paid
hin:
Sd. The effect. OF the provisions of this bill
will be to establish and maintain press for
the support of political party, with the funds
granted by Congress for the support Of this
government, and give to the newspaper pub
lished by it circulation and preference over
those issued by other presses IN the Territory.
If The press thus selected should happen to
be directly opposed TO the administration
of the government Of the United States, the
interests of the Territory would be- greatly
prejudiced by it.
liz every press was allowed an equal oppor-
,uniry to become employed TO execute the
work, BY an offer to give il to the lowest bid
der who shonld give satisfactory security. il
could no, then be controlled by the party which
might have a majority in the Assembly, or the
service performed In any other ihan'.he most
economical manner--compeii,ion would secure
economy. and preserve unpolluied the me-
dunn through which the people receive intelli.
eenco Of public affairs and Of the acts Of their
officers.
The Assembly has before i, several propo-
sitions, with tender Of ample security, TO do
the printing for the Territory for a sum almost
one half less than this bill gives to the public
printer Tor the same work. This alone would
be sufficient to compel me 10 withhold my as
sent.
In addition TO the foregoing objections. l must
add those heretofore stated relative to the ap-
pointing power. j. ID. DUTY. 81
Executive Department,
Madison, April 4, iSii."
RsMovvI 90 rae SEAT or GovEasasSr.---
The consideration of the bill for the removal
of The seat of government from Madison. was
made the special order Of the day for Tuesday
/ last. After having been taken up. motion
was made 10 ndefaiieiy postpone the further
consideration OF the same. which motion pre-