Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-10-15
COM NUN Alto Ms.
(coMMUNICATED.)
STATE GOVERN NJ EMIT,

Mr.. EduOr:-Now that the election in
this Territory is passed, there seems TO be a
general graduation among the people and
the newspaper presses, because of the re-
buff which the project for preparing the way
to enable Wisconsin TO become an indepen-
dent State, has received from the people,
While the cause for all this rejoicing APP
pears to be so very great, it of course will
not be amiss to briefly recount the great
blessings that have been achieved in the
contest between Territorial fealty and State
independence.
Frst.-The people have gained quiet
and repose by avoiding the perplexity OF
choosing their principal rulers. The time
was once, when the privilege of selfgovern-
ment was thought to be glorious pleroga-
tive F.; but the people Of Wisconsin appear
to have discovered the folly of this old de-
mocratic notion-hence they seem to think
it vastly better to have our Governors, judy
es, &C., imported from abroad. This saves
world of trouble, and relieves the people
from burdensome exercise of suffrage
The inhabitants on the other side of the At
lantlc, and very few on this side, have al
ways commended that it was dangerous to let
the people elect their own rulers, for the
reason that uaprincipled demagouges would
be sure to work themselves into power
Those, however, who entertained these
views of the practical effect of democratic
institutions, were deemed political heretCs
by the great mass of the American people;
but the people of Wisconsin appear to think
such views by no means heretcal for it is
openly declared in some of the Territorial
papers, in effect, that to 60 into State gov
eminent, or in other words, TO allow the
people to choose their officers of govern
ment, is TO open the door for political aspi-
rants and knaves to come into office.
Second.-ll is said the people have saved
great bill Of expense, by refusing to take
the business OF government into their own
hands. Liberty and enfranchsement are
after all but matters of mere defamation,
and had certainly better be foiegone, p;o-
vided they are attended with any expense.
1t is therefore foolish idea for the people
to take the government fully into their own
hands, provided some power abroad will do
the business cheaper for them. Political
economy in this Territory teaches. that a
cheap government with limited rights, is
preferable to the ordinary republican form
Ihird.-Had the people of w sconsin
determined 10 GO into State government,
we should have been, on our admission into
The Union, entitled to SOC, 900 acres of land.
The selection OF the lands at this period
would probably be made in such manner,
as TO render them quite valuable in a few
yoarc-hopco tho nonnto Inv rofJ to
have State government, have saved them.
selves an immense deal of trouble in taking
care of so much valuable property. The
people appear TO think by waiting few
years, until all the lands which are worth
any thing are taken up, they can locate the
100000 acres TO which they are entitled,
in the swamps and marshes up in the Lake
Superior country, where they will be worth
less; consequently there will in that case be
no danger of getting into disputes about the
proceeds arising from them.
Fourth BY refusing 10 become a State,
the people have saved themselves from an
other source of great inconvenience, viz
the taking care of a great property for liter
AIRY purposes. Congress has bound itself to
give US $4,000 acres of land, for the estab-
lshment of University. Should we be-
come State, it is probable that all of these
lands would be Immediately selected, and
it is possible they might soon be valuable.
The University lands in Michigan were To-
Gated at an early period in the settlement
OF the State, and most of them have been
sold at prices ranging from 10 to 20 dollars
per acre. Michigan has doubtless found it
very inconrenient to have such a great fund
for literary purposes. The University lands
in Wisconsin, some six or eight years hence,
will be worth nearly, or quite, ten shitiings
per acre.
Fifth The people have avoided anoth-
or veXation, that is, Common School fund.
Congress has provided that every 18th sec
ton in each surveyed township, shall be APP
propriated TO the support of Schools; but al
the same time has reserved the title ttthese
lands until such time as we become a Stale.
Now if the title and the disposal OIL these
lands belonged 10 the people of Wisconsin,
it is most likely measures would be taken
to make them available for school purposes;
and if the people had school fund, there
most probably would be great stir and
commotlon in getting up schools all over
the country.
Such, Mr.. Editor. are few of the ddran-
tagcs which The people have gained by de-
terminng to S ay out of the Union have
said nothing o! the great inconvenience of
having our Interests represented in the Sc
nate and House of Representatives OF the
United States. and many other things of
this kind. provided we had become State.
But there is one thing yet which must not
be forgotten; it is the why, and the where
fore, of the peoples decision on this ques-
ton. The Territory gets some 1900
annually for the payment of Legislative
expenses, Now where is the people who
would not forego all the beasied privileges
of representation, self government and in
dependence, for such disideSatumt But
the best of the joke is, Congress will proba-
bly, withhold even this little pittance from
US within two years, and thea all who adj
mlre a colonial government. can still have
one, and pay for it in the bargain. NJ.
DELEvAN, Oct. 5, lS44.
Il