Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-23


ed by Congress for educational purposes.
sh II be at our control and made available;
that period can never come while we re-
main Territory.
| Taxation, is sort of terrific argument,
and hence it is used W tn much eff c by the
opponents of State government but we
think it can be conclusvely shown that the
people of Wisconsin, instead of being losers
by going into a State government, will actu-
ally be gamers in pecunary point of view;
that is, for every dollar the Territory pays in
taxes tor the support of a State government,
il will receive dollar and half in return.
Some of the pecuniary advantages which
the people will gain by going into a State
government we will mention. We are emit
lied on our admission into the Union, to
500 ,00) acres of land, 10 be selected from
any of the unsold lands in the Territory, in
tracts of not less than $40 acres. Now il
will be admitted on all hands, that ten per
cent. would be low estimate on the rise of
lands judiciously selected at this time in the
| Territory five-sixths of those who now pur-
chase government lands with the view of
investing money at a profit, will doubtless
realize much more than ten per cent during
he next six yeats. The 100000 acres of
land TO which we are entitled, is equal to an
investment of $3.50, 700 in cash; this at ten
per cent will amount 10 $4,000 per aEnum.
This item alone, of the rise in value on the
lands 10 which we are entitled, is greater
than the amount We receive from the gene
raj government per annum, including every
kind of expenditure which is paid by the
United States. The average amount appro
praled by Congress, 10 pay the expenses oil
the government of Wisconsin, from Nav 9th.
1895, TO March Sd, 1913, including a period
of nearly eight years, is S29,6l2 per annum.
Tnis does not include the amount received
10 pay the expenses of the judicial depart
ment. 1t seems TO be the settled detcrmi-
nation Of the general government. to make
the sum of about ST. 900 answer our pur-
pose for the future; that being the amount
appropriated TO pay the expenses of the wear
ensuing. If the opponents of State govern
ment residing in the country away up
north,' who have been accustomed to look
upon the rise of real estate as a thing that
scai coly ever happens with them, should
I
commodate them by estimating the rise of
the lands in question at only seven per cent:
even this per centage will ensure the ter
rtory an annual profit of $4,000 on the
aforementioned 800, 900 acres of land. O. in
other words, on the investment of $3.50 900.
This single consideration of making an
early location of the lands to which we are
entitled, upon our admission, is an equiva-
Lent for the amount we receive from the ge-
neral government. But this is not all we
shall be entitled TO five per cent on the pro-
ceeds of sale Of the public lands within our
limits, after we come into the Union; the |
opinion of Mr.. Ellis to the contrary. NJ. |
Ellis makes the unqualified assertion, :. that
if Wisconsin should form State govern
ment, and be admitted in the Union, she |
can cilim no part Of the proceeds of the
safe Of public lands within her limits"
Where the lion. gentleman obtained this |
information, we know not. The only au-
thoHlty which he adduces in support of this |
assertion Is that the provisions of the D,str- |
button act have been suspended by subse-
quent act of Congress, passed on the 30h
of August, 1912. The Distribution act,
several states having lands within their linn
lis belonging to the government of the Uni
ted States, ten per cent on the nett proceeds |
of sales of such lands. The States wera
to receive the aforementioned ten per cent,
orcr and Adore what they were before cnti- |
tied TO, by compact with the United States;
consequently the suspension of the ten per
cent provision Of the Distribution act, did |
not annul, or at all effect the per cent which
Congress had before guaranteed to the sew
eral new states. arising from the sale OF
public lands. The States of Ohio, Indiana,
! Illinois, Alabama, Missouri, MISSISSIPPI, |
louisiana, Arkansas and Michigan, have
each had confirmed TO them by acts of
Congress, the per cenagc before mentioned
on the sale of public lands within their re-
spcctivc limits. Wisconsin will obtain her
per centage on the sale Of the public lands
! within her limits after her admission into
the Union the income from this source, !
will of course depend upon the annual
amount of sales Of these lands.
The control and disposal of our school
and university lands, so as TO make them
available for educational purposes, is anoth-
CT important Pccuniary consideration which
the people of the Territory will gain, by
changing their condition from a Territory
to that of State.
Mr.. Ellis third objection to having the
people take any action on the subject of
state government is as tollows:-'' 1 object
TO moring at all in this business, till me
haze the permission Of Congress-" He
however does not say positively, that we
have not the right to move in the matter
without first obtaining the consent of Con-
gres5 ; he knows very well that we have
precedents in point, of territories proceed
ing to the formation of a state government
without the consent of Congress; it is there
fore useless 10 dispute the right of the people
TO take action in the matter. But Mr. Ellis
objects mainly to moving in this business, for
the following very curious reasons: ''lf" says
Mr.. f. g majority shall be found in favor
of state government, it cannot be question
ed that the next step will be, TO have con-
| venton for the formation of a constitution,
| and that the convention will so frame the