Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-06-18
THEfTELEGR APH.
SOUTHPORT, TUESDAY JUNE Is 1911.
STATE GOVERNMENT.


length, but part of them having been ms
laid, we can only refer TO some of the most
prominent positions, which the writer as
sur.as in opposition toproceedng at present
10 the formation of state government
Ono of the MAJ: positions which the writer
Iabors to establish is, that Wisconsin has
no political free agency in matters of legs
latioh, but is snNcct entirely to the control
of the General Government, and that Con-
gress possesses Unlimited powers of soyer-
eighty over all the Territories. Hence If
is argued that we have no right TO take any
preliminary measures, in order TO our be-
coming state, without first obtaining the
consent Of Congress.
With regard to the foregoing objection,
VIC shall not stop to argue tho strict con-
struction of the ordinances and laws of Con
gross in relation to the Territories but take
it for granted that tho action of Congress in
all its past treatment of the Territories, is
The best possible construction which can be
given in toe premises. 1t is useless 10 dis
pute about techniealiiies when we have
abundant prccedcnts in point, TO establish
the construction which Congress puts upon
the laws and ord .nanccs Of the General Go
vcrnmcnk If therefore Congress has per-
mitted Territories TO proceed TO the forml-
lion of state governments without first Oh
tanning consent, then it is fair 10 presume
that Wisconsin may Go the same thing
The formation of state government with
out an express permission by law OF Con
gross, is not without a number of prccc-
dents; the first Of which received the sane
iron of General Washington. Tennessee
WAS rnadc state without any consent of
Congress, TO cali Il convention or form n
state constitutions Governor Blount issued
his proclamation calling on the people to
elect Delegates, to convention for the pur-
pose of forming a state consultations Ac-
cordingly Delegates were elected; Il cons!i-
tuition formed, and by virtue thereof, Rope
scntativcs IN Congress were elected, Gen
Washington, then President of the United
States, approved the proceeding, and it WIS
sanctioned by Congress ..
But Tennessee is not tho only Instance
Ofa Territory becoming state without any
previous law of Congress to sanction the
procedure. During the debate in Congress
upon the admission of Michigan, Senators
Benton, Wright, Buchanan, Nc, took the
ground, that tho people of Territory, have
right form state government agreeable
TO the ordnance and act of Congress of
aSO5.
But II is objected by thowri,cr III the Cou-
rier that The ordinance of 1889, divided the
North west Territory into three states geo
graphically, and that it applies only to The
conditions upon which these three might or
game and be admitted into the Union
Now Congress has already formed four
states from the aforementioned Territory,
and the applicability of the ordinance of
81 to the formation 'ef the fourth has never
boon Questioned; and if the provision of the
ordinance applied To the fourth state, why
may it moi TO a fifth? The argument that
tle ordinance Of 81 has reference only To
Ehrco states, and that the terms of admission
which it proscibcs, applies TO those three
aiono, is forced construction and not war
Iarised by any action of Congress subsequent
10 the ordinance. The act To establish the
Territorial government of Wisconsin, places
tho matter beyond a doubt, and clearly puts
Wisconsin in the same position as the three
rtates geographically defined in the ordi-
nance of 81, and invests il with like immu-
mites and privileges The l2th section of
tho act declares, 'that the, inhabitants
Of the Tertott shall enjoy all the rights
privileges and advantages, granted and Sc
cured 10 the people of the Territory north
west of the Ohio, by the articles et compact
contained in the ordinance Of 1897" 1t
provides further that ''thc said inhabitants
shall also be entitled TO the rights, privileges.
ana immunitics, heretofore granted and Sc
cured 10 tho Territory of Michigan" The
fifth article Of the compact declares that
-'whenorer any of the said states shall hav.
sixty thousand lroc inhabitants thoren, such
state shall be admitted by liza delegates int
the Congress of the United States, on an
equal footing with tho original states in all
popects whatever, and shall be At liberty 10
form 4 permanent constitution and state
government" Vhe right of the people of
Wisconsin therefore to form state govern
ment for themselves is most CLEARLY estab-
ished by these provisions, and frem the
precedent Of Tennessee and Michigan.
Again the writer urges another impcdi-
msnt TO our forming state govommcn,
which may be stated in substance as follows:
--",lat notwithstanding four states have
bsen duly formed aud admitted, the forma-
ton Of fifth Is a.aaestiap of expediency
vet IN he determircd nv Cnp,,,,,.. - ! :, .