Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-30
TELEGRAPH
SOUTHPORT, TUESDAY. JULY 30. lS44.
STATE GOVERNMENT.

speech oil Mr. Ellis, delivered at Madison
last winter on the subject of submitting TO
the people the question of State Govern
ment, we shall only briefly notice this week
some of the remaining objections, which the
honorable gentleman urges against the for
nation of State government Mr.. ELS
labors very hard TO make a false issue of
this question, by representing that the oppo-
sers of State government are entirely com
posed of honest men, who have rot the least
ambition for Office or places of prefement,
but who are in fact the real modest. unob-
trusive, hard-working people of the Terrific
ry While on the other hand the friends of
State government, are represented as being
made up of dishonest politicians, uneasy
office seekers, idlers, loafers, knaves, &c.
&c. Mr.. Ellis is certainly welcome to all
the merit Justly due him for the bandylng
epithets he has seen fiji to bestow upon such
of his fellow citizens of the Territory, who
venture TO think that State sovereignty is
better adapted to the genius of people
professedly free, than condition of Terri
toral dependency. Other States of the
Union, which have preceded us, and which
have gone into the organization of State
government with much less population
than are now within our limits, have moved
in their preliminary arrangements without
being denounced as vagabonds and loafers.
The Ordinance Of 1887 contemplates that
the people of the Territories, will be fully
competent to govern themselves and to take
care of their own interests, whenever they
Shall have 10000 inhabitants within their
respective limits. With the number of co.
900, they may become independent States,
not by mere suiierance of Congress, but
have right to demand admission into the
great family of States. The population of
Wisconsin now cannot be less than so, 900,
and should the people at the next annual
election decide in favor of State govern
ment, our population would probably not be
less than 10000 or l30, 900, by the time
we should have passed through all the pre-
lIminares, requisite to our recognition as a
sovereign State.
Notwithstanding we have greater po-
pulaton now than most Of the Territories
had at the time they took the preliminary
steps, in order to their becoming States
still the opponents Of State government
represent, that the''peope of the Territory
are destitute Of all the requisite qualifca-
tons for as uming such possibility
Indeed it would seem, from the represen-
tallons Of the opposition, that the people Of
Wisconsin are mentally diseased their un-
derstandings too darkened, and their moral
honesty too questionable, TO venture to gov
ern themselves independent of supervi-
sorry power. Blu; while the unjust charge
is made, that the friends of State govern
ment are composed of Office seekers and
ambitious men, we ask our readers to look
at the past political history Of public men
in this Territory, and then decide whether
it would not be more in accordance with
truth, were the charge reversed. Are not
the most active and Jealous opposers oil
State government now IN this Territory,
the very men who have always managed
to keep themselves in Office, and who have
always enjoyed the spoils for number Of
years past? Are not the men who now
talk loudest Of The hazard and the mischief,
which change in our Territorial govern
ment would produce, the men who have
contrived to keep themselves in power?-
We make no charges, but ask candid
examination: we speak of political leaders,
or at least of those who are commonly &C
knowledged as such.
Mr.. Ellis refers to the very decisive vote
Of The people in 1910 against State gov
eminent, and thinks that it should be re-
garded as significant Of the peoples wishes
in relation to this question. In the pro.
gressve condition of our numbers in poPu-
Iaiion, whatever expression the people may
have given at any previous time on this
subject, it cannot be regarded as settling
the question for only the time being. Our
numbers are increasing at the rate OF %
per cent per annum, consequently every
year presents new aspect to the question
1t however is not true that there has ever
been full and fair expression oblaine c
from the people ; the authority which called
upon the electors to vote upon this subject
during past years, has very generally been
regarded as unauthorized, and hence The
people in many precincts have declined
giving an expression. And should the
people at the coming election decide against
the measure. it can only be regarded as
settling the question for Il single year. Ii
is possible that the inhabitants Of the Ter
ritory may be persuaded, that it is for theil
happiness and interest TO have a swarm OF
broken down politicians abroad, fill some
of the principal offices in the Territory
to have the public funds misappled or EN-
bezzled, and to have a system Of politca
: immortality fostered among them, over
which they have no control. There are
some men who are naturally obsequious
\ and who have such an over anxious desire
to be governed cheap, that it matters &c
| them bu, little by whom they are governed
| or what the system or form of government
; is, provided it costs but little. That this is
1 the character of the great body of the peo-
. ye of Wisconsin, we would not be under
] stood TO say we know the great majority
are intelligent and appreciate well the rights
1 of freemen and if they vote against q
, change, it will in our opinion be because
1 they have not given the subject that atten
, ton which lis Importance demands.
3 We have always believed that the exer-
, Csc of the right OF suffrage, was privilege
every freeman regarded to be of inestimable
3 value. Mr.. Ellis, however, appears TO be
an exception he seems TO think that the