Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-05-28
TELEGRAPH.
SOUTHPORT, TUESDAY, MAY IS. ISL.
STATE GOVERNMENT.


the people of this Territory Will be called
upon for an expression of opinion, whethe
they are willing to throw off the swadlire
garments of territorial dependency and as
sumo an attitude in which they may cAer
else all the rights and privileges which APP
pertain TO free and independent states; OF
whether, on the other hand, they are satisf
ed with their present colonial condition-sa
tisfed 10 stay ont Of the great family Of
states as mere dependents upon the will OF
caprice of government in the admnistra-
ton of which they have no voice. Whate-
yer opinions the majority of the people may
have heretofore entertained as to the cxpe-
dicncy of becoming an independent state.
the question has now assumed different as
pect. Hitherto our population has been
deemed too small, in the opinion of the ma
jority, 10 make il advisable TO change our
territorial relations. We speak of the opn-
ion of the majority as indicated by the cleo
ton returns, although it must be admitted,
that there never yet has been fair test Of
the question Of State Government had by the
people; many Of the electoral districts having
refused TO vote upon the subject for the rca
son that they deemed the Governors procla-
nation requiring an expression upon the
question unauthorized land in some OF the pre-
cincts where an expression was had. the re-
suit was actually suppressed in the official
return, for the reason probably that the cleo
tors had slgnificd wish TO become sovc-
reign state. Bat admitting that the majority
have i'll former years deemed our population
too small to take the preliminary steps TO
the formation of Il state government, how
long is this argument TO hold good in Our
progressive condition? Since the opening of
navigation the present year, the population
of Wisconsin has been increasing from six to
eight hundred per week by the way of the
lakes and the Mississippi. Our numbers
are daily increasing with rapidity unexam-
pied, with but fow exceptions, in the history
of the west.
So far as it relates TO the requisite number
of inhabitants. in order TO our becoming a
state, one fact may be regarded as most
clearly settled. Should a majority of the
electors qualified 10 vote upon the question
of forming state government, decide in ia
vor of the measure Mt the next general cleo
ton, Wisconsin would professionally come
into the Union with greater number of in
habtants with perhaps single exception
than bad any of the states, which have been
admitted since the confederation of the orr
gnal thirteen. Wisconsin has cycn now
greater population than eight of the new
states had at the time of their admission in.
10 the Union. Now unless il can b shown
that all the new states which have - ID
mitted, were unwise in coming into the Uni
on with the number of inhabitants within
their respective limits which they had at the
time of their admttancc; of what force is the
argument that the population of Wisconsin
is yet too small to warrant our taking the pre-
liminary steps to assume our rank onong the
sovereign states. 1t is true the opponents
of state government are wont to point us to
the Indebtedness of the new states and TO
their wild and now exploded schemes of in
tcrnal improvement; charging that their nd;s-
early and premature admittancc into the Uni
on This subicrfngo may frighten the igno-
rant, bat can have no influence with those
who have givca the SUBJECT any consldera-
ton The wastcful extravaganza which cha
racterized the years Of speculation, was con-
fined TO no PARTICULAR locality or section OF
country. The older states plunged into
debt with as little discretion as the new and
all were alike seized with the prevailing ma
MIA of speculation. If the enemies of state
government still persist in charging the Pc
culinary cmbarassments of the new states, as
a consequence Of their entering the Union
too early and with too limited population,
we can show their position fallacious by in
contesiiblc proofs, evidencing that many of
the old states commenced 4 career of run
ming into debt at the same period with the
new, aud that the former proportionably in
voved themselves as much as the latter.
If then the pecuniary liabilities in which
some of the new states are involved, is not
Justly charceablc TO their too early assuming
he attitude of independent states, what 9th
or excuse can be offered for our prolonging
our Territorial attitude? 1t has been urged
that we have not yet the requisite amount
of talent in order to form judicious state
government, and fill the various offices with
men qualified TO Discharge their respective
duties. Are the people of Wisconsin men,
tally diseased? Is there some strange imbe-
cility resting on the body polite? We have
been wont TO speak of the population of Wis
Al