Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-02-06


committee having stated some of the ad-
vintages, both of a pecuniary and general
nature, which we shall derive by going
into state government. Briefly recapi
tulaied, they are rs follows:
The choice of our. own executive,
The selection of our own Judges, and
the control of our own judiciary;
The entire control of our own lcsisla-
ton;
A representation Of two senators, and
two members of the two house Of repre-
sentatives, in the congress of the Uuited
States;
Five hundred thousand acres of land.
equivalent 10 an investment OF $6l5,000
in cash a: an in,ers, of ten per cent, worth
annually TO the people So 800;
Five per cent, on $500, 900, the es.mat-
ed nett proceeds Of the public lands which
will be sold in each year hereafter, equal
10 an annual revenue of $4,000;
The entire control Of our university and
school Ian IS;
An exchange Of our territorial dependen-
cy for an independent state sovereignty;
A voice in our national councils. and a
direct vote upon every question affecting
the interests. and the future dcstinies Of
the American republic.
Is there nothing in all this TO tempt a
freeman 10 throw of the swaddIing gar
ments of a colonial minority? Will it be
commended that we shall be less likely to
receive appropriations from congress for
the Improvement Of our harbors, & c. il we
rema n a territory? The history of Ohio,
Indiana; and Illinois shows that congress
made far more liberal appropriations to
| these states after they came into the Union
than while they remained territories; and
may we not justly conclude that our claims
will be more successfully pressed upon the
attention Of congress when We shall be
represented in bnll. branches Of the national
| legislature, and when we have our relative
political Influence among the states Of the
| Union.
The minority Of your committee would
therefore respectfully recommend the pas
sage of law TO submit the question Of a
state government to the people at the mex,
general election in this Territory. The
people are fully competent to Judge Of their
interests in this importan: matter; they
have right 10 decide the question Of state
government and the legislature has nc
right to withhold from them an expression
Of Their opinion at the ballot box. 1t is a
fundamental doctrine in the creed Of demo
cratic governments, that the people are
capable OF self government, and are the
legitimate sovereignty oflhe nation. Who,
then, will say the people have no right to
speak, 10 act, and 10 cote, upon the cues.
ton Of forming state government! The
people in many portions Of the country
are looking for action on this subject by
the Legislatures; they hlve become tired in
their attempts TO ascertain the condition Of
our finances, and they feel justify alarmed
in consequence Of our accommodating in
debtedness. In vain they have looked 10
the legislature, from year to year, to
search out our true financial condit on, and
exhibit it before the world The legisla-
ture has given repeated evidences of its
utter incapacity TO penetrate the mazes in
which ours liabilities are involve d. A
vague uncertainty hangs over our pecunia-
ry affairs; the property Of the territory has
been repeatedly and unlawfuliy squander.
ed; suits have been Instituted again and
again; lawyers have fa,tencd upon the
spoil; yet all has only served TO render
our condition the more inexplicablc. 1.-The
thief has gone with SO mu ch-apd SO much
TO find the thief" Every effort to ferret
out the mischief, and to obtain our rights,
sink lis deeper in the vortex Of difficulty.
Your committee believe tina, nothing but
the uncontrolled exercise Of the peoples
sovereignty, in the foundation Of state
constitution, and the enactment Of laws
adapted TO their circumstances, can arrest
the progress Of our emb ,rrassmcnts, and
purify our political atmosphere.
LEVI GRANT.