Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-09-17
DEMOCRATIC
ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS OF
RACINE COUNTY.
FELLOW CITIZENS:

Having beer appointed by your dele.
gates assembled in Convention on the Be
inst. to address you, we enter upon the
discharge OF our duty with an earnest de.
sire of awakening an interest TO the impor-
lance Of the coming political contest, and
Of promoting the harmony and the unity
of the Democratic party. We do not rely
for success upon any attempt to present in
false light the character and position OF
the Wing party, nor by msrepresentng
the qualifications Of the candidates for Office
which that party has recommended 10 the
SURFACES of the people. We rely upon the
justice of our cause-upon the potency OF
our principles, and upon the known ability
ard tried integrity of the men who have
been selected by your delegates to repre-
sent and carry out those principles. We
are on the eve Of an election of more than
ordinary Importance !; not only because of
the number and responsibility Of the offices
to be filled, but because Of our near APPROX
imation 10 that period in oar history, when
our territorial condition will be exchanged
to that of sovereign State. Whatever
or lions may be entertained as to the pro-
per time for our admission into the Union,
all will agree that the time, at most, is not
distant. Every Democrat, in view OF that
event, will be forcibly impressed with the
importance Of preserving our distinctive
character as party entire, and OF main
tanning that political ascendancy in the
Territory, which we at present unquestion-
ably possess. In the predomnance OF de-
mocratic principles do we look tor the
adoption Of a Constitution and the esta-
blishment oil Government founded upon
the broad basis of equal rights and equal
Justice a government economical in all OF
its departments, and in which high salaries
and the emoluments of office. shall hold out
no inducements to scrambling asT irants /;
government in which the poor shall ne
yer be taxed TO pamper the rich. by the
means Of large mon;ed interpretations, and
by the conferng of exclusive privileges
upon the few at the expense Of the many.
The people Of Wisconsin desire PLAIN and
republican government, whenever the pc
riod arrives that they shall determine to
go into the Union and such a government
we trust every democrat is determined to
nave, w UCH We ASSUME Jul pOSttlpb III tilC
great family Of States The democrats Of
Wisconsin are mostly working men, and
have derived their notions of republican
simplicity from the school Of Jefferson
they are chiefly IN the fields Of agriculture,
the works shops and the mines they want
no complicated and inexplicabe laws upon
The statute book, but they desire 10 have
laws for the government of the State, which
are not only suited to the wants Of all, but
which are also adapted to the plain under
standing and easy comprehension Of every
man.
In the present condit on Of our territori-
al affairs, il is not for the interest Of the
people, nor do we believe it is their desire,
to have many new laws added 10 the sta
tue book /; the attention Of our legislatures
should rather be directed TO remedving the
imperlections Of those which already exist,
and rendering them more explicit for the
purposes for which they were originally
intended. Few laws, well digested. and
made applicable 10 the more immed ale
wants Of the people, will better subserve
the public good than many laws, ambigu-
Gus in their meaning, and uncertain in
their application. The best tina, can be
done in our territorial minority, is to make
such amendments 10 our present laws, rs
the public interest appears absolutely 10
require. When we enter into State GO
vernment, full and complete revision Of
our laws VIII doubtless take place, suited
10 the constitution and government which
the people shall sanction. Such We be
lieve are the views entertained by u large
majority of the democratic party.
There are, however, o her matters of le-
gislation, in which every inhabitent Of the
Territory has a deep interest; we mean
the sublec, Of our terrloria! Indebtedness,
and the adjustment of the difficulties grow
ing out of the operations Of the Milwaukee
and Rock River Canal Company. 1t is
matter to he desired by every citizen Of the
Territory, that our liabilities (if any have
| been incurred.) should be fully inveslga-
ted, and that the claims which are held
against The Territory should be carefully
examined. The improvident legislation,
and the misguided policy. which prevailed
during the early years OF our territorial
existence, has doubtless entailed upon US
ltNIIS " MN VIII 'CioiiS q '" 100 "'t Jubi-
cious management OF our public affairs, in
order to be obvia;ed without seriously bur-
dening the Territory. We know that our
candidates for tie Legislative Assembly, if
elected, will give 10 this subject the atten-
ton which It's importance demands; and
we know too, that they possess IN an cmi-
nent degree the qualifications necessary to
accomplish the objects the people desire
The present, is an important crisis in our
Territory, and time when whatever is
indicative Of pecuniary embarra ssment,
should be fully understood and adjusted, in
order that the future good Of Wisconsin
may be well secured.
One subject which has engrossed the at
tention of the people TO considerable ex-
tent in some portions Of The Territory, par
ticuary in the northern and western, is
the law passed during the last session OF
the Legislature, prescribing the qualiiica-
ton of voters on the question Of State GO.
vernment. An effort is now making &c
procure the repeal of this law at The mex
session Of the Legislative Assembly arc
to secure this object, candidates have bee: