Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1844-07-23
TELEGRAPH
SOUTHPORT, TUESDAY, JULY 3. 1911.

| 49,
SOUTHPORT, TUESDAY, JULY .. 1914.
STATE GovERNMENT-Wc perceive tia!
some of the papers of the territory arc rcpub-
lsling IL. speech of Mr. Ellis, delivered in
our territorial legislature last winter in oppo-
s'tion 10 the bill, to allow the people of WIS
cons II TO express an opinion at the election
IN September next, on tho subject of form
ing safe government. As this speech of
Mr.. ELS seems 20 embody all the arguments
OF the opponents of state government, we
propose TO give IT some attention Were it
not for tie great length of the speech itself.
we should publish it entire, but we think
thu object can as we'll be attained by stating
is prominent objections to changing our at.
ttudc as Il territory, TO that of state. II
should be distinctly borne in mind, that ALL
he bill IN question which passed the both
branches of the legislature list winter propo-
ses IS to submit to the people at the next
annual election, the question of forming
state government. Mr.. Ellis s.rcnuously
opposed giving the people the right to act
upon this question; the following quotation
from his Introductory remarks. will show how
repulsire it was to the Hon. gcntleman's ma
lure to commit the decision of this ques-
ton to the electors Of Wisconsin,:
"W hat then, Mr. Speaker, are the objects
of this bill? They arc to open up the qucs-
ton before the people, of changing our form
of governments; of casting OFF our present
territorial, and assuming state government.
This is the practical question now before the
House."
The foregoing proposition was in fact the
plain question before the House, and how
any m:n who has proper respect for the
intelligence: of The people, and their capabil-
Ity to acl IN the prcm.s cs, could vote to de-
ny them such right, we are at a loss TO con-
ceivc. The genius of our political faith
teaches us to believe that the tribunal of the
people, is always te in all matters pertain
ing to sclf-government, but Mr.. Ellis seems
10 think othcrw Sc.
The first prominent objection urged by
Mr.. ELS against state government. is shat
our tares ,rouh be grcatiyincrcased.n That
our taxes would be increased for few years
after entering into a state government. is
true, and this would be equally true five or
ten years hence. ii matters not whether VIC
90 into stie government in 1916 or 1856;
or whc her we enter the Union with io). coo
inhabitants or 90, 20, VIC cannot avoid IN
creased taxation during the first Years of our
| independently. No state ever vet came into
the lnon with revenues and means provi-
ded for supporting government; all new
states mus, necessarily ncsr taxation or debt
until they can make their public property
available and provide revenue. lftherc-
fore Mr.. Ellis would have the people of Wis
cousin stay out of the Ua'on, until they can
come in without incurring increased cxpen-
diture for the time being, he nor his postcri-
ty will ncv-r see w .scons II become an indie
pendent state.
Bat while we admit that taxes for the sup
port of government would for a time be in
creased upon our becoming state; we al
the same time deny that the people would
be losers in a pecuniary point IF view. Ma
ny OF the burdens which now fall upon the
people, would be materially lessened in a
short time, were we to become state. Take
single case: Gun taxes now for the support
OF schools fall! heavily upon most families in
inc territory, and such must continue to be
the case while we remain territory. Our
school, seminary, and educational lands. can
never be placed in condition for producing
a revenue for the support of common schools
until we become state; nor can we have
any regular system of education while we re-
man III our present territorial condition.
Oar legislature at it's last scss OH refused to
adopt any efficient regulation for the support
OF schools. assigning as 4 reason. that nothing
OF this kind could be done until we CHANGED
our form OF government. A very large pro-
portion OF the schools now in the territory.
are supported entirely without aid of funds
arising from school lands; there are probably
not half dozen school sections in the terri
tory which arc made at all available. Con
trast our condition in this respect with Mich
lgan-that State has now magnificent COM
mon school fund; in many counties it is
nearly sufficient Ia pay the expenses of the
district schools, without any additional tax
on the inhabitants. Had Michigan remained
out of the Union until the present time, her
common school system probably would have
been but little, If any better than that OF
Wisconsin now. But by judicious selec-
ton of her public lands after her admission
in the Union, Michigan has been enabled to
adopt vigorous SYSTEM of education, which
bids fair 10 rival New England ITSELF If the
parents and guardians of the rising genera.
ton IN Wisconsin, ever expect to be relieved
from the burden of sustaining schools, they
must look to the time when the lands grant