Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-12-02
OF COMMITTEE RELATIVE TO
A DIVISION OF THE STATE.

crPedteacy OF diridiag The Territory of
/ Wisconsin, and locating such line of
| dirisios as shall equtaJly bride The same
into tsco States" hare had the same under
consideration, and
RESPECTFULLY REPORT:
That in their opinion, the Territory of
Wisconsin should be equi,ably divided, for
the following principal reasons:-
|. The large extent aud peculiar shape
of the Territory, and the consequent in
equality in the benefits of government.
2. The late act of Congress, dated Au-
gust 6, 1916, dividing the same.
8. The present unequal representation in
the Senate Of the United States.
Your committee have found in examining
the subject, that the area included within
the present undisputed limits Of Wisconsin
Territory, may be estimated al about co.
| 600 square miles, and IS about as large as
| New York and Pennsylvania together; and
the length Of the same entirely dspropor-
toned TO lis breadth, averaging about 900
miles wide, and some Or 700 miles long
The present population in the vicinity Of
the west end o: Lake Superior, and the
settlements now forming Immediately south
Of the sane, continuing to TIE Mississippi
| river, are greatly nconvenenced. on ac-
count Of the distance from the seat of :her
present Legislature, and, SO far as distance
is concerned, withou; a parallel in the his
tory Of any oil the States in the Union: the
north is, therefore, liable to great injustice
by the Legislature. passing laws touching
their interests before it could be possible for
the inhabitants of that region 10 get any in
| formation on the subject, and have sufficient
time 10 exercise the inestmable right Of
petition circumstance within the ordinary
time Of any session Of the Legislature
That a large proportion of the Territory
located between Wisconsin and Chippewa
rivers, distance of near $50 miles is bros
ken and undesirable for cultivation and
settlement, which renders it probable that
The facilities of a speed winter communi-
cation between this section Of country and
the remote settlements Of the northwest,
cannot lie had for many ycars-the great
barrier, &c. of distance, forbias the equal
distribution Of the benefits and privileges of
State government now TO be formed, and
renders them almost worthless 10 t., .nhab>
itants of that region.
The late act of Congress defining the
norh>west boundary line, commencing at
the first falls in the river ST. Louis west
from Lake superior, and running due south
to the ST Croix, and down the channel of
the same to the Mississippi river, is highly
Objectionable 10 the inhabitants ofthe valley
of the ST. Cloix river, as it places the
tsettlemcnls under different governments,
aliena,es TIE common feeling Of interest in
society, and gives concurrent jurisdiction 10
the Leg; slarure Of different states in rcgu.
latng all the improvements in the river re-
quring chartered privileges-whose con.
fleeing interests arc SO multiplied that even
the Legislature Of one state might not con-
troll, reconcile and restrain lhem-and if
resort could be had to two, great advantage
may be taken Of each other by individuals,
wide door opened to litigation, and the
: inhabitants on the different sides Of the river
arayed end exasperated against each other.
The late act of Congress, however, has
this favorable effect with the committee. in
lhat ii has manifested disposition 10 divide
the present Territory of Wisconsin, which
without consent Of parties, under the ord-
nance Of 1857 your committee have doubt
ed whether such division could be made,
but the area intended to be included by the
act is 50 extended to the north and west,
that your committee, independent of the
other objections. think the line of division
Improperly located and unequtable, cutting
off the Territory on the southwest from any
commercial point or advantage at the west
end Of Lake Superior, TO whom ii naturally
belongs, even if the line established by
Congress should remain unaltered. And it
also includes within the limits OF the State
all of the east shore ofthe river Mississippi
to very near the head of uninterrupted
: steam navigation. so that the territory
northwest of the ST. Croix river has ii per
manent commercial advantages confined 10
a circnmscribed limit on the east bank Of the
Mississippi, and cut off entirely on the
south shore of Lake Superior; while on the
other hnud, within limits of the State, the
principal commercial points Of The south
shore of Lake Superior and tho upper Msls-
issippi are retained; but SO remote arc
these sections OF country from the seat o.
government Of The prospective State, that
they are beyond The reach ofits equal bene-
fits-thereiore both justice and equity re-
auires that more southerly line than that
specified in the act of Congress should be
adopted.
Your committee have considered it 9
matter Of deep importance, if b. hasty
entrance into the Union, the many millions
that are. in all human probability, 10 inhabil
this TeIri,oryin future, should be compelled
TO commit the representation in the Senate
, / of the United Safes 10 two senators, which
IS all that one state is entitled TO; and a!
the mts OF the whole is capable of sustain
} ing population equal 10 hat Of two large
! states, your committee have been great.
! Influenced in favor Of dividing the Terrific
! nv on that account. They have also had
} deep sense Of the unequal representation
now in the Senate of the United State
Ii'rom the different STATES in the Union, d
compared with the representation in tin
Hover house of Congress; The latter bein:
D based npon ala equal ratio oil population il
lall the states, while the senate has th
y same representation from every stale, bow
e ever large or small: for instance, the 81
New EnaIand states has twelve Senator
. land thirty one Representatives, with an are
: in the aggregate of 65,3lo miles, accotdin
!. Ito Malie- 8run; while New York and Penn
isylsania, with an area Of 30, 40 miles, Ia