Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-10-28

will not the state OF Wisconsin be heavy
land-holder within the limits Of her jurs
dction2 The University Lands, and Com.
mon School Lands, and tic 500, 900 acres
Of ratrimony land which she will get on
her admission, all of which will doubtless
be exempted from taxation in the several
counties where they may lie, will place her
in position. in respect TO The matter sug-
gested. very similar to that occupied by the
| u. Safes. And she can no more, consis
ten,ly with her own interests, or the claims
of Justice, refuse to embark in, or AT least
encourage NECESSARY works Of internal
Improvement than the general government
could. Observe. do no, speak Of works
o. "doubtrol uil;ty"-These admit, no
State should engage in; nor do | mean that
State should contract deb' beyond its IL
bility to pay either Immediately or within
! n short period Of time, for works OF lner.
nal improvement. Mr.. Meeker's report
provides expressly against tbs. The hands
Of the Legislature and the people should
not be too closely tied in reference to sub
jec,s Of this kind, by Constitutional law. II
is well enough to provide against heavy
public liabilities for such purposes. This
should be done. But beyond this II is un-
necessary and unwise TO 90. The people
and their representatives. should be left to
exercise sound discretion, and 70 take
such course as interest or exigency may
from time 10 time require.
Internal improvements are mighty NOR
al agents. The more they are multiplied
and ex ended from one neighborhood to an
other, from one State to another, and from
one country 10 another, the more, of course
will The pecuniary and social interests of
mankind be identified and promoted; and
there is nothing, IL my opinion, which
would tend so speedily TO make a common
brotherhood of our whole race and bring
about the milenial day of ''pcace and good
will,' as chains of internal improvement.
linking and binding together the various
territories and interests Of different and
now isolated portions of mankind. In this
point of view, what is more important than
proper degree Of encouragement, on the
part of the States, TO works Of the charac-
ter stated?
The idea that individual enterprise Of it.
self, and by itself, should be left TO accom-.
plish works of internal improvement can
not subscribe 10. In the most imporinn,
cases, its efforts would be entirely power.
less. individuals, as such, without legsa-
tive sanction, securing to them the "right Of
way" under proper conditions, could do
nothing; and without legislative encour-
agement, securing to them such personal
benefits as it would be proper for them to
have in the premises, wouM do nothing
Wherever individual or company enter.
prize has accomplished any thing in this
line, it has been encouraged and sustained
by Legislative enactment; and nothing could
have been or can be done, without
To adopt the principle you suggest, as a
part Of our Constitution, would, it seems
to me, be tantamount to saying, there shall
be no general works Of internal improve
ment within the state 1t would be say ng
to Congress, we desire to have nothing to
do with the Management, Of the lands you
have granted to aid in the improveme Mt o E
the navigation Of the Fox and Wisconsin
rivers. And, Furthermore, if we were To
take the ground tat as state we will new
er embark in or encourage works inter
nal Improvement, what will become of our
title to the expected 10000 acres ofland,
which has usually been given by Congress
10 the new States, expressly for works Of
this purpose?
Had your principle been the governing
one Of the several states and the Federal
Government, for the last twenty years,
am apprehensive our country would now
be at least half a century in the rear, RAJ
Their than this much IN adsancc, Of most
other civilized nations. The Erie Canal,
which has conferred such vast benefits up
on the great State which planned and con-
structed it, and upon the whole northwest
would not 10 this day,ii is hardly presuma-
blc.have been accomplished by individual
enterprise. And should Mr.. Whitney's
grand project, not ced so favoraby in an
extrac, in your las, paper, 10 connect by
railroad the Mississippi valley with The Pa.
cifc, ever be consummated, it will be done
only as he con,empiates. through the aid of
government patronage in The shape OF
gran; Of lands or money by Congress for
the purpose.
The right Of States to embark ia works
OF internal improvements cannot be qnes>
toned 1 is inst as clenr ne Tho ri,h IF