Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-03-27
FIR he Rcra.a.


trious and economical classes 10 this Territory.
that IN case the Constitution is rejected, the
enormous expense Of another Conven,ion will
have lhe effect to bring heavy State debt up
on %, and make orr taxes insrppoEIsble.
propose TO examine the grounds for hese fears
upon The principle Of economy. and see wheih
er we are 10 be losers in dollars and cents, by
rejecting The Constitution and calling Con
venIion to revise and amend. And permit ne
TO give roy hnnble opinion, az TO some Of the
most essential amendments, which we saay
reasonably expec. 10 be made, by Convsn.
lion called for that specific purpose. My O.
pinon upon this subject. is the result Of
close and careful observation o. The objections
raised 10 The Constitution, and The wishes OF
the people relative to hose Objectionable fea
lures. In The FIRST place we may reasonably
expect al amendment Of Article 5. so as 10
reduce the number Of members Of OR Legis
lature, say to G0--20 would no doub, be TOO
email number. while 100 the humber az
thorized By The Constitution. 10 compose our
frs, Legislature. is certainly entirely too
large; aud don,l forget that the number at any
time may be increased by the Legislature TO
IG0. To avoid both extremes in Ibis matter,
is certainly the most polite. have conyers.
ed with many Of my fellow citizens upon this
particular proposed amendment, and have
found them invariably or the opinion that this
number would be sufficiently large for the next
ten years. Now let Us make a calculation,
and see how the case will stand, upon the
score Of economy, The mileage Of 40 mem
bers (the number We consider surplusage) al
The average mileage Of members OF The Con
vepiion. will amount to about S6s0---add 10
this 1920 for stationery. &c, which is very
moderate estimate, and we have $500. The
per diem allowance is 50, which will in 40
days amount 10 $4,000, making in the aegre-
gate $1,000 10 single session Of 40 days.;
saying nothing about small incidental expen-
ses, such as for papers, postage, &c. Multi
ply this by ten, the number Of years we pro
pose 10 have the number so 10 answer, and we
have The very pretty sum Of $4,000 useless
expenditure, under this creature called Con.
sniplion--I say creature, for the reason tina,
some Of lis features seem 10 transcend the
bounds Of formation; and hence the propriety
Of the term chosen TO cover the case And a.
gain suppose our Legislature a, their fret sss-
sions, should lhns proper in their wisdom, 10
increase their number 10 the extent of their an.
thoriiy. The unnecessary expenditure in ten
years, will amour, to about 800 600. have
lived long enough, and have observed closely.
enough, 10 salty myself, thai Legislative
bodies are ffeqoenay composed. to a consider
able extent, Of cool calculating politicians, in
shoso affections, tho iueres, Of the dear PEG
pie, does hold with undispuleJ sway, but
tina. little commeaable spirit called self ag.
grandizemsnt' ENDS plaee--and hence
reason to TAR ,ha, within ore year after The a.
doplion Of The present Constitution. our Leg
islslufe will cousis, Of 100 members. The
uumhef we propose is larger, in proportion to
the number Of Inhabitants, than many Of The
State Legislatures are, from which we hear
no complaints Of their Numbers being too
small In the next place we mag reasonably
expect The Article on Banking. so amended as
10 leave the matter 10 the hands of tho people
For hold that members ofa Convention. call
cd to amend the Constitution, will be morally
and politically bcund TO amend Ia the precise
manner indicated by The public will. as made
known through the talo, box, indefendent Of
their own peculiar views or wishes. and Ger.
iainly public sentiment cannot be mistaken on
this subject; that il is. ia favor Of the people
governing themselves. Ia the next place we
NAV reasonably expect the Article on The
Rights of Married Women, and Exemption
10 be entirely erased from the Constitution -
For | find the people generally, ooncede this
10 be fit subject fer Legislation. and should
90, be incorporated into our Constitution. We
now reason a lille upon the probable length
Of time i, will take a Convention 10 effee, the
amendments hereiu enumerated. villa m-e-
o;as's. which would no doub, be mhde. which
will lcod greatly 10 make the instrument per.
feet. II le5 mes da6oting under many dis.
advantages, which aDo,ssr Convention would
not, which fact every observing mind must ae-
saowlsdgel in 70 days, produced the present
Constitution; how long viii i, take. say 80
men, TO amend the same, in few particulars.
and The mode particularly pointed ool by the
people. Not being skilled 10 The double rule
Of three &c The role Of i've | will reess Is
days And now for the expense. The ex-
psnses Of the late Convention. and The flung
OPP Of The capitol. was S29,97f as We'll
now we have another plain ques,iop 10 Arith.
ms,ic--if The expense Of les mep fer % days.