Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-02-10
WHO PAYS THE EXPENSE OF CONvEN.
TIONS TO FRAME CONSTITUTIONS

State Constitution; yet,it is subjec: en,i-
tied TO more consideration than many seem
10 suppose. Were the people now called
upon TO pay the expenses Of the = e con-
vention by resort 10 direct taxation, they
doubtless would deem it matter of no tri-
fling importance; but now that The tax
pockets, they put far off the evil day, and
apparently bes,ow but little thought, how
The bills are paid. 1t may perhaps not
generally be understood that the money
which was taken TO pay the expenses Of
the late convention did not belong to The
Territory-the monies taken.for this pur-
pose were only held in trust by the Terri
tory, and the Territory is bound by SOL
emn agreement TO Pay over the funds to
the righliul owner at period near at
hand. 1t is true the convention by its own
act did not appropriate these funds 10 its
use: the legislative assembly had previous
" determined 10 take the money TO defray
the expenses of holding convention 10
form State Constitution. 1t is doubtless
known 10 all that the funds which were
paid to the late conven ton, were a part Of
the proceeds which have arisen from the
sale of the Canal Lands. The Canal
Lands were granted for specific purpose,
viz: the construction ofthe Milwaukee and
Rock River Canal: the Territory bound
itself, if the canal was not constructed, to
pay back tho proceeds arising from the
sale of the lands.
BY an act Of Congress approved June
18Th 1888, 10000 acres Of land were
granted to the Territory for specified OBJ
iect on certain conditions. The sixth
section of the act Of Congress reads as
"That the said State Of Wisconn shall
he held responsible to the United States,
and for the payment into the treasury hcre.
Of, Of the amount Of all moneys received
upon the sale Of The whole or any part Of
said land, at the price at which the same
shall be sod, not less than two dollars and
fifty cents per acre, if the said main canal
shall not be commenced within three years,
and comp le,ed within ten years, pursuant
to the provisions Of the act creating said
canal corporation"
The legislative assembly Of the Territory
subsequently accepted of the grant on the
conditions already mentioned in The act Of
Congress-the ter riory Lecame party TO
The agreement, and consequently bound it.
itself 10 its !ufilmeht AS it regards the
liability Of the Territory, to pay over the
canal funds 10 Congress, at the expiration
Of the time specified in the grant, there
can be bu. ore op;n,on. Tie committee
on the judiciary in the Council, in the
session OF ls45, (of which the Hon Mar
shall Nj. Strong was Charman) in their re
port touching the liabilities Of the Terrific
fy as TO the monies arising from the sale of
The Canal Lands, say IS fellows: 1.-The
construction Of the canal is now, and has
been for years, hopeless and Abandoned
The Territory has become liable to pay 10
Congress two dollars and fifty cents for
every acre Of The lands which have been
sod. The debt is as sacred; as fiji ,cere
owed TO an ind iridudl."
We have always double d the soundness
of policy Of tie &C. applying tie Gu
nal funds TO the payment of the expenses
cf hold 'ng convention, but It seems the
people thought otherwise-at least, they
did not dissent from such disposal of the
funds. But afier VIC have taken some
S34, 900 ((or every dollar Of which.he Ter
r,ory is liable) should we not pause and
reflect well on the consequences, before
we take some $4,000 more to pay the ex'
pences of holding another conven'ion'-
The advocates of another convention, will
no, propose direct taxation TO pay the ex-
pense, for tina, might be somewhat startling
to the tax-paying people; but it is doubtless
int nded to take the proceeds ofthe remain
ing canal lands to foot the bill. The lax
able property Of the territory according
10 the last assessed valuation, is not far
from SIl 100000: should another con.
vention be held, it will require tax Of
six mills on the dollar, 10 replace The
money taken 10 pay the expenses Of the
conventions. If the constitution now be-
fore the people contains defects, would it
not be we'll 10 enquire, whether the remedy
canno, be applied with sufficient expedition
and convenience, and thus save the Terri
tory large indeb.ednessl Getting into
debt, has been The misfortune Of nearly all
new states.--from this cause the ener'
gies Of the Western States have been Grip
Piled, and their credits have sustained poor
reputation. IL Wisconsin could 60 into
! Ii, L. I'll .ct