Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-03-24
THE ISSUE.


We hear it frequently asserted, that great ma
ority of the business are opposed to the Con-
stitution. We are free to confess that such is the
fact, but we are far from considering that an OBJ
lection to the Constitution, or a reason why the
great mass OF the people should oppose it. When
the celebrated war against the United States Bank
commenced, precisely the same condition of things
existed, and the same argument used How
much weight it was entitled to, the great mass of
the people now know. 1t is no longer a matter of
experiment, but experience, and the people have
reason to rejoice and do rejoice that they not
influenced by that fact into course ofpolicy which
would have resulted in the destruction of their dear
J rights We have nothing to say against bust
I ness men. We have no doubt they are honest IN
! the course they take and really believe they are
warning for the best interests of the country: but
we do call upon the producing masses to examine
their relative position with this class of our popu
latlon, and see whether what is for the interest of
enc is of necessity for the interest of the other
The history of the world demonstrates the fact that
every reform which has ever been effected, has been
by the uprising of the masses, in opposition to Just
such influences as these. In earlier times force
accomplished, what is now done, by the efficacy of
the ballot box. Europe exhibits an exam pie of
the commercial or business power being in the as
cendant and the effects are seem Those who pro-
duce every particle of wealth which that country
has or knows the poorest off OF her whole pop
ulation III hundreds and thousands OF cases the hard
working producer lives even in abect restitution
and misery. Will any one believe that it is
natural condition of things, that the man who pro-
duces the wealth of country, shall be the poorest
of OF any one In it. Now, as we said before, the
business part of community were universally al
most against any interference with the United
States Bank. They were satisfied with things as
they were. They wanted no change-no expert
ment. Like Europe, that state of affairs enriched
them, and 1t was perfectly immaterial from whom
the wealth they acquired came They We're de-
feated there, but they always true to the same
instinct which then guided them. 1t appears to be
their education to be satisfied with things as they
are and to insist upon things as they are, and the
idea of progressive democracy, or of experiment
in government has to them something peculiarly
horrid. Hence, we find about two thirds of them
wings, and real thorough going radical democrat
is thing now seldom indeed found among what is
known as business men-we mean those who make
their wealth by the product of others passing thro'
their hands. Our constitution has in it new features
1t thot for the interests of the country to make
every man who could honestly procure homestead
an Independent treehoder. The great power of cap
itallsts in Europe results of course, from the SIM
pie TACT that the great mass of the people, have no
homes and are dependant on others. Those on
whom they are dependant control them, and con-
troll the country and short of force, will probably
never let up the grasp they have In our country
1t Is seen that the freehold of the country by the
trick OF trade" was gradually but surely stealing
from the many to the few, and promising with un-
errlng certainty the condition of things which
exists In Europe. The makers of the Constitu-
ton OF the new state of Wisconsin, were determin-
ed that such result should not threaten her. and
hence they made every freeholder independent
1t is new and the business cry out against it
they cried out against the law which exempted the
body OF they debtor and the will cry out against any
law, which has change and progress in it. But will
not freeman of Wisconsin, enact that this wise and
humane principle shall prevail We see by the
proceedings of the New York Legislature that a
proposition exactly similar almost to the provision
OF our constitution has been introduced. What a |
glorious example for young Wisconsin to set her |
Parent new ork BY enacting this. 1t must it |
Will done. 1t cannot be possible in country ha |
wing as this has population almost exclusively pro.
oucers llers OF the SOIL that it shall not be done
Again, there is the Bank Article the design of |
which Is to secure to the producer real wealth for
ms products. We recollect few years ago, the |
farmers OF Pleasant Prairie and some other of the
towns OF thus county after being bitten to as great
an extent as they could well stand by the n1sera
bic trash in circulation called money. met and re-
solved that they should insist upon value for their
products, but they were powerless for the reason
that they wanted perfect organization and under |
standing among themselves. This proposes to eff |
feet for them, what they were then unable to effect
ior themselves 1t remains for them to say heth-
er II Is desirable 1t is attempted to impress them
with Inc dea that they cannot sell their products
matt hey cannot command for them the price which