Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-12-31
Constitutional Convention.


head of ADMIxIsrRArIyE. 1t provides for the
election of a Secretary Of State Treasurer Attorney
General Sheriff. Coroners, and District Attorneys,
their powers and duties TO he prescribed by legsla-
tive enactment The terms of office of all are fixed
at two years-sherfS to be ineligible for the next
two years after the termination of their offices.
Mr. KiIboun from the committee on General
Proyisio.is, made report of Preamble and an Ar
ticle under the hcad OF Declaration of Rights =
containing 90 sections The Preamble is brief
F." We, the people Of Wisconsin grateful to Almigh-
ty God tor freedom. in order to its bless
ings, form more perfect government. insure do
nestle tranquility, and promote the general welfare,
do establish this Constitution" The Bill ofRights.
with two or three exceptions is a verbatim cory
OF that in the rejected Constitution. The exceptions
are, /. 1t omis the provision securing members of
the Legislature from prosecution or liability for
words spoken in debate and, also, the prohibition,
no law shall be passed granting any divorce 9th
erwise than BY due judicial proceeding" The last
we consider 10 be a somewhat important omission,
and trust it may be supplied. 2 1t contains new
provision, follows d" Every person within this
State ought to find certain remedy III the laws for
all injuries or wrongs which he may receive in his
person, property, or character He ought to obtain
right and Justice freely, and without being obliged
10 purchase it completely and without denial,
promptly and without delay conformably to the
laws Very good--but we are curious to know
how this provision is to lie carried out. 3. Itchan-
ges the provision in regard to the rights OF foreign
ers in the possession, enjoyment and descent of
property placing only those who may have filed
their declaration OF intention to become citizens, on
the same footing with the native born.
The following resolutions were offered
BY Mr. Case, that the Committee on Education
and School Funds be instructed to inquire into the
cNpedcncy of memorializng Congress TO pass an
exchanging the school lands in the northern and
unsettled portion et the Territory Tor other lands
west OF the Wisconsin river
By Mr. Kennedy, that the public interest of this
Territory requires that the Indian title to the lands
now in possession OF the Munomonecs, between the
/ Volt and Wisconsin Rivers shall be eXtinguished
without delay And that a copy oGthls resolution
be appended to the Constitution and sent to Con
ercss and the President
We can't see exactly what resolutions Of this
character have to do with the legitimate work OF
the Convention; but il they enter at all into the
business fmcmoraIizinG Congress on subjects con
nected with territorial interests. they should 90 the
whole round
By Mr.. Carter, that the proper committee be d.
rccted 10 inquire into the expe1iency OF establish
ing a system of free schools, and make report for
the consideration Of the Convention
b Mr. Kns-that the proper committee be in
structcd to consider the expedicucy Of reporting
resolution in the nature Of petition 10 Congress.
praying for indemnity to the State cf Wisconsin,
for portions Of territory given to Illinois and
Michigan.
By Mr. Chasc-that the proper committee con
slider the eXpcdicncy OF reporting Constitutional
provision to limit the amonnt of land which any
person may hold under the laws of the State This
is most important proposition--one which in
wolves the interests and welfare Of the people to an
extent far beyond great majority Of the questions
which occupy the attention of the Convention.
We trust the subject viii be thoroughly and wisely
considered, when we may hope for provision in
our fundamental law which will fore, er check with
in our limits the spirit of land monopoly--a spirit
which in other countries has produced the most
irightul results, and which, if unchecked and unli-
mited. must in time produce the same results here
and everywhere
The resolutions offered on Tuesday by Ncssrs,
Clifford and Larabee, which will be found in our
regular abstract OF proceedings were taken up aud
referred to the appropriate committees.
Mr. Kings resolution on the subject Of fugitive
slaves taken up, and, after discussion, was re-
lcrTed to the committee on the Judiciary. The dis
cussion Of this resolution was somewhat interesting.
Mr. Kibourn opposed it on the ground that it con
tcmpatcd a violation Of the Constitution of the L.
States Mr.. Wilton combated this view OF the
question; and challenged the gentleman to point
out whGt provision OF the Consultation would be VI
oatcd lie insisted that while such a provision
would prevent magistrates from giving any aid in
the arrest OF fugitive slaves it would nterpose no
obstacle to the reclamation of such slaves by their
owners under the provisions of the L. s. Laws and
with the help OF the [, 5. officers. Mr. Chase re-
marked among other things, that the Constitution
OF the L. 5 did not, TO his know ledge, admit that
slaves We're the subec, Of property. It had proyi-
dcd that persons held to service were to be subject
to arrest and return, bat not that the master might
pursue and capture his property in another state.
Several of the northern states, we believe. have
enacted laws embodying provisions similar to those
of Mr. Kings resolution, and their constitutional
ity has not that are aware of, been seriously
questioned. Pennsylvania Massachusetts,. n Hamp-
shire and Maine among tie states that have
passed laws Of this kind But whether constitu-
tonal or not, it is probable that such provision
in our fundamental law, would constitute ground
of objection in Congress to our admission into the
Union; and are not prepared to say, considering
the character OF one branch Of the National Legis-
aturc, the Senate, majority of whose members are
from the slaye-holding States that it would not de-
feat our admission. |; was much easier tc secure
the admission of Texas into the Union with a con
stitu,on providing toretcrnal Slavery than K would
he 10 secure the admission Of Wisconsin, were she
70 adopt constitutional provisions refusing 10 per
nit her officers to do the work OF slaye-hunters. re-
lu>ing to have her prisons used for slave prisons,
and refusing give her countenancp or support in