Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-10-27
a PROPOSITION.
For the consideration Of The People and
the LEGISLATURE.


2. That the sooner she becomes so the better as
regards local and general interests.
g. That there be as little expense as possible in
concentrating the preliminaries for admission into
the Union.
Every one will subscribe to these propositions.
We take this for granted and therefore DO not enter
into discussion of them.
Now as to the most expeditions and the cheap
est mode of accomplishing the object.
To take the usual course will occupy months
time, if not more. lst. we must have legislative
provision for a Convention TO frame another Consti
tuition 2dIy, there must be election of delegates.
3dly, a Convention must assemble. 4thly, the
Constitution framed by the Convention must be
submitted to the people. 5thly, there must be an
election of representatives to Congress, Governor,
&C. under the new Constitution and Chilly, before
we can have representation in the u. S. Senate,
there must be meeting of State Legislature
| TO elect Senators.
If all these things are accomplished in time for
our admission during the approaching session of
Congress- matters will have to be hurried than
considerably. To have vote in the next Presiden-
tal contest Wisconsin must be admitted at the COM
J ing session.
| But here is not the only objection to the usual
course. The saving of time is important the sa-
wing of money is not less so. The expense of our
late Constitutional Contention amounted to some
where in the ncighborhood of $4,000 As this,
however, was drawn from the canal fund.- and there
10 tho of
the burden upon the people, if felt at ALL was very
| light. A second Convention cannot well be held
at a cost of less than 100000, to say nothing of the
expense which will necessarily be attendant upon
the election of delegates aud this must all come
! directly from the pockets of the people. The ca.
nal fund cannot, probably, stand a second draft.
We do not talk of the expense as important in
comparison with the benefits of State Government.
Were it absolutely necessary a of efiectng
State organization we should not object to an cx-
/ pense of three times 100000. But if the expense
can all be obviated, and the object in view be &C
complishel Just as well, and our almttance into
the Union be secured months earlier, who will be
disposed 10 say it should not be dones
As TO the mater of forming a Constitution, tie
only object in having Convention is through the
medium of Delegates elected by the people with d.
rect re erence to leading questions, to secure,
near may be. in the draft of that instrument an
embodiment of the public sentiment, and thus ac-
complish with less expense, delay and trouble than
would otherwise be the case, the adoption of a fun
damental law. Under any circumstances, the ac-
ton Of Convention amounts to nothing more than
mere recommendation to the people.
In the late Constitutional contest the sentiment
of the people of Wisconsin upon leading points at
issue, Enthusiastically exhibited What they
want and do not want as a part of their fundame.l-
tai law, is suiIic emily evident. second Conven-
ton OF Delegates therefore " hateS may HAY been
the propriety in the first instance is not now called
for, as means Of ascertalnng and embodying pab-
lie sentiment
This brings us to the proposition we desire to
make, which is that the Legislative Assembly, W
in session, be requested, by petition to frame forth
with, Constitution for the State of Wisconsin to
be Immediately submitted to the people With
the rejected Constitution before them, and the evil
/ dence they have of the likes and dslikes of the
| people, it would not be very difficult matter to
| get up an instrument which would meet with the
public appreciation; and it need not, in our view
encroach much upon the legitimate business of the
session. Two or three weeks would be sufficient
| to accomplish the whole work In addition to this
let an act be passed providing for Convention, so
that, if the Constitution drafted and recommended
by the Legislature, be rejected by tie people, no
DELAY ma he ba1i tn RI
then let for ctccting State organization
We do not see why under existing circumstan-
ccs, or, indeed under any circumstances, recon-
incubation of the Legislature might not be as good
as the recommendations of Convention nor why
| a Constitution whether drafted by one man or a
! hundred men, whether framed by the representa-
tiyes of The people 10 the Legislative Assembly, or
by their representatives in Convention, if it en-
body the right principles, and meet with the public
acceptance, is not just the same as regards all
practical and necessary purposes
| Should the Constitution presented by the Legis-
| laure be rejected there would be nothing lost On
the contrary, there would be gain. in this that
public opinion, by second expression would lie
made so clear, that the Convention thereafter to as
semble could hardly mistake in according its action
with the popular will.
Should it be accepted, the expense and trouble of
electing delegates, and the expense of holding Sc
cond Convention, will be obviated. Thirty thousand
dollars, at moderate estimate, will be saved to the
people. And in addition to this, we might be pre
pared for admission into the Union in three or focr
months at the iarthest. Submitted from the source
proposed, Constitution could be adopted as early
as the first of January, without improper haste:
an election for members of Congress. Governor.
members of the Legislature, &c, proper provision
by law being made in the premises, could be held
Immediately thereafter; and all the necessary pre
minaries for Wisconsin becoming State and a
member of the Confederacy, might be consumma-
ted before the passing away of the winter months.
The subject is of sufficient importance TO engage
the attention of the public. We can conceive of
no valid objection that be urged against our
proposition And if the people are inclined to view