The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-11

itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union Mr. h. COBB In the char,] and proceeded TO the
consideration OF the special order Of the day. being the
bill for the admission OF the State OF Wisconsin into the
Union; which read
The bill being then read by sections,
Mr.. SMITH, from the Committee on Territories, sub
mitted an amendment the object of which was TO con,
firm the boundaries OF Wisconsin defined by the act OF
Congress- Of 9th August, 1916
MI. ROBERT SMITH moved to amend the amend
ment by substituting therefor provision that the bound
aries OF Wisconsin shall be as follows, VIZ;
Beginning the northeast of the State OF Illinois
Where the I1 line Of K degrees and 80 minutes
ude the same thence running w. me boundary
the Of the Menominee river thence up the chan
mel q, ssr ve Lake Be along the
shore of Lake Bmle, in direct line, TO the centre of the
the Desert thence, in direct line, TO Front Lake thence
in direct line, southwesery TO the highest peak OF Noun
where the llh degree of latitude the Misss pp
thence down the main channel of said river the north
the northern boundary OF the State of Illinois the place
beginning, established by ian enable the people
Illinois Territory form constitution aud State govern
men and lo the admission of such Stale into the Union
equal footing with the original States" approved April
MI. BoWLIN opposed the amendment He said that
the boundary OF Wisconsin fixed and agreed upon
gave her about fftysix thousand square miles, and the
amendment of the gentleman from Illinois proposed to
reduce that to about thirty thousand square miles
He could for this proposition The bound
airy proposed not natural one. 1t altogether
imaginary surveyors line, unjust to Wisconsin, and
calculated to further delay her admission into the
Union.
Mr. SMITH, of Illinois, replied giving the for
the boundary he had proposed. The boundary of the
committee was most unnatural boundary connecting
settlements with the State of Wisconsin, which
trey cut OF from the State by their geographical posi-
ton. These settlements were overcome by numbers IN
the Wisconsin convention Their voice not heard
there. Citizens residing at the falls OF St Croix would
have Journey of five hundred miles to reach the seat of
government at Madison--from which,, also, they are
separated by waste lands and most extensive marshes.
These settlements the ST. Crox belonged to the Ter
rtory of Minnesota; and il was injustice, hardship,
and an oppression thus to legslate them into State
against their will
| Mr. TUCK could readily perceive that this question
must be very important to the people residing the
ST. Croix river. These people lar up in the NORTH
had not the advantages of the fertile soil of the SOUTH and
they should not be encountered with artificial dsadvan-
lages. Besides the boundary proposed by the commit
tee made the State OF Wisconsin larger than New York
Pennsylvanla which were large enough for all pract-
manifestly the just boundary They were small colo
ny the ST. Croix and its tributaries, going with
slow but steady prosperity they far off from Wis
consn, and were proposed to be divided perpeuay
| in all their civil relations. There not man,
woman, child among them all, who not deeply
remain in the Territory of Minnesota. All the indications
that have come to this House respecting the wishes OF
the people of Wisconsin, those of dissatisfaction with
the proposed line. different line might be engaltei
into the bill, and the ratification might be had in few
weeks, with but little expense compared with the great
and abiding evil that may be thus avoided The people
Of the ST. Croix settlement he doubted not would them
venton which might yield to this State boundary not
marked out by the hand OF prejudice.
Mr.. TWEEDY said the Congress had no right to
entertain this proposition, Nevertheless if he al
liberty to do SO, ne confessed he would support the
amendment by the gentleman from Illinois; and he did
advocate this boundary in the convention Under the
ordinance of 1857, there could be but State more
formed out of the northwestern territory, without the
consent OF all concerned to repeal of the provision of
the ordinance in this respect. On this account it
that Congress proposed the St. crox the boundary
stances and relative rights of all, he said that if
proposition offered, Wisconsin would probably fall
back upon her rights and claim the whole territory
We have right, he said to demand admission BY
the terms Of the ordinances and this making our
admission, to depend upon question OF boundary
was an infringement of right These people of Wis
consn had had conventions, and decided five to one
against the boundary set forth, but very imperecy,
the map introduced by the gentleman from Illinois
and they had decided in favor of the ST. Cox bou-
Diary. What would be the wishes of the inhabitants of
the St. Croix region, when it should become settled
it was impossible to say as il was useless to speculate
upon it. To obvate this objection, however, it
1erstood that the people of the St Crox valley should be
| thrown into one civil jurisdiction; and as induce
ment their acceptance of this boundary, there
the consideration OF the value of portion OF the Lake
| Superior coast Iii
He concluded by proposing to amend, by inserting the
boundary proposed by the convenon-aking the
of Rum river, fifteen twenty miles north of the
! st. Croix
Mr. VINTON took some part in opposing the boundary
proposed in the act of S6-the St Croix river Never
theless he thought bound by it, He still thought
the southern boundary would be better but he consider
ed that in good fath could not now go back to these
people with new proposition. We, here, are in the
hands of the people of Wisconsin, not they in ours.
They have rrepealabe right to into the Union
He spoke of the Inconvenience of the boundary for Mich
gan which resored to for the purpose of prevent
ing the formation of large State in the west But still
there not enough cut off to prevent division. We
therefore proposed to Wisconsin repeal OF the ordinance
SO far as to allow of the formation of yet another State
and the result of this was the boundary reported
Mr.. WILSON'S understanding of the ordinance was
next explained. He showed that one of its provisions
was not strictly regarded by the settlement of the northern
boundaries Ohio and Illinois He considered the three
propositions before the committee for this boundary
witt the ST. Croix river that which the convention ask
of u.s. and the alternative of sending back PROPOSE
ton and saying to them that will not receive them
into the Union at this time and he advocated at length
the second-ths boundary prescribed and desired by the
convention OF WiscOnsir-as the best OF ALL
Mr.. McLANE favored the proposition for the boundary
desired by the people of Wisconsin, expressed in their
convention. Knowing that we have the expressed wish
of the majortythat the people have waited for the
northern line he Rum river boundary till their popu
ation entitled them nearly two delegates in Con-
gress and especially when the question of the pow
er of Congress territory becoming to be ex
ceedngy delicate questOn-he pressed upon the commit
tee the importance of according the respect the
wishes OF the people with reference to this boundary 1t
was monstrous that the very ordinance which gives to
Congress the power to egsate for the people Of the Ter
sake of dividing the settlements the ST. Croix by this
line
Mr. SAWYER insisted on the middle line-he St.
Croix river.
Mr. GAYLE said there was involved in this matter a
question which should prevent the adoption of any change