Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-06-03

lot the Onlteu states passed an ACT
proposing line for the State, to which she
acceded. The compact was complete. And
now, having complied with those terms, she
was ready to come into the Union. She
| had a population more than three times the
requisite number, and she had not antcipa
ted, at this time, any further obstacle. He
did not think il became nia now to go into
the discussion of this amendment. II was
useless TO discuss what could not be diStur-
bed He proceeded, somewhat in detail, to
reply to observations of gentlemen who had
preceded him, and more particularly con-
tended, that irrespective of the objections to
which he had alluded, the division proposed
by the gentleman from Illinois was unequal,
unjust, and would be unacceptable to the
people of Wisconsin.
Mr.. Vinton said, when the law of 1916
was introduced into the House, he had taken
some interest in the bill, and he had at that
time heen of opinion that the boundary line
ought 10 run nearly where it was now pro-
posed by the gentleman from Illinois, Mr..
Smiths: but Congress fixed upon different
boundary, running along the ST. Croix riv-
er. This had been submitted to the con-
lventon of the people of Wisconsin, who
had assented to it, and he held that in good
faith that Congress was still bound by that
act. His own personal impression had been
preferable, but he thought we could not now
alter what we had proposed without a vIo-
llation of the public faith. The people of
Wisconsin, though, according TO their own
showing, they would prefer boundary
further north, had expressed their willing
ness to abide by the line laid down by Con-
gress, and it was now too late for Congress
to 90 back from its own proposition on
grounds of mere expedlency.
There was great force in what had been
said by the delegate from Wisconsin; Con-
gress was in the hands of the people of
Wisconsin, not Wisconsin in the hands of
Congress. The ordinance of 1887 provi-
ded that as soon as there was population
of GO, 900 souls in any one of the Terrific
ries erected north west of the Ohio, it had
the right to erect itself into a State, and TO
come, on equal terms with other States, in
to the Union; and Congress had no power
20 exclude it. The right was irrepealable
except by the consent of Wisconsin ITSELF
When that ordinance was passed, nobody
knew the country, or had any idea how very
large a State would yet remain to be form
ed. When Michigan was admitted, the
matter was better understood; and Con-
gress, to prevent Wisconsin from forming
too enormous state, had extended Michi-
gan to both sides of the lake. Nothing
could possibly be more inconvenlent; but II
was done on the principle of equalzng the
States to be formed. When the country
was better known, it was discovered that the
western side of Wisconsin would be some
eleven hundred miles in length. Congress
thereupon proposed to her 10 divide that
distance, and take limits not so extended,
and Wisconsin had consented. But should
Congress refuse to stand by the boundary it
proposed TO her, she could come in entire.
on her own right under the ordinance of
1887, and Congress could not hinder her,
She might do so this very session, if the ses-
sion lasted long enough, and she would
then be an empire State half as large as
France. 1t would be better to take her at
her word, and stand 70 the limits we had
ourselves proposed.
Mr. Wilson now made a speech, which
showed him intimately acquainted with the
geography and local interests of every part
of the Territory, but Of which, without too
much local reference, we can only present
an outline.
The committee we're aware Of the terms
under which the United States held tie
Northwestern Territory by the grant of
Virginia, and also the terms of the oriin-
ance of 'S7; but the provision in that ordin-
ance as to line drawn due east and west
from the southern extremity of Lake Mich
igan had been disregarded. The northern
line of Ohio had been run nearly in con-
forinity with that line, but Indiana had gone
above it, and Illinois had extended her ter
ritory still further north of it, so as to leave
IA belt between that line and her northern
boundary of sixty miles IN width. As this
had been agreed to both by the inhabitants
aud by Congress, he admitted il 10 BE all
right and proper. There had been difficult
ties between the states as to their boundary
lines, but these had all been finally compro-
missed.
After stating the three lines which had
been proposed as the northwestern bounda-
nv of Wisconsin, he gave il as his Judgment
that that which had been assenfed to by
the people was, upon the whole, the best
He preferred that either this should be adj
opted, or the line described by the delegate,
1 T MIR. Tweedy. There was but little differ
ence between the two; either Of them would
secure all that was valuable to the new
State He described the local differences
between different portions Of the Territory
i i'm point of fertility, which WAS greatest a
I long the immediate borders Of the streams.
He dwelt on the excellence Of the country
and of the Mississippi, and its capacity to
maintain dense population, and spoke o.
the necessity Of preserving the Oiibbeway
and Ottawa Indians on the head waters of
the Mississippi
| The line to which the convention had as
sented would avoid separating the people
who inhabited the valley Of the ST. Croix
river.
MIR. Smith, Of Illinois, inquired whether
the delegate from that district IN the con-
ventiOn had not protested against that line /,
Mr.. Wilson admitted tina. he had, but ex- /
planned the reasons which had probably op- /