Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-04-13

was at work at my trade. [ demonstrate
With one or two most active in getting III
I'LL through, on the utter grossness of the aci
ut the only satisfaction | received. was tn
rpiy. that "By Cd the state ,cas able TO fgE
1T out!''
The proposition in writing was also put in
o the hands oil a select committee consistin.
Of Messrs. Clark, Burns, TURK. Reymert anC
-, by Messrs. Tenny Smith & Holt
as learn, substantially as follows:
/. Ii said work is TO be wIested from the
contractor, thai a nance be left open for the
presses at Madison to bid on The work.
2. An offer TO take the WORK and comply
in all respects with the law. AT one dollar per
rolume-and offering any amount of guaran-
~ that might be required
This proposition was suppressed, and the
bill crowded through without any alteration
Some days previous 70 the passage of the
! bill Mr.. Jordan, OF the revisers was call
ed to GAINESVILLE Oh business, and was there at
the time OF It's passage. Immediately on its
becoming law, leaving his seat in the sen
ate Mr.. Sholes FASTENED on horseback tow
ards that place with all the speed of race
course TO secure Mr.. Us signature before any
one else had an opportunity to see him. He
succeed in obtaining it, in consideration of a
prior pledge, and not because Mr. Us Judge
ment approved the act.
Thus was witnessed the extraordinary spec
tacle ola member Of The senare. in violation
OF the public faith. in repudIat ion of an exist
ing contract, entered into in pursuance of IA
constitutional provision he had long publicly
advocated and of law drafted by himself at
the last session. voting himself public con-
tract at his own price, and at more than
double that already agreed upon with myself.
leaving his public duties in the senate at II
period when business was over pressing, hast
enIng 10y extraordinary express TO distant
point TO secure the fruit Of his nefarious, act,
when the constitution under which he was
elected, and which he was sworn to support
positively prohibited him from being interest,"
ed either directly or indirectly in any contract
for printing.
The pretence sent up is, that the state had
right to vote away COPYRIGHT to my work,
and then subscribe for printed copies. The
state h as 10 copy right, and Gun give none, TO
its laws. Public acts are public properly.
in which every citizen has an equal interest
and TO which every one has an equal right.
The copy right act is a law Of Congress, to
protect outhors-not To prohibit the free print
ing of public laws. Who ever heared of
state suPing one OF its citizens for printing
its laws The pretence is as absurd the
act was f1agltious and corrupt.
But suppose n copyright could be given
as pretended, had the state power to confer
1t upon state officers who are positively pro
hlbited by the constitution from taking 1t =
Let the reader examine the latter clause OF
the constitutional provision, and satisfy him
self on this point The revisers, being state
officers, much declared members ot
the legislature, their office being created by
the constitution, so that the proceeding has
! not Il mitigating feature about it.
Il, 81,
work is fixed at rate varying from 81 rs to
50 so per volume, for 1000 copies for which
the state is to subScribe-or more than double
the contract price. The Revsers were Of
fered bonus of from 81 600 to $4,000 for the
chance TO do the work so exiravagdnt was
she price esteemed. Had they not been pre-
pledged TO Mr.. s. they would have made a
splendid speculation out of the transaction.
The effect Of this precedent, should future
legislatures follow it, will be, to uullify the
constitutional provision on the subject OF
printing, and open door TO endless conten
ton extravaganza, and fraud. If contracts
can be set aside now, they can again. One
violation Of the public faith is but the prelude
and pretext for anoher-and where is 1t TO
end Ii members of the legislature, in an
official capacity can by their acts declare that
the solemn engagements of the state confer
no rights upon those with whom they
made-that one party to a contract may be
holden, and not the other-and that, dIsre-
garding all existing engagements. they can
vote into each others hands, either directly
or Indirectly, public work at their own prl-
ces. what safety is there either for the PEOPLE
who pay the taxes. the contractors who
put in bids under existing laws! For such
proceedings there is redress but by appeal
TO the people in their capacity as voters
With a spirit worthy of such proceeding.
no avenue has been opened, rs required by
the constitution, to recover df images from the
state. Even the poor privilege OF law-sn't
is denied, so nice has been the sense OF honor
in the legislature.
submit the above facts 10 he laboring men
Of the state. Of whom | am but an humbl'
member. The losses entaied upon me by
this act are severe; but | can ouly hope Tor
redress Epr year to come. through the force
public opinion. To such editors Will pub
lish all or par: OF the foregoing remarks- or
call attention to the subject, shall eve. feel
grateful.
D. 7. DICKSON.
Madison March 3Ist, lS49.
/ NnT1ICE To THE pI1RF,TC AND IN