Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-01-19
Manson. 18th Jan. 1874

Z
MADISON, 18th Jan, 1910.
In the Senate, according to previous notice, Mr.
Chase introduced bill to repeal the usury laws.
Mr. Chase also introduced Joint resolutions instruct
nIgoaF Senators and requesting our Representatives
70 20 for the abolition of slavery in the District OF
Columbia which were laid on the table for the pre-
sent, and ordered to be printed Mr. Botkin intro
duccl resolution auJhorsing the employment Of
Chaplain for both houses, which was laid on the
table until to- iooyrow.
Mr. Botkm also introduced resolution TO en-
ploy reporter at the expense OF the State 10 report
the proceedings OF the Senate which was laid on
the table until Tomorrow trust it may not pass
as 1t would be mlnifestly wrong.
The bill introduced by Cothren, repeaing the
law of last session relative to stationery was taken
ap and considered, and on the question of ordering
it to athipd reading, there were ayes 3, noes 10
The standing committees not being yet made up
the Senate adjourned until tomorrow, 10 o'clock
IL ruE House, after the transaction of some un
important business a proposition was made and
adcPtcd that each member be permitted TO order
for himself 30 cop.cs per week Of any or all news
papers in the State for his use On this proposition
the vote Of the Racine county members was as fol-
lows; Hycs-Ayres, Colwell, Reymert Strong :
AO-Ihorp. a proposition was then made that
the postage of members for the present session be
charged to the State, which was adopted On this
! proposition, the vote of the Racine co. members
r.
merit Strong 1horp. l must confess my astonish-
mcnt that either, much less both of these PROPOSE.
tons, should have prevailed Let us examine for
one moment the cost. Thirty papers per week for
sixty-six members is 1850 papers They will cost
5 cents each, making in round numbers one hun
bred dollars per week. The postage on each one
sent from the capitol will be three cents, and sup.
posing there be 1900 othe number sent will amount
70 SI5 per week, making in the aggregate Sl45
per week for this one item. Ii the session be eight
weeks long, (and it will not be lsss,) this will
amount 10 the snug sum of $1,000 So much for
the neppdpcr item. The postage expense will be
fully equal 10 this, and this will make $4,000 for
one branch Of the Legislature for one session This
is not very large sum for any necessary and Just
object but for purposes neither necessary nor just
it is very large one and should be calculated 70
excite the fears of the people of the whole State -
Assuming in the first place, that the Legislature
has any right 10 thus appropriate the public funds
which deny, let US see the use oft. There can
be but one argument in favor of it, viz TO dissent
nate intelligence among the people Let US scc.-
Each member will receive $40 papers; they have
on an average each 500 constituents: this would
make ono paper 10 two consttuents-and if they
mail their papers faithfully. one half of the conti-
nens of each member would receive one paper du
ring the whole session. What an extraordinary
dissemination of intelligence, for which the STATE
should be thus taxed. But again: if it dissemina>
ted intelligence ever so thoroughly the State ought
not to be taxed for that end for the reason that mi
vae enterprise is always has been, and always will
be- amply sufficient 10 accomplish the CT i All
men in the State, who wish to read and who care
anything about the proceedings Of the Legislature
now take newspapers-and TO tax and conIp pei them
TO pay for newspapers they do not take and do not
want, is nothing short of outrageous in my way ,f
]
Objectionable. There is not document received
or sent from here, but is (or ought TO be- of suii
Gent inpo tance, either 10 the persons scudiny or
receiving 10 demand that be shall pay the postage
| Ii il be not it should not be sent There are MANY
people in the State who have no business at The seat
OF government, and who desire none. Ii may ely
be assumed that five-sixths of the people Of the
State, neither receive or send letter or document
to or from the seat of government. BY what rule
of right, then, shall they be taxed TO council Them 70
pay tins POSTAGE 1t is wrong TO levy general
tax Tor any matter the benefits of which are martial
and cannot be otherwise. This lrankino privilege
has always been abused and always will he. IN
der lis operation here members are continuallv
sending OFT piles of useless documents and OF person
al and private letters and taxing the people TO paw
the expense. The taxes OF our State government
are already sufficiently heavy 1t should be mat
YET OF careful scrutiny among members To lop off all
sources OF expense, which by any possibility can
be avoided instead of this an opposite disposition
appears 10 be manifest, and it may we'll excite he
alarm OF the people. They however have the rem |
edy IN their own bands. lfthey disapprove of these
things let them take the occasion Of elertions
the ballot box-to signify their disarproyal in a
marked manner. they must do it, or year after
le 4, they viii have the same burthens imposed on
them
spoke in nv last of the Free Soil Convention
IN session here. The platform of principles adop- |
ted by il, you will receive from other sources, and
suppose will publish. 1t meets with my view
OF the fitness and Propriety OF things and hope /
may be iavorably received by all lovers of human.
ny, anu advocates OF human rights. The Conven-
ton adjourned from afternoon till evening. In the
evening Moses NJ Strong took the floor and review.
cd The platform at length. lie cordially endorsed
all ITS principles and positions and avowed his
Willingness AMI readiness to cooperate with All /
men and all parties who wouIi seek 10 establish
them. lie come up to the whole ground covered
by the sntislasery resolutions and avowed his de-
teTn,inaiien. the iss'