Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-01-19
GOIEatOa'S MESSiGn.
Feilear Citizens of the Senate

The representatives of the people hssye again
together TO leglslate for the welfare of the
. a and o pa s auc- m asur a i'll advance i'd
preserve their rights and pros eity he cond ton
of our State. in all its diversified interests presents
gratifying spectacle of successful eneFprise, and
the abundant products yielded to the hand of toll,
In all the branches OF labor, exhibits capatility
OF resources unsurpassed. Our population is:rap-
idly increasing, and their indonta bic energy is
fast developing the productive capacity of the
State IN every branch - industrial pursuits
In viewing the prospects OF our State, 1t is a
source of high qualification that we possess asl the
elements of State wealth, and of Individual pros
perity and happiness. All our grea. Interests are
advancing an successfully extended. Recerst dis
coveries have opened in various parts OF the State,
rich beds of iron which is said to be unsu-pas
sei in quality of richness, and inexhaustibae in
quantity. The county of Dodge is che seat al one
of the beds discovered and is obtained with great
facility. Furnaces now in process of erection
at this mine, for smelling and manQfaS turing the
ore. The country north of the Wisconsin river
is also said to abound in this mineral Should the
anticipations as to the productiveness and value
OF these mines be realized the advantage, res lting
to the State will be incaculable, ana anothergreat
interest viii be added to its int rnal wealth
The National Government has eHected a treaty
with the Menomonee Indians, by which their IL
tie has been extinguished to the countrg north of
the Fox river embracing all their lands ii the
pens large tract of country to civilization and
settlement, and has been for Longtime desired by
that section of country. These laIlds sIe said to
be well adapted to agricultural PURPOSES, possess
ing soil rich and productive. Ii has stlubri-
Gus climate is well yvatered. with sufficient hy-
draulic power for all necessary :nl5alu turing
purposes and abounds in fine timber which will
add greatly TO cur numbering interests Our in
creasing migration, and the adventurous enter
prise of the American character vii soon make
these wilds of the Indian the happy homes Of an
enterprising and industrious people; and the trail
of the savage will soon be turned into the path
way of civilized life.
The Unprecedented rapidly v:ith which our
State has been settled the rapid Development of
its physical resources and the inzelfgencef of its
people subjects of a rational pride gFrom
these facts it is evident that Wisconsin possesses
superior advantages, and to these advantages, and
to her liberal Institutions, is to be attributed the
high comparative position which she occupies a.
mong the States of the federal union.
The government of the Union and Of the seve-
raj States being based upon the prihciplef of e.
quality ofrights, the great object OF legislation is,
TO and preserve that equality, both so the
States and to every member of the co,nmulIity-
But while such is the basis of oJr national and
State Institutions there is, inciden. ohs, prin-
ciple of no less importance to individual happiness
and the moral elevation of the peop!e:that should
not be lost sight of by statesmen aud philanthro-
tons The equilibrium of the social rondition of
the people is the greatest safeguard c the Eerna-
nency of our institutions and wiz produce the lar
gest amount of individual happiness and prosper
ity. The nearer the members of a community ap-
proximate to this equality in theirs relative CON
dltion, in wealth, IN education and 10 all tie
cal duties ofife, the greater WIFI be the extent of
their rational enjoyment. In enll gAtened Europe,
where social inequality exists TO an alarming eX-
tent, the amount OF misery, want and deprazty "a
mong the masses OF the people Is Incredible: and
the inquiry may well be made Whether the pres
ent struggles IN the Euro pe5tu nations for the es-
Enlistment of constitutional lbcrtE is not more
the result of this inequality than the unequal dis
tribution of political rights. WhJlenUr own coun-
try possesses an approximate equality well in
the social as the political condition Of its CITIZENS,
il behoves these IN whose hands its Legislation Is
entrusted to take care that Its equality is pseserv
ed far possible, and that the interests Of the
most humble are cared for Whether p5sitive
and direct legislation can be justly applied 20
tend this equality, is predetermined; but much
may be accomplished by avoiding all classI legis-
lation, at the expense OF the many for the benefit
of the few.
In your hands is entrusted the hjgh and rsspon-
sibleduty oflegslating for the good ihe Stae and
by giving liberal direction to It's policy much
may be done to secure the permanency of t.ur in
comparable system of government ar''i to promote
the progress OF social equality and poltical free
dom.
The term of service o fone oftAe representatives
Of this State. in the Senate of the United States
viii expire on the fourth of March next The
subject is brought to your notice that the vacancy
may be supplied at your present Session.
The constitution, III the 18th article, provides
that corporations, without banking powers or
privileges may be formed under general la.ys but
shall not be created by special actsexcept for mn
nlclpal purposes and IN cases where I'm the iudu-
ment OF the legislature, the object Of ihe corpora
ton cannot be attained under law. From this
clause IN that instrument il is apparent that the
power of the legislature to passspecal acts OF in
corporation Is restricted to extraordinary cases.
and that every person who NAV wish to exercise
corporate privileges should have equal access to
them. This is correct and Just principle and if
any advantages are to be derived froIa the use of
these powers every citizen should hale the oppor-
tunity of availing himself OF their berefts without
the expense ofprocuring special acts Legislation
therefore recommend such legislative action as
Will carry out the intent of this constitutional pro-
vision The common law lialllity of individual
members of corporate bodies fof the debts of the
corporation is unjust and anti-republcan No
sound reason be aduced bJsed upon natural
justice or public policy why tie liability of the
members of an incorporate corapanv for lis debts
should not be the that Of individuals Of an
ordinary copartnership. Should individuals be-
cause they happen TO be associated together as a
corporate body in any business, be exempt from
liabilities and duties which the law would Impose
upon them if engaged in the same business as CO.
partners Certainly, no well founded argument
can be brought to sustain such position The
liability in the two cases should ba the same II
individuals participate in the profits and dividends
of an enterprise they should likewise sustain its
losses. The liabilities and duties of individuals
should be the same whether acting singIy .or col