Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-01-19
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
FellO,o Cii@e1S ofthe
Senate and .4SSem6g:

| Their rights and prosperity. The condition of our
State IN all lis diversified interests presents graf
flying spectacle Of successful enterprise; and the
abundant products yielded to the hands of toll in
all the branches of labor, exhibits caplbility oil
resources unsurpassed Our population is rapidly
increasing, and their lndomtabe energy is fast de-
veioplns the productive capacity OF the State in
every branch OF industry AMI pursuits
In viewing the prospects of our State it is a
source OF the highest qualification that we possess
all the elements of STATE wealth and Of individual
prosperity and happiness. All our great interests
are advancing, and being successfully expanded,
Recent discoveries have opened in various parts
OF The State rich beds of iron o:e which are said
to he unsurpassed in quality and richness and mex.
haustible in quantity. The county of Dodge is the
seat OF oil the beds discovered and il is obtain
ed there with great facility. Furnaces arc now in
process o. erection at the mines for smelling and
manufacturing the ore. The country north of the
/ W sconsiu river is said to abound III this mineral
Should the reasonable authorizations as to the pro-
/ ductiycness and value of these mines be realized
the advantages resulting to the State will be meal
culaOe, and another great interest will be added to
/ It's internal wealth The National Government
has recently effected treaty with the Menominee
Indians, by which their title has been extingushed
! to the north oil the Fox River embracing all OF
their lands in the State. This is an important ac-
QUESTION, as il opens large tract of country to
civilization and settlement and has been FOR a lonr
time greatly desired by that section of country
There lands said to be we'll adapted to agricul-
tural purposes, possessing a soil rich and productive:
! 1t has Il saIubrous climate, is WEI waiercd, with
sufficient hydraulic power for necessary manulac-
turing purposes and ab0unds in fine timber, which
VIII add greatly TO our numbering interests.
Our increasing emigration and the adventurous
enterprise of the American character will soon
make these wilds Of the Indians the happy nome
of an enlightened and industrious people: and the
trail Of the savage will soon be turned into the
pathway of civilized life The unprecedented ra-
pidty with which our state has been settled, the
rap.d development Of its physical resources and
the intelligence OF lis people, subjects Of nation
al pride From these facts, il evidently possesses
superior natural advantages, and 10 her liberal IN
stutions is to be attributed the high comparative
position winch sh" occupies among the new States
OF the Federal Union. The government Of the
Union, and Of the several States beng based upon
the principles Of equality Of rights, the great object
Of legislation is to and preserve that equali-
I ~. But while such is the basis Of our National
and State institutions.
There is incident TO this, principle of 10 less
import to individual happiness and the morals of the
people, that should not be- lost SIGHT of BY states
men aud phil&uthropsts, and that is the equality
Of the social relations; the equality Of the social
connections OF tAe people, is the greatest safeguard
TO the pcrmancncy OF oar institutions, and will pro-
duce tac largest amount OF individual happiness
aud prosperity The nearer the members Of q
/ co1aIulit approximate to this equality in their
I relative condition IN wealth, education. aud all the
Soca! duties of lie the greater will be the extent Of
. ,h,iT enjoyment In enlightened Europe, where
. socul inequality exists 70 an alcrnng extent, the
! amount Of misery, want ami dep.aYty among the
masses of the people, is incredible and the inquiry
. may well be made, whether the present struggles
II the Il r0pcaa nations for the establ shmcnt Of
constitutional liberty, IS not more the result Of this
inequality than the unequal distribution Of political
. rghts' While our own country possesses and APP
p-oNmatcs equality, well IN the social Is the po
iCal condition of It's citizens it bchCoycs those in
whose hands it's legislation is entrusted, to take
that this equality is preserved far a. poss bic
and that the interests of the most humble cared
/ for Whether positive and direct legislation can be
Justly applied TO extend this equality, is probcmati-
cal but much may be accomplished by avoiding
all cass-lcgSiation 1t the expense OF the many for
the bcncti; Of the few.
In your hands is entrusted the high and respon-
>iblc duty of lcgisatng for tie good of the State
aud BY giving Liberal direction to its policy, much
may b. done to secure The pcrmancn5y Of oar in
comparable system 81 Government, and to promote
the p.ogrcss Of social equality, and political free
/ dom. The term Of service OF one of The represent
| tatSes Of this STATE, in the Senate OF the United
States, viii expire on the 18th of March next, the
may b. supplied at your present session. The con-
Stitution in the It'll article, provides that corpora
/ tons without banking powers or privileges may be-
formed under general laws, bat shall not be created
BY special act, except for municipal purposes, and
! in case where in the judgement Of the legislature,
the objects OF the corporation cannot be attained
/ under general laws. From this clause in that III
striment il is apparent that the power Of the Leg
stature TO pass special acts Of incorporation, is
s;yicied to ordinary cases. and that every person
/ who may wish to exercise corpor; L privileges,
should have equal access 10 them. Tn is cor
rect and just principle and If any advantages are
/ to be derived from the use OF these powers, every
/ c,t;zca should have the opportunity of awaiting
himself Of their benefits without the expense of
! procuring special acts of legislation. l therefore
/ recommend such legislative actions as will carry
ont the intent of TINS constitutional provision; the
| common law liability OF the individual members OF
corporate bodies for the debts OF the corporation IS
unjust and aut-rcpubiican. No sound reason can
/ be adduccd, based upon natural justice or public
policy, why the liability of the members of an in
corporate company for its debts, should not be the
same as individuals of an ordinary copartnership
Should individuals, because they happen to be as
ISOLATED torcther as Il corporate body in any buSi-
ness be exempt from liabilities and duties, which
the luw would impose upon them if engaged in the
same business as copartncrS? Certainly, no well
| founded Arguments can be brought to sustain such
Il pOSlttuN. ne IlaDalttcS IN the TWO cases WoIlQ
he the il individuals participate in the profits
and dividends Of an enterprise. They should like
wise sustain its losses. The liabilities and debts Of
individuals should be the same whether sngly o.
collectively, or rs corporations or copartncrs; any
other principles are repugnunt to the spirit Of our
institutions, and is contrary 10 the doctrine of
equality of rights. | submit to the wisdom of the
legislature the justice of providing BY law, that the
members of corporations should be responsible for
its debts TO the same extent that coparners for
the debts of their partnership firm. The people,
BY their Constitution, having determined not TO
~ on or engage in any works of internal improve
mcnt. except in eases where appropriations have
been made for particular works, il becomes mat
ter of vast Importance to the prosperity of The
State, that the most effective system Of opening and
improving cur common highways should be estab-
lishcd by law.
IL Is over the highways which traverse every
portion Of State, tina; surplus products find
their way to market; and foreign supplies are re-
eeved by naygab.e waters, which bound rs ON eve
" side. The Importance OF these channels of in
accommodation have become more apparent
during the last few seasons, from their almost inn
paSstbie condition in many parts of the State
The improvement of the present manner of main
tanning our public highways, addresses itself with
strong force to your consideration. Under the pre-
Law fnD 49, 1. 4