Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1850-01-18
Memorial of David e, Dixou.

rs to be expected, H. A. Tenncy the editor of the
Wisconsin Argus has appeared to the Legislature in The
shape of memorial, over the alias Of D. T. Dixon" or
course the memorial could refer but one subject; for lis
author has had bat idea for year past and that il the
printing Of the Revised Statutes Those who have read l
Argus for the past year have this memorial dozen
times over for is bat shape of whit appeared in
many shapes in that sheet We shall not waste much
time on it.
The assertion which il made and the idea soua, to he
conveyed that and the originator of tho
measure and procured lis enac,mcn is false and rIi,,ua
We did not originate the idea of the bin nor was single
important feature Of ii Members pcrce ing the scam
daous manner in which the State printing WAS being dome
by the contractor and hearing Tenny sae repeatedly that
the work not included his contract IA fact in itself
cvdenD and knowing that he had made to the committee
printing, in the House. proposition for the work having
no reference either to the contract letting out the work
To the lowest bidder conceived the idea the bill in ouc
ton We were consulted with reference To it, and $, far
rom our seeking to get an enormous price for the work we
suggested less sum than the act contains but were over
ruled by hoss who thought not enough Instead Of our
seeking TO get The work in our declined the
request of others that should apply for it, although
under the act there would have no i'm prprety in oar
80 doing The assertion that got pledge, from Two of
the Revisors previous to the passage of the bin m give ~
the work in the bin did pass false We got no such
pledge After the bill passed had perfect right to-
in common with the editors of the Argus, Express and 9th.
erS we applied Tor the work and We got because
recommended by majority of the legislature and from no
other cause The ron that procured The passage of
the BILL simply ridiculous The law making power con
sists of Governor, Senate of 10 members and House of
&c. With the Governor never ntcrchaligcd a word ON
the subject; Of the member. who yo:cd for it, We never
spoke TO half dozen this subject and w great
many of them never nerchanged word on any subject
We that The that N th..
the BILL is ridiculous and an insult the Governor and Lee
gislaurc, and not worthy moments consideration
rs 10 the consutiouay OF the measure, il is hardly
worth while discuss it, The legislature and the ycrnor
by their action proclaimed it constitutional and no CONNIE
tent authority has questioned nvaldlcd their decision
This we Think may Doe considered Offset to the assertion
Of interested presses and individuals Look at it, The Sp-
rit of the law Is simply that the win purchase 1000
books We perceive that the Governor recommends the
purchase uf aw books for the library Cannot the statutes
Of Wisconsin be purchased con4ituonaly a. the
statutes Of another state be purchased of any other in
diVila must the If she wants an almanac run to
The public printer and Gel printed We perceive The menu
bers have ordered some 30 copies each newspapers to be
paid for by the state. Can the buy newspapers and
not buy books? where is The difference in principle for is
not printing required for the OF the state a. much a.
the other. Yet whilst Mr. Dixon dcnounces the purchase Of
books from unconstitutional he will insist on his own
any unconsrituonaliy in the premises It makes great
difference whose bun it that corcd whose OK But rs
we said, all the authorities that have on he matter
have pronounced The constitutional and the mere,
pse dix Of Interested individuals certainly not cnclu
sye to the contrary
rs 10 the violation Of Mr. Dixou'S contract il j. ONLY ne
cessary to refer to his that there WAS nothing
ot The kind Besides the private Tenny that
the work included in the contract by reference 70
The sconsin Argus public admission that the contract
would have to be altered include the work. viii be found
The fact IS simply, that Tenncy designed get the copy and
print The work at hs leisure and then claiming il YVES rot
IN his contract, hold The state al his mercy.
Is to The legality Of the laws published they are if ay
question eNss there competent tribunals 10 decide H.
Both al tho first and second sessions the legislature many
laws obtaincd their force by publication in newspaprs
whose proprieors had nothing do with the public print
ing and who got their prices for the work and unless
We are mistaken, the propreors Of The Argus ho at te
me they done he work, had public connection with the
sale printing, viii have bills before The legislature for pub
fishing in their paper acts, which obained their force oe,
through such publication.
FINALLY Mr. Dixon requests ha; uasuuch a. ne Is quite
confident llie ret Unconstitutional We be MT rai4 s,r