Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-10-09

was held; the bill reported by the judieia
ry committee was considered and discussed
in detail; it was thought to answer the re-
Equirements Of the people more exactly thar
the bill introduced IN the Senate, and was
accordingly fixed upon as the proper one
to support; certain amendments which
were considered necessary to its perfection
were agreed upon, and mutual under
standing had that it should pass without
any other material amendments. This was
Ideemed proper in order to obviate the ne
cessity for lengthy discussions on amend
ments which might be offered by the OPP
ponents of the bill, for the purpose of i'm
ipairing it. Without some understanding
Of the kind, there was probability that
real friends Of the measure might be led
INTO voting for some amendment, thus of
Tered through misapprehension of its true
bearing, unless improperly should be ex-
posed by a lengthy argument. As good
legal advice as any in the State had been
consulted upon the bill; the whole matter
thoroughly investigated, and, it being
considered as nearly perfect as it would
probably be made in the Legislature, this
course was adopted as the safest, and the
most likely to expedite business.
In the meanwhile the Senate took up
their bill on the same subject, amended it
by striking out all after the enacting clause
and inserting tie House bill as .substi-
tute, with the section providing that the
law should go into effect on the first dav
of June next stricken out, and a new sec
ton inserted providing for the submission
lot the law to vote of the people at the
next fall election. If endorsed by them it
was to take effect on the first of January,
1855; if not on the first of June succeed
ing, allowing the Legislature in the mean
while an opportunity for repeating it. In
this condition it was passed, some Of the
most virulent enemies Of the principle of a
|prohibitory law voting for it, and was sent
into the Assembly. There it was taken
up IN preference to the house bill; consid-
cred in committee of the whole; the sub
mission clause stricken out, and section
providing that the law should go into eff
feet on the first day of June next inserted
I'M It's stead; the amendments agreed Upon
made; the bill as amended passed, ana re-
turned to the Senate for its concurrence.
That body concurred in all the amend
ments of the House, except the one stri-
king out the submission clause. This was
re-inserted in form still more odious and
unfair than before. It provided for the
submission of the law to vote of the peo-
pie at the November election ensuing
and, in case a majority of all the votes cast
at that election-not all the votes cast on
this subject, but a majority Of the highest
number cast for any officer, or on anv sub
Ject-were for the law, it was to take eff
feet on the first Of January 1855, other
wise the law was to go into effect, A. D.
1900. The Assembly refused to concur in
their action, and the Senate refused to re-
cede. The friends of the bill in both hou-
ses considered the submission as coward
ly and unworthy attempt to dodge respon-
lslblllty, even at the best. But still stron-
ger reasons induced them to insist upon its
omission. It was thought, that shonld the
law pass, an earnest effort would be made
at the fall election to send representatives
to the Legislature who would repeal it,
Ii such an attempt were made, the people
would be able to vote more understanding
ly were the law to 90 into effect some time
prior to the election, and afford them an
opportunity of seeing something of its prac-
| teal operation. They were willing to de-
lay the time at which it should go into eff
feet, until the first of September or even
October, but they wished the people to see
the law fairly in force before the election.
They well understood the strenuous exer-
tions which would be put forth at the time
of its defeat. They felt that human intel
lect could not frame law SO perfect that
human ingenuity could not raise objections
against it; and by Misrepresentation and
forced constructions, before popular As
|semblage unskilled in legal subt1eties sue
coed in establishing wrong and pervert-
ed impression of its character. Practice
lis worth more than theory The true test
OF any law is an experience of its opera
lions. They wished the people to Judge
of the law by its fruits. If those proved
evil they felt assured that the people wo'd
elect representatives who would supply its
deficiencies, and correct whatever impro-
prieties it might contain. But to send ii
forth for its enemies to misrepresent and
Imisconstrue, without giving them an OPP
portunity to test its merits or dement's;
they considered a great injustice The
mass of the people do not pretend to I'm
derstand the complexities and buildings
of the law, Hence it is that proposition
to confer upon them a species Of Legisla-
the poner, but authorizing them to decide,
by their vote, what shall or shall not be-
come the law, is almost unprecedented
1t is true, that by the constitution our
banking law was subjected to this ordeal,
but it is well known that majority Of the
trainers of that instrument were hostile to
banking. They inserted that porvision
through hostility to banks. They regard
at as virtually prohibiting banks in this
State. They felt secure in the belief that
nothing but an almost unanimous uprising
of the people IN favor of such Institutions,
could effect the passage and endorsement
of banking law They believed banking
wrong in principle and thought they had
placed next to an insurmountable barrier
lin its way in this State, BY providing for
lo,,- -, - II 81 Io+o,I, = y ,-c+o