Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1856-01-15

Companies entitled to the use OF these arms. of
essential service in time of need, it is highly
necessary that some system applicable to them
to be devised and adopted by the Legislature
/ do not recommend the passage of Il aw,whicf
would involve any considerable consumption
or timo or money by those composing the diff
ferent companies, but / have no doubt that a
simple code free from such objections, and bind
ing upon those enrolling themselves, could be
framed, which would add greatly to the efflie-
ency of the military in every respect, should an
emergency arise calling for their intervention.
The power Of the various military and civil of
ficers of the State to control the force of the
former, under our present imperfect system is
liable to be brought in question, and serious
evils may possibly arise thereform. When the
officer is made fully TO understand the limit Of
his power, and the soldier the certain extent of
his duty we may readily count upon effectual
service from both
/ trust that any further legislation upon the
subject of Prohibitory Liquor Law will be
discountenanced by you The experience of
other States has clearly demonstrated the inu-
tility aud vicious tendency of such laws, wher-
ever there has been an endeavor to enforce
them and the highest judicial tribunals therein
have; upon the fullest examination, decided the
very principle Of prohibition, as we'll as the con-
ment to be in violation Of some Of the most
cherished rights of the people do not be-
leve that any law which prove efficacious a
preventive TO the use of wines and liquors. can
be so framed as not to interfere materially with
those privileges or natural rights which the
citizen retains to himself under our Constitu-
tion and | am futher of opinion, that il were
possible to avoid these MISUNDERSTANDING
from the experience Of other States,-the evils
sought to be cured would not be remedied in
any material degree by such enactment. On
the other hand | am firmly convinced that they
would only tend to increase the very evils they
attept to prevent, by substituting legislation in
place of the power which public opinion and
inmate moral sense should exert and which can
alone ever prove sufficiently powerful to at
tain the end sought by such laws. No attempts
at compulsory measures have proved successful
inducing men to abstain from the full gratifca-
ton of their appetites. If the sense of respon-
sibiltv to himself, to those dependent upon
him, and to society, cannot prevent a man from
yielding to the influence of such desires, legis-
ation, however stringent, will be exerted in
vain. The moral influence which every man
in his own proper sphere many exert, by a
course Of conduct consistent with Just princi-
pies in relation to such matters will produce a
wider, more permanent, and beneficial effect
than any legislature.
The question involved herein, after having
been submitted to the people of this State and
upon in various forms by the legislature was
again placed in issue during the recent canvass.
aud the majority have, in the most unmistaka-
bic manner, signifed their condemnation of the
principal sought TO be enforced. This, in nv
opinion. should be deemed conclusive upon
your body, and any action relative to the sub
jject referred to- prevented by all proper means.
Section 3. Article l. Of the Constitution. re-
quired the Legislature 10 provide by law for
the enumeration Of the inhabitants Of the State
in the year 1885. The law passed in pursul-
ance thereof evidently failed to accomplish the
full object intended, judging from the total
census returns, which show the aggregate pop
U'atioH on the first of June to have been 552-
100. Although this result exhibits an increase
in population, that is, at least very fIattering.
being again Of nearly 250000 since 1850; vet
it IS probable the number Of inhabitants in the
State on the first day of June was at least So
600 more than was returned. At the time it
was source of regret with me, as it has ever
since been, thut the law did not make more cf-
ficient provision for the enumeration of the in
habitauts together with some provision for the
collecting ofstatistics concerning our manulac-
lures, products and general resources as these
would have furnished proof Of oar increasing
prosperity, ard formed valuable data upon
which TO base many useful calculations.
BY the same section Of the Constitution, il
was made your duty at the present session to
apportion and district anew the members of
the Senate and Assembly, according to the
number of inhabitants shown by the ccnsus-
The Constitution fixes the maximum Of the
Assembly at one hundred members, and Of the
Senate 1t not more than one third, nor less than
oEe-f6urth Of the number Of the Assembly,
In my judgement, the present number in each
house is sufficiently large for our present nnm-
Der in each house IS sufficiently large for our
present necessities, an ample for all our wants
until the expiration Of five years, at which
time the Constitution provides for again re-
dStricing the State. That even smaller num-
Der that at present is allowed would quite as
well subserye the interests of the people, I am
firmly convinced as the tendency would be to
lessen the length Of the sessions and more de
finitely fix the responsibility upon individual
memberz-thereby ensuring a greater regard
for the consequences of their acts and more
careful deliberation in framing them.
Our State Agricultural Society during the
past year has given gratifying evidence of It's
utility. The practical ability connected with
the more recent management Of its affairs has
given encouragement to those engaged in agri-
cultural and mechanical pursgits-thus stiInu-
lating that desire TO exce which IS so necessary,
not only for the we'll being ofthose Immediate
" engaged therein, but tends greatly to the
benefit of the State at large All reasonable
encouragement should be extended by you for
the advancement Of lis objects
The state Historical Society is another in
stance where mere trife of Legislative aid has
yielded ample reward. 1t viii be seen by the
report of the Committee that the library of
this Society now contains PIG Volumes be-
ing an increase of over one hundred per cent.
duringthe past yeas. In addition to this, very
numerous and valuable collections other than
books. have been added Should the Legisla-
ture see proper to aid this society in putting
forth, improved style, their animal publication,
it would tend greatly to facilitate the objects
for which the Society was established.
L feel 1t incumbent upon NE to once moro
urge upon the Legislature the proprety of in
stituting Investigations as to the condnct of
the different officers, having in charge the III
terests of the State. The plainest priDcjrles