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

meeting of the Legislature also refer you to that
document containing views IN my OPINION per,
tinent to the subjects OF excessive eglslatlon anu
the great necessity oil revision of our laws My
former recomme ndation in relation to county
standard weights and measures, is also one of sui
ficient moment, in my Judgment, to merit your at
/ tent1on.
/ As one of the number of confederate States COM
posing the Union, not only feel deep inter
! est in everything connected with our welfare as
q nation but we have voice IN the ueeisioh ol
whatever may occur affecting nearly or remote
H. and one that is entitled to respect as that oil
part of the common whole equally concerned with
/ the others in the condition of the entire country
/ As such the people of Wisconsin have long looked
anxiously at the threatening aspect oil pubHc al
/ fairs. and have ssympathised deeply with those
whose fears for the continuance of our beloved
/ Union have caused them to battle eHergetically
for the mantainance OF those principles contained
/ in the Constitution, which the founders or our
government deemed OF such vital importance
As patriots and sincere lovers or THESE institutions
upon the permanence of which rests the hope and
/ trust of mankind for free government, they nave
! deplored - action of blind fanatics anu intoier
ant bigots, aided by unscrupulous politicians, VINO
have combined to overthrow them. reckless OF ev-
rything save the ends they wish to attain. Many
were led to join them from motives OF mistaken
philanthropy, and the enthusiasm of the hour adj
/ ded to their numbers, and TO the consequent dan
ger which threatened the Union
Those comprising the Democratic party arrayed
4 themselves at once, in opposition to such we're
cOntendng for the prevalence of a principle which
if adopted. would have shut out from voice IN
public affairs all those whose residence among Us
was not determined by the accident of birth. and
as readily presented undaunted front to those
who under the cover of specious pretexts, would
have sacrificed the union of the States to accom-
pish ends which must have resulted disastrously
to the of humanity and of free government
Happily for all of the most cherished interests Of
I mankind, the struggle promises to terminate in
favor of those whose desire il Is to continue the
blessings OF civil and religious liberty to
forever
1t is apparent that this country owes much more
than is generally conceded to foreign emigration,
and the results following there from. To its pa
tent labor and to the operation of the master
minds of those, who at the commencement of our
history, sought this country refuge from ty
ranny indebted for most of the blessings
! which we enjoy. little reflection will CON
vince any candid mind of this, and to-day the
lstence OF a powerful party, entertaining such
principles tend to result in DISTINGUISHING for
elgners, Is stronger argument than has heretofore
boon employed, against the capacity of man for
self government. If people can be so blinded to
their own interest, and so inconsistent in action,
with reference to the first principles of this gov
eminent, 1t betrays evident want of judgement
which should result in their vassalage. When,
however, the excitement of the moment has pas
sed and time is taken for reflection, the people
seldom or never are mistaken in their conclus-
ions.
We have seen an exempleation of this in the
result everywhere of those elections by which the
people We're enabled to express their sentiments
upon the exciting topics of the day. and a healthy
tone of the public mind was thereby manifested,
the lover of Constitutional liberty. The broad
principle which underlies our whole system of
Government that man Is capable of self-control
and guidance IN matters of civil polity, has gained
ground and been strengthened by every contest it
has had with the advocates Of the opposite doe
trine. and | sincerely trust and believe that the
day Is not far distant when the servile theory of
those who combat it. viii be surrendered, as not
being in accordance with this prominent priuci-
pie OF our Constitution.
We have much reason when looking back upon
the few wears which have interviewed between he
formation of Territorial Government and the
present moment, to congratulate ourselves upon
the progress made during that period The time
Is within the memory of many who are vet taking
part in the active duties of life in our midst when
the Indian encamped upon the site of our capitol;
ana those among who Witnessed that period
were then pioneers in the full vigor of manhood
To-day, after experiencing all the reyerses Incl
oent to the formation of new State can look
around Us and behold s. ripe civilization with al
its appliances, on every hand. Populous cities
and cultivated districts at present cover the sites
of Indian villages. and adorn regions where the
evidence of mans industry were then widely sep
arated and limited in extent. In the brief period
which has passed away since the white man com
nenced has improvements, we have had 0ppoTtu-
than any which have taken place trou gho1It cen
the growing West We have now the Substantial
results attendant upon labor enterprise ana capt
to ana nave also all tie clements Of future great
ness In the extent OF our territory in ts acricul-
tura, mineral and other resources to a degree
which promises more for the future than we at
this day well estimate. The advantages of
/ our climate soil and commercial position have
/ been so well improved that may fairly claim to
f rank, even now, as power of consequence among
our sister States. While we thus congratulate our
selves upon the benefits of which we have been
/ the recipients, we should remember that all the
! blessings we hope for, are dependent upon the
VIII OF HIM who commands the seed time and
harvest and upon whom must rely for every
thing connected with our existence in the future
as individuals and as a people
In conclusion, tender to You nv hearty COON
erdtl0n IN all matters calculated urOmofa he
objects for which you are convened.
WIN. 4. BARSTOW.
I EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Madison. Jan /. 1856.