Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-12-23

For the Tribune & Telegraph.
Apsurdltles and Discrepancies in the
Laws of Wisconsin.

A.
In practice, there is a fallacy in the maxim
that " the laws are an exponent Of the morals
Of the people; for she people as a body are
hohs't' and attending to their own affairs, de-
vote but little time or attention to ascertain the
course Of the disjoin.ed political workings of
the laws made by their servants at Madison
They know and feel the grievous evils under
which they, MS individuals, labor; but not
troubling themselves TO investigate the causes
OF those evils, are apt to attribute them to sec.
0ndary cauSes-entirsly overlooking the cor
rupt root and foundation of the ills we suffer
Laws relate to two grand and obyious bran
eneS OF human lnterests-one having reference
10 the person, his fs, his health, his re buta.on-
the other to the things" known as property, y
its acquisition, transmission, and dealings there
ln' intending every thing that is tlae subject of
a contract in its broadcast sense.
In our assurance Of personal indeu.ndenc.
we IN great measure, have left our personal
rights to take care of themselves But in our
property rights, are not the Wisconsin law, so
framed as to tend to fraud, chicanery, and the
grosser species Of moral obEquitv-corruptin
the people in their sense Of ssriphtn and
wrong" of ''mine" and thine,'' and giving
Wisconsin worldwide reputation. not 70 he
courted by those who have due sense of tho
obligations of contracts
Did the electors Of this State know that tbs
burthen of our taxation and III. strinoencv .,
the times, the usurions interest sxacted and 70.
celved for short loans, and the hundred otbe,
ills with which We are burhened. have tbei,
origin and deep root in our vicious (aws. would
shey not speedily effect certain cure. by caus
ing those laws to be reformed
We assume that the people are Scuorant a
these causes. We are driven TO that assun,n
hon-eiss we must conclude that they, and the
Jaw makers, are alike depraved. We claim
however, that large majority of our citizen,
and legislators are honest, well-me uninc men
trapped into the enactment of laws vicious il
their tendency, and their antcipat sd pract;ca
and true workings known only to the initiated
and drawn so specious as not to reveal in tb
letter their crushing effects upen indiv;dno
and general prosperity.
Who is there that does not k,aor ~
been informed, that our tax sale law, war;
T. moulded by tax-title holders and land sharks
our school land laws by unprineipled specula
!. tors-our usury laws by bank agents stock
holders, and note shavsrs-our collecting law
b and stay laws by debtors-and our fes laws h,
the Thousand and one" petty officers. eon.t9
oles justices, clerks, sheriffs, and supervisors
. Why is it, that the legal fees for services q
: these officers IN Wisconsin are donbIe and !;
. . many cases treble what they are in Massacbu
g setts and that, to pay these petty charges
ranging from five cents to one dollar eaob owe
,. $4GO of taxes and costs are YEARLY mid -
the people of Wisconsin, Who 60 stun;d -.
not to know that these offices can be better fro
j. and more efficiently discharged, at less than ba
the present cost
Has this vicious system of extortion.ta Ca
, nothing to do with cur general prosperity =
What has created a fever heat amongst II
erasping' the loafor, the lazy, the sharper an
the drohe IN society, to be elected to some offic
requiring in its fulfllnent an activity, honest
r. and integrity to which he is Stranger H.
o not THE post OF honour become "the priva
" station So rabd and intense has been II
i'd pursuit for some Office that pays .csH under q,
fec J'H, that the irony of some ensctmeuts
= glaringly apparent.
= ''If any person elected to any town off1c
La unless disabled from disease or other ,n6rui
to discharge the duties Of such Office, shall r