Nebraska advertiser., 1858-07-22
HONE CORRESPONDENCE.
For the Advertiser.
NEmAHA CoUNTY, N. T., July l6.

the public offices to be filed at the ON
ing election, perhaps it will not be out of
place to lay before your readers a few
suggestions which l think ought to infu-
ence their choice.
As freemen and citizens the settlers of
this Territory, for whose benefit alone the
Territorial Government, with all It's pow
er and privileges wa instituted, cannot
absolve themselves from an individual re-
sponsibility, for the evils which have re-
suited and may result from permitting
their Legislative rights to be controlled
by dishonest, unworthy, immoral and IT.
responsible men. The people-the actu-
al settlers-are alone legally invested
with the Legislative power of the Terri
tory. 1t was the design of the trainers
of our organic laws, that the people who
came here, and settled upon these wild
lands, should have the privilege of form
ing and perfecting their own domestic in
situations, and of adopting such a course
of Legislative policy as should seem most
expedient for them. Invested with these
privileges, the citizens of a new Terrific
ry ought to take a deep and lively interest
in every movement which can influence
their local policy, and social institutions.
They are more directly concerned in the
public affairs of the Territory at the
present time, than they ever can be here
after, inasmuch as it is easier and better
to ovoid mistakes in forming and adopt
ING the laws and institutions of a state
han it is to correct or reform abuses al
ready established. But how has it been,
thus far in our history? Have the peo-
pie in this Territory made a proper use
of their Legislative power? Have they
dictated the Legislation of the Govern
ment? 1t cannot be justly affirmed that
the legislative policy of this Territory has
been approved by the people. A candid
review of the Legislative history or the
Territory since it first assumed its limited
privileges of self-government, exhibits a
sad picture of the evil consequences Of at
tempting to carry on the machinery of a
free government without regarding the
positive interests of the people. But the
people themselves are alone responsible
for these evils, for whatever other aus
es may have contributed to these results,
they are chiefly attributable to a remis-
ness and apathy in regard to public affairs
among the people themselves. Instead
of exercising a judicious care in their
choice of public officers, they have al
lowed the most important" interests Of the
Territory to fall into the hands of dema-
gogues, spectators, and political bucks
ters: and we have e that either thro'
the ignorance, stupidity, or dishonesty Of
our Legislators, the major part of the leg
isiations of this Territory has been direct
Iy for the benefit of private individuals,
and either directly or indirectly detri-
mental to the interests of the settle.
Charters, franchises, corporations, and
stock-jobbing institutions of all sorts, seem
to have had the special care of the Leg
isIature. We have seen our statute books
filled with enactments for charters and
special privileges, and statutes prefxed
for their better protection.
The Legislative authority Of the Ter
ritory having been thus perverted to the
base purpose of stock gambling, the next
scene in the farce exhibits our worthy
Solons quarrelling with each other, as to
the manner in which these immunities
and privileges shall be enjoyed by them
selves and patrons. Here a county must
be divided; there a franchise granted; at
another place a chartered institution es-
tablishcd, and all for the benefit Of some
imaginary town-site, or for some swim
ding brokers' concern in New York, or
Ohio or Illinois. And, in their wrang-
ling over these important affairs, we find
their deliberations sometimes enlivened
by scenes of disorder and boyish trickery
altogether beneath the dignity and char
acter of men, and sometimes by acts and
proceedings only becoming blacklegs and
rowdies.
AT our last election efforts were made
to correct these abuses. Many of the
members of the last Legislature were
men of ability and reliable character, and
it was hoped that a new era of affairs
E would be inaugurated at the Capital, and
=, a new leaf would be turned in our legis-
, islative records. Bat the result only
E shows how firmly had this system of par
tial legislation become established. BY
force and fraud, a miserable minority
were enabled to block the wheels of leg,
%islation and presumed to impose condi-
| lions upon the peoples representatives
that unless they would forbear to act upon
certain measures the business of the leg.
%islature should not proceed. These I'm.