Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-06-27
Fruits Of Is.sd Legislation.

Legislature are elected TO represent those
who make them members and to legislate
for the interests Of the people. We doubt
indeed whether that man was ever elected
who promised in advance to turn his heel
upon bis own supporters and devote his
energies while in the legislative halls, ex-
clusiyely to himself and the promising col
porati6ns which beset him from every sile.
Yet, how few members remember their
dear promises! Perhaps after all, people
are right in so seldom re-electing members
Of legislatures--though dear is the result,
for where there are hopes 50 slim Of re-elee-
ton, the indictment is for members to
make the most Of a single term, pocket
every possible profit and then, resigned,
ana rich, sink into forgotten oblivion
Such was the due result Of four-ffths Of
the Legislature of So, and similar results
have followed siuee. The consequences are,
inexperienced legislators and hasty, neon
siderate legislation; weak, pun, confiding
members; self confidence void, and over
confidence in leaders prominent character
in vast majority Of members. To illus
trate our late legislature: there being but
little talent within, the members chose
leaders from without, from the lobby
some from the bank agents, others from
the land Mortgagors and still others from
the anti-land mortgagors, &c. Then too,
the Governor had a general leadership and
could sway men as trees are svayel by the
wind.
We have come across nothing else chat
50 well explains the action Of the weak and
hard-ridden legislature Of 81, as the follow
ing from a correspondent Of the Milwaukee
HfscoaSia.
"Our worthy and estinable State Treas
urer has just returned from New York city,
where he has been to negotiate the recent
issre of State Bonds for war purposes; and
he finds the capitalists are not disposed to
take hold Of the bait as our concet had
imagined that they would. 1t IS true that
they raised legal objection, but as has
been Justly remarked, ii was dictated more
by q want Of confidence in our legislative,
and perhaps Judicial integrity, than from
any other cause. And We are informed
that the best offer that he could Got was
abe2t sixty cents or the dollar. The fact
is patent, that as long as we pursue the
dishonest aud repudiating legislation which
we have been gqIty Of DUNG Gov. RAN
dai's administration, we shall have no cied-
it at HOME or abroad.
"We issued these million dollars Of Bonds
bearing 6 per cent. interest, not to be sold
for less than par, with the vain expectation
that we would catch "Foxes with ehaff,"
when our own previous legislature had
passed law yirtua " repudiating millions
Of honest debts, the securities Of which
were almost entirely held in Eastern States.
And this bill was passed, and signed by
our worthy Governor, against the remon-
STRANGE Of all respectable presses in this
State, without regard to party.
"The reputation Of honest debts is two
edged sword which cuts both ways-yery
convenient when you wish to evade HONEST
debts, but very troublesome when you wish
to borrow money"
Since the return Of cur worthy State
Treasurer the Milwaukee Banks have taken
the whole million dollars for Banking
basis. The capitalists Of our own State are
better able to have charge Of these bonds,
well knowing that they can extort just any
sort Of legislation they may want to bolster
them up from time to time--that is, sup
posing the same sort Of material continues
to be chosen for Notwithstanding
not at all doubted. BY this event, we are
in few years to have in some way through
lhese home Bondhoders and Bankers a
repetition Of the Land Grant frauds and
demoralizations which have 50 elcctually
characterized our State abroad