The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-03
a ahnmeIeaa LeaisIntnre.

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the most venal, trifing and useless Legislature
that ever convened at Madison. WIN every
incentive to high and patriotic action-"l'n e'-
erv ;nducement to a strict economy IN the man
agement of the Legislative Department OF the
State Government-with the demand OF the
people still ringing in their ears tor snort anu
active session, the Legislature adJoulnee ."
the 22d of June, after full exhibition OF It's
want of appreciation of the times in winch we
i've or an inter carelessness as to the fearful
condition of the country. One would think that
.. .ncb time as this, when the very existence
of our country is threatened by treason ana
rehelon-when ttsenty- fUe thousand OF our own
citizens have gone forth to fight for the preser-
vat;on Of our glorious Union and the Constitu-
Glamour Legislators might have put on, even
;e;t had to be all assumed, a little semblance
of dignity and sobriety, and appreciation. But
we look in vain for any such exhibition, thro-
ont the entire session. The State has never
before been cursed by so much useless and IN
called for legislation at any one session. The
Revised statutes and the general laws of preyi-
to death without any apparent cause, without
any definite idea of what they were doing, or
,chy they were doing it. 1t is certain that sew
eral bills were passed amendatory of the revis.
ed statutes, without anybody but the person
who introduced them ever examining what the
statutes were, that were being amended, much
less what reason Or necessity there was for their
amendment Again, several bills that took
days of discussion to perfect and pass in the
early part of the session, were repealed entire
lar, we noticed, that was passed and became a
law, had three bills amendatory of it, passed
before the first adjournment, and then was en-
tirely repealed at the adjourned session. The
last act was undoubtedly the most sensible one
of the series Such legislation besides being
curse and detriment to ourselves as peo-
pie, cannot but bring disgrace and ridicule up
1 on the State abroad
While this State, in common with all the
/ loyal States, was nobly responding to the call
of the nation for men and means to put down
the monster shareholders Rebellion, the people
looked to their Legislature for high purpose
and patriotic economy in its action. There
was no occasion for much legisla ton ; if what
days rightly used, would have been sufficient
time to do all that was necessary to be done.-
But instead of any such disposition to practice
economy, or even to exhibit proper decorum
in view of rent and bleeding country we have
only wanton and useless expenditure and the
and the most iltimed levity and nonsesfS
With mock show of looking to the interests
Of the people, an investigation into the expend-
iture of the War Fund was got up. We are
in favor of investigation, always when there is
apparent cause for it, and when it is honest
But there was no call for a three months inves-
legation at this time. The people had per
feet trust and confidence in the executive de-
partment of the government that had the man.
agement OF the fund, and the investigation al
though pursued in a reckless partizan spirit
with no end in view but the qualification Of
Ipartizan malice, and the possible chance Of
making parGzan capital, has proved that con.
fdence to have been deserved. Not defalca
tion, not steal, aud but very few mistak es
have the investigators been able to rake up
! while the useless extravaganza and shameless
! dishonesty of those most anxious to investigate
, have stamped the whole thing as a mere parti-
Fan operation.
As a specimen of the honesty and economy
of this investigating Legislature, we find il
voting not 10 take or demand any pay for mile
age or per diem during the recess, when the
adjournment was first voted for. But that was
only for buncombe. Before the Legislature ad
: iourned, the Assembly voted itself the regular
per diem $3.50 day for the lime they were al
} home attending to their own business. Fortu
nately, Treasurer Hastings had the honesty
and frmness to refuse to pay this barefaced ant
shameless attempt at swindling the people,
The Supreme Court was at once appealed to BY
these model economical Legislators to compe
the Treasurer to pay this outrageous demand
This is only one of many exhibitions this Leg
isature has given of its devotion to the inter
ests of the people and the State. But we viii
not pursae them.
The people may well inquire why they have
been cursed with such a Legislature 1t il
their own doing,a Legislature of their choosing
But they were deceived and misled in the cleo
ton. The great majority of the Republican
Iarty, which constitutes the great ma ority 0
the people of the State, ia view of the natiena
difficulties were anxious to forego all part,
feeling or predictions, and unite in the cleo
, ton of members of the Legislature irrespective
of party. We presume that many of the dem
ocratic party were actuated by the same liber
aty of motive in advocating the specous pin
cipe of a union of parties for the sake of thu
: Union. But untortunately,it is the dishonest
the schemings the wirepullers and demagogues
who govern. the Democracy, and however wei
meaning the masses may be, they only give
; power to their leaders for evil. Whatever con
cessions or iberality may be shown by the Re
publican Party in its willingness to forget par
ty prejudices, will be made use of by these
demagogues to strengthen the Democracy, auo
enable it to regain its lost power. Out Of the
fifteen or twenty members of the present Leg
islature that were given to the democracy, on;
of purely liberal add patriotic motives. but two
or three of them have proved to have beer
worthy Of such confidence They have used
the power thus acquired, not to advance the
interests Of the State or Nation, but where they
could not accomplish their own party ends, TO
prevent any really beneficial legislation by Re-
publicans. That seems to have been the course
pursued invariably. They cared nothing for
the interests Of the State, if they could cast a
suspicion upon Republicans, crafty partizan
spite, or strengthen in any point the hands of
the Democracy.
Experience teaches good school,, if it is
sometimes dear one, and the people Of Wis
consln have taken some lessons which will