Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-03-17

that one director; and he, be it remem,
bered, had not at the time of such sur
vey, if he has, now, single dollar invest
| ed in the stock Of that company Pigmy
authority, cheap gloryl But what com
summate nonsense2
Men, of a fair share of ability, do not
| make asses of themselves without having
become distempered and wild in the con-
temptation of some matter which stimu-
lates their greed Of gain, or feeds their
vanity. In this case there seems to be a
quarter section of land, eligibly located
for depot site and village, at cross
roads, through which the said survey
was invariably made We allude to this,
not from motives of a personal nature,
but to illustrate how visionary and tTienz-
ed the best of men may become when
zeal, like the passion of jealousy makes
the meat it feeds on, and soon cuts loose
from all the restraints of discretion One
so engaged, is apt, in spite of his best in
tentions to the contrary, to commit very
unwise and unjustifable acts for this
reason, we invoke the utmost considera
ton andself-restrain in all such cases
That railroad bantling of which we
have been speaking, not having sufficient
vitality to maintain life long, soon died
1t kicked little, spasmodically squalled
prodiguously for a moment; sucked some,
but not from the dugs of its natural moth
er-all from attending wet nurses now in
mourning and then gave up the ghost
Requiescdt an pace.
Section of art II of our state con-
stitution, contains clause relating to
Legislative authority over cities ana vii
lagos, which seems TO be sufficiently re-
strictive In matters of taxation, to rule
out moet of the schemes for extraordinary
local taxation, now authorized with so
much facility. Itcertainly does Tot mean
to indulge municipal bodies in unlimited
license of taxation; bat such, under leg
islative authority and encouragement,
has got to be the condition of things, and
the evil is daily growing worse. Not only
this, but the manifest tendency is, to en-
gulf the whole State.
1t is fortunate indeed for US, that there
is a provision in our Constitu ton, pre-
venting the State from engaging in works
of internal improvement aud one also
NJ Aah &C
to 100000 But for these wise restric-
tons, doubtless we were to-day, loaded
with an enormous debt, contracted for
unwise and Improbable objects. The
prevailing, and we fear, The growing, dis
position is to break down these restric-
rions, and throw wide open the door to
all manner of prodfgality. Some want
millions out of the general treasury for
visionary railroads, which, if built would
sink the capital invested therein; others
millions to open up questionable water
communications and both these classes
united would make our law making pow
er more than ever the theatre Of corrupt
appii"hSSS, anu VIC iHosi uueHb W WHICH
the corporate power of the state may OPP
press from bad to worse the mass of our
people.
Instead of tearing downour safe guards
let us strengthen those we have, and
build up those that we need. Let US
provide in our fundamental law, other
and stronger limits to legislation and tax
alton, beyond which misguided major
itles may not go; and let US by all means
labor to conserve the interests of all good
citizens, while we carefully guard our
selves from invasion of the rights of even
the humblest citizen claiming of right,
the protection of the State. d.