Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-03-01

of them will make as good rebels as was
the author of the Declaration of Indepen-
rdcnce. -
1t is true that such is the power Of the
courts that they can strike down the
property rights of an individual so effec-
tually that his despairing cry will never
he needed or heard. But this is not true
of large organized communities. They
possess power Of resistance, when crully
oppressed, that may recoil even upon the
courts.
In the suit of Morgan VS.. Town of Beloit
! the United9States Court for the district of
Wisconsin held that this power to take
private property did not exist. The
United States Supreme Court affrmede
that decision, but it is said to have been don
by an evenly divided court. That is the law
Of Wisconsin to day. As there is des-
perate effort to have this law changed by
judicial legislation, and suits are being
brought against the people of entire
cities and counties, with this object. this
will be a deelaratory act-the sovereign
voice cf Wisconsin saying that her laws
cannot be thus altered, telling the courts
that it is her will that they stand by the
old landmarks; that she is not prepared
for change of this sort, by which entire
communities are to be robbed and des
| troyed. 1.olt ~ ss1 i.sa-.'l
Those who oppose this bill seem to &c
| upon theory that the people are dishonest.
| This is an unfounded imputation. Usethe
people fairly and they will always pay
It is only in cases of great swindles or
r. III {hok fC &c
fused. When taxation. rises. to a
point where it is confscation Of the PEG.
! pies estates, it brushes out the taxing
power. i 1t was never designed for any
such work. -
So far as known, every community, in
debted beyond its liability to pay, is seek
| ing to compromise it's debts by paying
every thing that can be reasonably deman
ded. But, if this bill does not pass, be.
cause the Legislature thinks moro of a
half dozen Shylochs than it does of 100
900 ofits own people, and these Shylochs
are to be let loose on the people by the
courts then the next fifty years will sec
these debts unsettled, and it will cost the
State more to MAINTAIN order than it would
to pay them herself. gE3 seai
| Does this seem incredible? Why tho
Judge Of the 9th Judicial Circuit, in which
this Capitol is located, when the people
Of Portage City rose in anger and took
the lives Of three persons, charged the
Grand Jury of Columbia county that,wher
the whole community did this, it was no,
murder, and not hair of the heads OF
ony one of the actors in these terrible
scenes was ever touched. If hostile
population were to be introduced into
Watertown to dispossess the people oil
their homes and property scenes would
be enacted there which it would make
mems ears Jingle to hear. Judge Drum.
mould said, in the case, cited that against
a united sentiment in a community these
| Judge ments could not be enforced-that a
unanimous public sentiment was power
in this country which no court could over
come.
| Speaker Hall went into the matter more
at length and in very able and effective
manner. He was replied to by Genera
Winkler, and the debate was taken par
in by Mr.. Caswell and Mr. Maxon, aftel
which the bill was passed by the decided
vote of IS for to 5 against.
We beg pardon for occupying so much
space on this matter, but as it is a matter
of so much vital Importance to the citi
zens of Iowa county, we think it will prcb
ably be read with as much interest as any
thing else we could write about.
w. j. W.