The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1874-02-07

those two states, without pretenct
Of lawful authority. And he knew
that the sovereignty of the State o
which he was the Executive haC
been subverted or infringed, an6
that citizens whose rights he wa:
bound to protect, were receiving In
jury al the hands of residents of an
other state, without the opportunity
to appeal to their state tribunals fol
redress.
That Gov. Washburn knew al
these facts, which are of such grave
import to the welfare of this State
is conclusively established, by the
facts that a public law of this State
Chap. l46 Laws 187l-appropri
ated not exceeding $4,000, for the
purpose of preventing or repairing
these very injuries. That memo.
rial to Congress i'll regard to the
same encroachments upon the priv.
ileges of this State, had been adopt
ed by the Legislature, Feb. "a, 1871,
at which time he was a member OF
Congress from this district. Indeed
efficient service in advocacy Of the
rights of Wisconsin, touching this
same subject matter, was rendered
by him as such Member of Congress.
during the session Of 187O271.
That a memorial to Congress in
depreciation of these encroach-
ments, setting forth in detail the
present and prospective injuries
caused thereby, to the material in
terests Of the State at large, and
particularly this portion Of it, had
been approved March 7, 1872 by
himself, then Governor Of the State.
L. 326 Laws -.
That the Legislature by an act
approved by himself as Governor
on March %, 1872, authorized and
directed him to take proper meas
ures, to prevent the very injuries
complained OF, aud appropriated
not exceeding $4,000 to defray the
expense OF such measure.
That acting in compliance with
such authority and direction, he
himself employed able counsel, who
after due consideration, iii the name
of the State of Wisconsin, instituted
in the Supreme Court of the United
States i'll chancery, against the Nor
thern Pacific Il. r. Co, the City OF
Duluth and their officers and en-
ployes, a suit which was calculated
to secure the removal Of that OBJ
struction to the free navigation OF
the St. Louis river, and by inevita-
bic consequence, close the canal
which was 50 manifestly destroying
the harbor which the State OF Wis
consin possessed and enjoyed in
the Bay of Superior, and which was
also lorcibly diverting the commerce
Of this portion of the State.
We might refer also to speeches
made in Congress by Gov. Wash
burn, but we will only now refer
once more to the language employ
ed by him, in the Annual Message
above quoted, to convince every one
that he ought not to avail him self OF
any plea of ignorance, or want of
information III regard to the injuries
themselves, or the measures of re-
dress.
Having thus as we think, estab-
lished the competency Of Governor
w ashburn to treat of these wrongs,
so far as an intimate knowledge OF
the facts in relation thereto. and full
authority and ample means confer
red upon him by the Legislature
could make him competent, we pro
ceed to the pertinent inquiry:
What motive could have actuated
him in proposing or consenting to
such a settlement or compromise as
portrayed in such selflaudatory
terms in the Special Message above
quoted?
What could have so changed the
opinion of Gov. Washburn respect
ing the wrongs Of the people OF Su-
perior, in the short time Intervening
between the inditing of his Annual
Message and the negotiation of his
compromise of Jan. %, 1873.
The physical status was the same,
except as aggravated by the lapse
of time and continuing cause. The
mouth of the st. Louis river. so far