Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-23

with the eastern states, a rival interest would be
created to check the wish for western and
southern coniederacy. 1t thereupon, " he saws
became the duty OF the natiOnaI government
not only to make Illinois strong but to raise an
interest inclining and binding her to the esatern
and Lortnern portions of the Union'
See also Davidson & Sewers history of Illinois
from 1913 to 1873, pages 295 and 1896
We have 1t here plainly avowed that Illinois
so far into the south and was so situated on
the great rivers running in that direction that
something must be done to g balance her interest
and incline her to tue north" For this reason
ana tor tnls purpose the congress of the United
States, in utter disregard OF the solemn Compact
of the ordinance of 1857, gave to Illinois port on
Lake Michigan and large strip of splendid ter
ritory which justly belongs 10 Wisconsin, and
thu, it may be said she was saved to the north
and to the Union.
But this is not all. Wisconsin was destined to
suffer and sacrifice still more in the interest of
peace, il not in the Interest Of the Union. After
Michigan and Ohio had quarreled and fairly come
to blows over their boundaries, the matter was
finally settled and the parties appeased if not
satisfied by congress giving to Michigan, as a
compensation In part for the strip of her territory
given to ONO that portion of country on Lake
Superior between the straits of Mackinaw and
Montreal river directly north OF us, and which by
every consideration justly belongs to the state of
Wisconsin. ', ,
Again, when the Webster treaty wac made in
1912 with Great Britain, more of our territory
lying on the extreme north was taken from
and gwen to England In the interest Of peace,
and again We submitted without a murmur. 80
In the year 1888 settlements first began at
Prairie du CHEN, Wisconsin, and afterwards,
perhaps as early 1900 or 1905, some few settle
ments were made in the southwestern part of the
state, by persons attracted by the lead mines of
that section. s--
But it is said that the Sank or Black Hawk war
of 1882 did more than anything else to turn the
attention emlUrantS Othpra
Itbrought 1t into general notice throughout the
Whole United States and abroad. From this
time 1t began to settle rapidly, so that in 1886
enough people from the states settled here to
justify Its organization into territorial govern
ment, which was done by act Of congress, ap-
proved april 26, 1886. On the Sd of July follow
ing. the people then in Wisconsin commenced to
govern themselves
Under the territorial system of government the
people were in some sense SubOrdinated to the
congress Of the United States. Although their
career had been one of unparalleled success, it is
indlsputable that by this time they had become
FESTIVE and uneasy under the seeming vassalage
OF the situation, so that everybody expressed tue
wish to form for themselves a constitution, and
be admitted into the Union as an Independent
state, or as we expressed 1t at that time, "a SOW
ereign, independent state
The legislature, therefore, needing this general
pu6llc sentiment passed law on The 3lst OF jan
uary, 1876, providing for a convention and for the
election OF delegates to form constitution. Del
esates were elected, and on the 9Th day of Octo-
Der of The same year they assembled at the capt.
tol in Madison and proceeded at once to the dis
charge OF that Cuty. This brings us TO very re-
markable period in the history of Wisconsin, and
L confess that feel utterly incompetent to deal
properly with the subject at this point 1t is
proper TO say, however, that this convention of
1916 was composed of some of the Oldest settlers
of the territory and some of the ablest men that
have ever taken part in the public affairs of Wis
Many of our associates who met with us on that
bright October day, away back in 1916, now near
ly thirty three years ago, and who labored with
us through the siXty-two days that we were
gagged In trying to make constitution for the
protection OF the rights ana liberties Of the peo-
pie of Wisconsin-one that would meet the APP
proval of those who had delegated us TO perform
that duty-have passed. to an honorable grave,
and am proud to say that l do not know OF one,
either living dead, of either convention, who
had dishonored the good name he deservedly
won
The constitution framed in 1916 not being rati-
fled, convention provided for. which met at
the capitol the 18th of December, lS47, and framed
the pl eSent constitution. which was ratified by
the people. Before abiding TO the present con-
sututlon, or more especially TO the convention
that framed it, is will be proper that should
briefly refer to the causes and to the arguments
that led to the defeat of the one framed in 1916.
Alter this lapse OF time, and in view OF the action
OF the second constitutional convention and of
the subsequent legislation Of the state in refer
ence TO the matters forming the objections then
urged against the constitution, it ould be ex-
ceedlngly difficult TO make the people of this day
understand why the first constitution not rat
lied. Several reasons were urged III argument
before the people why it was that the convention
did not make a proper constitution. or. rather.
why they put into ii the Objectionable provisions
which were stated to be:
% The article in relation to the rights of mar
red women.
(2) The article On exemptions. ta
t.O The bank article. '--'
"a The number OF repres entatives in The iegs.
lature, .t-.
6, The elective Judiciary.
The arlicle on married women was rs follows
"A property. real and per onal, Oi the wife own
ed by Yer ut the time OF Aer marriage, and also
that acquired by her after marriage. by gift, de-
wise, descent, or otherwise than from her hus
band, shall be hsr separate property"
Inc altisIe on exemption was :s follows: For
not exceeding ioTty acres. which
shall not exceed IN value one thousand dollars,
shall be exempt from execution or forced sale
tie article ON banks prohibited banks OF is
The legislature should not consist of less than
90 mem@e, - nor moro than 1Z5; and it was pro-
ylded that tfe Judiciary should be elective.
A distlngu shed opponent OF the constitution
stid in public speech at that time: that these
features OF She Constitution are not only bad of
themselves. but they are still more Objectionable
when we reflect that they will produce other laws
stu worse. They are seeds OF evil which will pro-
duce an hundred iold.''
Thss and similar arguments finally reSu ted in
rel citing the constitution. The article on the
rights Of married women, the exemption article
and the elective Judiciary were denounced in
nnme2>ured terms a> being ruinouS TO the
peace. property and happiness OF the people for
ever. 5 -HSi t.HT-.Irts X, ~ Z
The next convention framed constitution
leaving tho 'rishts OF married women to be pro-
vided tor by the ie9el8ture and the legislature
few years afterw srds adopted into law subsusn-
italy that which was provided Tor in the rejected
constitution. .eF a.. : ..- Z
II also provided that the legislature should
pass exemption laws of real ana personal proper
~, ana soon after the Legislature made liberal
| exemption OF personal property aud exempted
forty acres OF land. the homestead. or a quarter
acre in city village, without reference to its
value. whereas in the rejected constitution the
value of such exemption Was limited to ono thous-
and dollars. 1t fixed the number of members Of
the Legislature at not less than ffty-two nor
more than one hundred-hardly difference enough
to talk abont-and the Judiciary was made cleo
tive as in the rejected constitution In respect to
banks, that left that the subject of bank
| no bank might be submitted to che people. Thus we
find ia the second constitution and in the legislation
OF the state soon after enacted nearly every feature
which had made our work unpopular, and there it
has remained the pride and glory of the state to this
day. Although work was rejected, it yet was in
great degree the foundation and the guide for those
who were subsequently charged wi h the duty of
framing the constitution which we now have
Tie second constitutional convention assembled
in Madison on the 18th day of Decem Der, 1871. and