Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-07-23


ported. Gov. Ford, In his admirable history OF
Illinois. in speaking If the subject. says "A. page
~: I" But there were other and more weighty
reasons for the change OF this boundary. which
were ably aud successfully urged h. Judge Pope
upon the attention OF congress. 1t was knuwn
ne said that in all confederate republics there
was danger of dissolution. The great valley of
the Mississippi was filing up WITH numerous
people, the original confederScy had already ad-
vanced westward a thousand miles across the
chain OF MOUNTAINS skirting the Atlantic; the
adlon ming states ia the western country were
watered by rivers running from every point If tie
compass cunverglng 10 focus at the confluence
OF the OHIO and Mississippi at Cairo. The wa
tiers OF the OHIO. Cumberland aud Tennessee
rivers carried much OF the commerce OF Alabama
and Tennessee, all of Kentucky, A considerable
portion OF That of Virginia, Pennsylvania and
New YORK. aud the greater portion Ot tle com
nIerce of Ohio aud Indiana down by the point at
CAIRO (-ituate in the extreme south OF Illinois,,
where II would be- met by the commerce and
from the Lower Mississippi with all the states
and territories TO be formed In the immense
country on the Missouri ana extending 10 the
head waters of the Mississippi. Illinois ne said,
had coast Of $50 miles on the Ohio river aud
nearly as much on The Wabash; the Mississippi
Was It's western boundary for the whole length of
the state; the commerce If all the western cuun.
try was 10 pass by Us shores. and would neces
sArilY come TO ocus mt the month of the OHIO AZ
point within the state aud WITHIN the control OF
Illinois, II. the Union being dissolved She shoult
see proper To control 1t. Mr. Ford SAYS: Ut
ioreseen that none of the great states In
the west could venture 10 Md in diseolvlug the
Union without culuvating a state situated in
such central and commanding position Again,
he SAYS. illinois was certain TO be great state
with any boundaries which the government could
give. It's great extent OF territory Its unrivaled
commanding position. would In course OF the
give the new state very contr ollIng influence
vita her sister states upon the western rivers.
ell her IN sustaining the Federal Union as il Is or
in dlssoving 1t aud establishing govern.
ments. If left entirely upon the waters OF the
great rivers 1t was plain that in case OF threat
ened disruption. the interest Of the new state
would be TO JOIN northern and western conied-
eracy. But III large portion OF II could DE made
dependent upon the commerce aud navigation of
the great northern lakes, connected IS they were
with the eastern states, riVai Interest would be
created to check the wish for a western and
southern coniederacy. II tnereupor," he says,
became the duty OF the nation.i government
not only TO make Illinois strong, but 10 raise an
interest inclning and binding Ter to the eGatern
and Lortnern portions OF the Union
see also Davidson " Sewers history of Illinois
from 1873 TO 1873, pages .95 and 296.
We have 1t here plaiEiy ayowed that Illinois
ran so far into The south and was so situated on
the great rivers running IN that direction thai
something must be done to " balance her interest
aud incline her 10 tue north" For THIS reason
ana Tor this purpose the congress OF the United
states i'll utter disregard Of the solemn compact
OF the ord auCe of liSj, gave to Illinois port on
Lake Michigan and large strip of splendid ter
rtory which justly belongs to Wisconsin, aud
thus II 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 stiil more III the interest of
peace, II not in the Interest Of the Union. After
Michigan and ONO had quarreled and lairlv come
To blows over their boundaries, The matter was
finally settled and the parties appeased II not
satisfied by congress giving to Michigan, a
compensation IN part for the strip OF her territory
gwen to ONO, that portion OF country GU Lake
superior between the straits of Mackinaw und
Montreal river, directly north OF us, aud which by
every consideration justly belongs 10 tue state OF
Wisconsin
Again when The Webster treaty wac made in
1872 with Great Britain more OF our territory
lying on the extreme north was taken from -
and given to England Ia The interest OF peace,
and again We submitted without a murmur
In the year 1858 settlements first began at
Prairie du CHEN, Wisconsin, aud afterwards,
perhaps early n 1909 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.
Bat II is said that the Sank or Black Hawk war
OF 1882 did more than anything else TO turn the
attention OF emlgrants a1d Others to this country
It brought 1t into general notice throuu hout tue
Whole United states and abroad From tins
time it began to settle rapidly, SO that in Is 80
enough people from the states settled here to
justify it, organization into a territorial govern
mtnt, which was done by act OF congress, APP
proved a rl 26, 1896. On the Sd of July follow
Ing, the people then in Wisconsin commenced TO
govern themselves.
tluer tHe ltlIIlOtla system bl government tHC
people were IN some sense subordinat"d to the
congress OF the United States, Although their
career had been one of unparalleled success, IL y
indlsputable that by this time they had become
FESTIVE ana uneasy under the seeming vassalA9t
of the situation so that every body expressed tue
wish to form for themselves IA constitution, ana
be admitted into the Union as an indepen dent
state or as we expressed II ut that time, ." SOW
ereign, Independent state
he legislature therefore. needing this general
public sentiment. passed law on The 3lHt OF Jan
~ a Iau a
election OF delegates to form constitute On. Del
egates were elected, and on the 9Th day Of Octo-
Der OF he same year tney assembled at he CAPT
tol in Madison ana proceeded al once To he dis
charge ui that Guty. This brings Us 10 very re-
markabie period IN the history OF Wisconsin,, and
confess that feel utterly incompetent to dea
properly with the subject AT tAis point. II l.
proper TO say, however, that this convention Of
1916 was composed of some Of the oldest settlers
of the territory and some OF the a6lest men that
have ever taken part in me pubic affairs OF Wis
Many of our associates who met with us on that
bright October day, away back IN 1876, now near
ly thirty nee years ago, and who labored with
US through the siXty-two days that we were en-
gagged IN trying to make a constitution for the
protection OF the rights ana liberties of the PEG
pie of Wi>cunsiu-One that would meet the APP
prevail of those who had delegated us perform
that duty-haye paSsei to an honorable grave.
and am proud 10 saY that do not know OF one.
either living dead, OF either convention. who
mad dishorored the good name he deserVediy
won
The constitution framed in 1916 not being rati-
fed a couven ion was provided for which met at
tie capito the 18th of December, 1917. and framed
the present constitution, which was ratified by
the people Before abiding to the present con
stitulion, or more especially 10 the convention
that framed 1t, IS Will be proper that should |
briefly refer to the causes aud To the arguments
that led to the dr'sat OF the one framed in lS4o
After this lapse OF time, and in view OF the action
OF the second constitltiu al convention and of
the subs, quent legislation of the state IN refer
euce 10 the matters forming the objections tuen
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