VIEWS OF DANIEL FITZSIMMONS

[August 19, 1846]

To John A. Brown Esq., Editor of the Milwaukee Courier: DEAR SIR: You will very much oblige me and a very large portion of the Democracy of this city and county by publishing the following statement of our sentiments and wishes in relation to our state constitution.

To the Democracy of the territory of Wisconsin-I particularly address myself to that large and respectable portion of them who are anxious to extend the right of suffrage to the adopted citizen in the shortest period that has been allowed by the most liberal states in the Union, Illinois, for example. Fellow citizens, a crisis has arrived in the history of our territory, when it behooves every honest, liberal, and patriotic man to do his duty fearlessly, candidly, and perseveringly. If you carelessly permit the present opportunity to go by without a struggle to establish your rights, all our future exertions will be in vain after the constitution is formed and our hands tied up and our voices stifled by those who are hostile to our most vital interests.

Therefore, if it is your wish to have a free and liberal constitution established in Wisconsin, I earnestly request of you to attend to what I have to say, as it seems to me that the following remarks are of the utmost consequence to your. selves and your posterity.

First, let no voter cast his vote for any candidate without knowing what his principles are with respect to the right of suffrage. Let the questions be definite not vague. If he is in favor of the alien becoming a citizen in twelve months after taking the oath of allegiance, and is an honest man, capable, and otherwise a sound Democrat, use your best endeavors by all honorable means to procure his election.

This principle of aliens becoming citizens in one year after taking the oath of allegiance (I mean white men who are of age, and who contribute to the support of the state by paying taxes or otherwise) has been advocated by the liberal and enlightened ex-Governor Seward of New York, and by our no less illustrious, patriotic, and liberal governor of Wisconsin, Gen. Henry Dodge. No honester or truer patriots than these gentlemen that I have just mentioned ever, in my opinion, held office in these United States. Our present Governor in 1843 expressed himself as follows, in reply to inquiries whether he would be in favor of foreigners, without taking the oath of allegiance, voting for delegates to frame a state constitution. He answered in the affirmative, and further added that, "Taxation and representation should go hand in hand." Such was the opinion of our venerable Governor in '43; and no one doubts but that such are his opinions now, for he never was known to change his democratic creed from the day that he was first appointed by Andrew Jackson, the hero of New Orleans, up to the present day, in office or out of office.

Now let us hear what the patriotic ex-Governor Seward says upon the subject of the naturalization law. In addressing himself to the Irish repealers, he said that the Native American party principle of requiring foreigners to be twenty-one years in this country after taking the oath of allegiance was monstrous in the extreme, and at variance with our constitution, and to our free institutions, and belieing our Declaration of Independence. He further stated his wish to make an amendment to the Native American party principles by taking away the figure 2 and leaving 1. Having given the opinion of these two great statesmen I shall proceed to state some of the other articles we wish to have put in the constitution. It is our wish that upon the adoption of the state constitution every white male inhabitant who is of age, and not otherwise incapacitated, shall, by contributing towards the maintenance of the state and taking the oath of allegiance, be entitled to all the privileges of citizenship.

No property qualification to be required of voters, nor any property qualification to be required of office holders other than giving sufficient security for the faithful performance of their duty.

Third, adopted as well as native citizens to be eligible to any office in the state, governor not excepted.

Fourth, the article upon state debts in the Iowa constitution would in my opinion suit us very well, viz: "no state debts over a certain amount to be created by the legislature, or other liabilities exceeding the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, except in case of war, to repel invasion, or suppress insurrection, unless it be by a vote of the majority of the people."

Fifth, the article also in the Iowa constitution on incorporations we might adopt with perfect safety; it prohibits particularly the creation or renewal of bank charters, the making, issuing, or putting in circulation any bill, check, ticket, certificate, promissory note or other paper, or the paper of any bank to circulate as money. The general assembly of this state shall prohibit by law any person or persons, association, company, or corporation from exercising the privileges of banking, or creating paper to circulate as money.

Sixth, there shall be civil and religious liberty to persons of every denomination, without prohibition or inequality. Seventh, there shall be vote by ballot.

Eighth, the principal officers in the state to be elected by the people, the officers of the judiciary [and] circuit judges, included; and all above that grade, might, in my opinion, be left to the wisdom of the legislature to be elected. A reasonable salary to be given them, not too extravagant nor yet too niggardly; sufficient to live comfortably.

Ninth, the school lands when brought into market to be sold outright and deeds given in fee simple, not leased, and part of the purchase money to remain on bond and mortgage at a reasonable interest.

Tenth, the lands that are to be granted to us by Congress when we become a state to be solely appropriated for educational purposes, for the erection and endowment of colleges, academies, and the support of common schools; all, without any distinction, to participate in the fund thus raised.

Eleventh, there shall be provision made for the unfortunate debtor, and a comfortable homestead allowed him that will be exempt from seizure by his creditors.

Twelfth, the duties arising from goods that are sold at auction shall be appropriated for the use of such city, village, or township that such goods may be sold in.

There are many other essential articles that ought to be inserted here, but my space will not permit me to go further. The four great cardinal points that we must adhere to, are, first, civil and religious liberty; second, the shortening of the time of aliens becoming citizens; third, no special taxation without a vote directly from the people; fourth, as few appointments as possible, the great body of office holders to be elected by the people. The secretary of state, auditor, and treasurer ought to be elected by the people, and to hold their office two years. These three officers are elected by the people agreeably to the constitution of the state of Iowa. I do think that we are entitled to as liberal a constitution as any state in the Union. We are equally as moral, as industrious, and intelligent as any of our sister states or territories.

A controversy was carried on last winter or spring between the Whigs and Democrats, the former charging the latter with having made odious distinctions between the native and adopted citizen, requiring of the adopted citizen a property qualification and longer residence than was required of the native citizen. It appeared from the evidence that was produced by the Democrats that there was no such odious distinction in the draft as originally drawn by the Democratic trustees of this town; but it appears that the odious distinction complained of was made by the Democratic legislature at Madison. If so, it will behoove the

Democratic convention to wipe off the foul stigma from their character by granting a liberal constitution to the people. This is the only means by which they will be able to regain the former confidence that the adopted citizen has invariably reposed in them.

Fellow citizens, I have now, to the best of my ability, performed my task, both as a delegate at the Democratic convention held at the courthouse on the eighth instant, and now upon paper. I have in both places given expression to my opinion freely and boldly, but not with disrespect to anyone.

It now remains for you to do you duty at the polls on the day of election in September. Remember before you cast your votes to make a binding contract with your Democratic candidates that they will to the utmost of their abilities carry out the principles of equality as laid down in this address. If any there be, those who turn recreant to the confidence reposed in them, upon their return home, let them be met with the hisses and scorn of an injured community, whose interests they have betrayed. Let them remain in obscurity never to be noticed by the Democracy again. I feel confident, fellow citizens, that the delegation we have chosen will prove as true to their trust as the needle to the pole, and are every way worthy of your support. Let there be no division in our ranks when we come to the polls; let us all have but one grand object in view, to elect the whole ticket, and to use our best exertions to obtain a liberal and free constitution for Wisconsin, that will be the means of bringing immigrants of character and capital into our young state, settling on our unoccupied lands, establishing factories upon our streams, opening new stores in our townships and villages, and building splendid dwelling and commercial houses in our seaport towns. In a word, there is nothing wanting but a good, liberal state constitution to make Wisconsin the queen and glory of the "far West," and Milwaukee the commercial emporium of the Upper Lakes.

I remain, fellow citizens, your ever faithful friend, DANIEL FITZSIMMONS.

Milwaukee, August 10, 1846.