Remonstrance against having the county seat of Racine County determined by electors

Communication of Thomas Wright & others in relation to the County Seat in Racine County

Mr. James Jany 31 Hold Read & levied on the table

To the Honourable members of the Council of the Territory of Wisconsin

Having this day learned that a Petition has been presented to your Honourable body by Hon. William Bullen, praying that a Law may be passed leaving to the Electors of this County the location of the seat of Justice &c. We beg leave respectfully to state that the information of the presentation of this petition, is the first notice which the citizens of this part of the county have had of the existence of such a petition. That the same has been secretly kept from the knowledge of citizens of the north part of the county, and as we believe stealthily circulated. That two years ago upon the presentation of such a petition of which the north part of the county had not notice, it is understood that the two councillors from this county agreed, before any legislative action should be had theron, to submit the question to the people by Petition and Remonstrance, and that if a majority desired the passage of such a Law. And not to be opposed by our members - if a majority were against it then the subject should be dropped - That

petitions and Remonstrance were thereupon circulated throughout the county, and that a very large majority of the electors, nearly two to one were opposed to the passage of any law concerning the subject - and we are well satisfied that the same is the opinion of a still larger majority of the people at the present time - That if time would allow, such an expression could be easily obtained.

We would further state that the north half of the county contained by the last census about 200 more inhabitants than the south half and has uniformly polled a much larger number of voters - and in our opinion the citizens of the county generally are better accomodated with the county seat at Racine, than they could be at any other point. That county buildings have been erected at the present seat of Justice at our expense of some $7,000 paid by the citizens of Racine. That the county obtained a pre-emption to the quarter section on which the buildings stand.

We know not what the petition lately presented contains but we take this method of calling

the attention of your honourable body to the existence of facts, which, in our opinion, will be sufficient to induce the Council to decline any action in the matter.

Racine Jany 25, 1842

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