Speech of Marshall M. Strong, February 5, 1847

              262 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
Is there a man with soul so dead, Who never to himseK hath said^ This is my own, my chosen land?
In the older states, on the contrary, where society is stationary, where almost everything of a pubhc nature has been already ac¬ complished, where nothing better than the present is to be expected from the future, there is a strong tendency to make each person an isolated being in society, absorbed in his own and indifferent to the welfare of others. Hence it is almost impossible for anyone who has been some years in the West to be again contented with a residence at the East. Let us foster and cherish this noble and generous virtue —^let us furnish it with its proper aliment—let us raise our standard of excellence higher and higher, so that at some future day we may point with just pride to the high social and political, moral and in¬ tellectual condition of our people and feel assured that the name of Wisconsin, like that of Washington, will have associations gathered around it which will be dear to every lover of freedom.— Racine Advocate, Feb. 24, and March 3, 1847.
REMARKS OF MR. CLARK, FEBRUARY 6, 1847
Mr. President: The honorable councillor from Racine, Mr. Strong, has taken occasion to entertain the Council some three hours with a written and labored argument, analyzing, discussing, and deciding upon the constitution which is now before the people. Sir, I have deemed his remarks entirely irrelevant to the question before the Council. I am not prepared to discuss the merits or demerits of the constitution at this time and in this place. My constituents, sir, did not elect me for that purpose; they claim it as a right which belongs to them to discuss and adopt or reject that important instrument as they in their wisdom shall deem proper. I have listened to the gentleman's analysis of the constitution, and his long and labored arguments against its adoption by the people with attention and patience, and I hope the gentleman will extend the same courtesy to me while I occupy the floor in reply; and the gentleman will excuse me if in the course of my remarks I should at¬ tempt to analyze (not the constitution) but his singular and strange course in the convention and should animadvert somewhat severely upon his political course since.
But, Mr, President, before I commence my reply to the gentleman from Racine I have somewhat to do with the honorable member from Milwaukee, Mr. WeHs, who had the honor to open the debate on the biU now before the Council.   The first argument which the