# History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/1/22

​AT the April election in 1851, Thomas H. Benton, Democrat, was chosen Superintendent of Public Instruction over Wm. G. Woodward, Whig, by a vote of 10,353 to 9,002.
The Fourth General Assembly convened at Iowa City on the 6th day of December, 1852, and was organized by the election of William E. Leffingwell, President of the Senate, and James Grant, Speaker of the House. Governor Hempstead’s message, which was read in each House on the 7th, states the financial condition as follows: amount paid into the treasury for the two years ending October 31,1852, $139,681.69, disbursements for the same period, $131,631.49, leaving a balance of $8,051.59. The funded debt of the State was $81,795.75.
Among the recommendations he urges the establishment of the office of Attorney-General and also a State Land Office, the erection of a monument to the memory of Major Mills, who fell in the Mexican War, the prohibition of the circulation of bank notes of less denomination than ten dollars, a general license law for the sale of intoxicating liquors, that the Legislature urge Congress to make a grant of public lands to aid in the construction of railroads in Iowa.
General Van Antwerp, Commissioner of the Des Moines River Improvement, in his report to the Governor, made November 30, 1852, stated that $300,000 had been expended in the work, and that by a recent decision of the Interior Department it was held that the grant of lands extended to the source of the river; a million of acres was now available for the completion of the work. He says:
He adds:
The Whig State Convention held at Iowa City on the 26th of February, 1852, nominated the following ticket: J. W. Jenkins for Secretary of State; Asbury Porter, Auditor; Hosea B. Horn, Treasurer. The resolutions favored a convention to revise the Constitution, indorsed the administration of President Fillmore and the compromise measures of 1850.
The Democrats held their convention at the Capital on the 28th of May and made the following nominations: for Secretary of State, George W. McCleary; Auditor, Wm. Pattee; Treasurer, M. L. Morris. The resolutions indorsed the compromise of 1850, opposed a national bank and a protective tariff. At the election, McCleary, Democrat, received 16,884 votes, and Jenkins, Whig, 15,027—McCleary’s majority, 1,857.
At the Presidential election in November, the vote of Iowa was as follows: For Franklin Pierce, Democrat, 17,762; General Winfield Scott, Whig, 15,856; John P. Hale, Free Soil, 1,606—plurality for Pierce, 1,906. Pierce’s majority, 300.
On the 21st of December the General Assembly in joint convention proceeded to the election of a United States Senator. James W. Grimes, on behalf of the Whigs, nominated George G. Wright; Freeman Alger, for the Democrats, placed in nomination George W. Jones. Upon the roll call Jones received fifty-nine votes and Wright ​thirty-one. George W. Jones was declared elected for the term of six years from March 4, 1853.
At this session of the Legislature strong efforts were made to secure land grants to aid in the construction of several lines of railroad in the State. James W. Grimes, who was an influential member of the House from Des Moines County, was one of the most active in these efforts. The project to aid a line of road from Dubuque to Keokuk failed, but a combination of the friends of east and west trunk lines across the State was finally effected, which procured the passage of memorials for aid to three roads. First, a railroad from Burlington to a point on the Missouri River at, or near, the mouth of the Platte River. Second, a road from Davenport via Muscatine to Kanesville on the Missouri. Third, a road from Dubuque to Fort Des Moines.
As early as 1828 Wm. C. Redfield suggested substantially the route upon which the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was located and built, as the most feasible line for such an enterprise. Twenty-two years later, in Iowa City, on the 14th of October, 1850, a company was organized to build a railroad on a portion of that route. James P. Carlton was chosen President, H. W. Lathrop, Secretary and Le Grand Byington, Treasurer of this company. Richard P. Morgan, of Kendall, Illinois, made the preliminary survey for the road between Davenport and Iowa City, in November and December of the same year, receiving therefor $400. The right of way was easily secured, but there was very little surplus capital in Iowa at that time that could be spared for railroad building.
From Chicago a railroad was being slowly constructed over the unsettled prairies then lying between that city and the Mississippi River. The people of Iowa were watching its progress with deep interest. In October, 1852, the Mississippi and Missouri Railroad Company was organized to build a railroad from Davenport to Council Bluffs. At the head of this new company were ​capitalists from the eastern States and Chicago, and such prominent citizens of Davenport as Hiram Price, John P. Cook, James Grant and Ebenezer Cook. As it became apparent that this company could command capital to build the road, negotiations were opened with its directors by the officers of the Iowa City and Davenport Railroad Company, by which its franchises were transferred to the Mississippi and Missouri Company, upon the condition that the road should be built through Iowa City. Meanwhile the Chicago road was approaching Rock Island. The following announcement shows its progress at this time:
The Legislature having created the office of Attorney-General, D. C. Cloud, Democrat, was elected over Samuel A. Rice, Whig, by a vote of 14,464 to 6,900. In 1854 the California immigration had subsided and the tide again turned into Iowa. The Chicago and Rock Island Railroad reached the Mississippi River opposite Davenport early in February, and on the 22d of that month thousands of citizens of Iowa and Illinois gathered at Rock Island to witness the arrival of the first train. At 5 p.m., the engine, Le Claire, profusely decorated with flags, came in sight and sounded its whistle. A mighty shout from the assembled people, roar of cannon and firing of rockets was the welcoming response. Two other trains loaded with visitors followed in rapid succession. Then came a great mass meeting, speeches of welcome, enthusiastic cheering and general rejoicing, which continued late into the night. All realized that it was the dawning ​of a new era of prosperity for Iowa. For the first time the State was in direct daily communication with the eastern world, and in the near future the railroad extension would build up inland cities, distribute coal, lumber and goods, stimulate immigration, carry farm products to eastern markets at all seasons of the year and greatly increase the value of farms and their products. The first line of railroad having now reached the Mississippi River on its way to the Pacific coast, the necessity for a bridge across the river became apparent.
On the 17th of January, 1853, the Legislature of Illinois had incorporated “The Railroad Bridge Company” to build a bridge across the Mississippi River at or near Rock Island. Powerful opposition on part of river cities and steamboat interests was now organized. The construction of a bridge across this great waterway was opposed on the ground that it would be an obstruction to navigation. But the courts decided in favor of the bridge and the work was begun in the fall of 1853 and completed in April, 1856.
The railroad was completed to Iowa City on the 1st of January, 1856, with a branch to Muscatine, which was opened in July.
The census of 1852 had shown a population of 229,929. In the beginning of 1854 it had increased to 324,401, a gain of 94,472. Capital in a much larger ratio was also coming in to develop industries, build up towns and cities and promote public enterprises. The slow progress of river improvements, the great cost of canals, the closing of water navigation for several months of each year by freezing and low water, had finally convinced all classes of people that the country must rely largely upon railroads for transportation. The prairie States were sparsely settled, their people had no surplus capital to invest in railroad building. There were millions of acres of government land unsalable for lack of home markets, or means of transporting crops to distant markets. If ​portions of these lands could be used to aid in building railroads, it would greatly increase the value of all and hasten by many years the construction of needed lines through the State. Without some such valuable aid, it must be many years before the immense prairies of Iowa could be traversed by railroads and made available for rapid settlement and profitable cultivation. Congress had been urged by the Legislature and by our Senators and Representatives to make grants of public lands to aid in the building of railroads, but without success. Renewed efforts were now made by public meetings, newspapers and our members of Congress.
On the 9th of January, 1854, the Democratic State Convention met at Iowa City and nominated the following candidates for the several offices: Curtis Bates for Governor; Geo. W. McCleary for Secretary of State; Joseph L. Sharp for Auditor; M. L. Morris for Treasurer; D. C. Cloud for Attorney-General. The resolutions indorsed the administration and policy of President Pierce without reserve.
The Whig Convention assembled at the Capital on the 22d of February and placed in nomination the following ticket: for Governor, James W. Grimes; Secretary of State, Simeon Winters; Auditor, A. J. Stevens; Treasurer, A. McMakin; Attorney-General, J. W. Sinnett. The resolutions condemned the repeal of the Missouri Compromise and the attempt of Congress to legislate slavery into the free Territories, favored the establishment of banks and a law prohibiting the sale and manufacture of intoxicating liquors. The Whig party at this time was rapidly breaking up. Many of its members had united with the “Know-Nothings,” a party opposed to the naturalization of foreign emigrants. It was divided into two hostile factions—the “Silver Greys,” who were willing to let slavery alone, and the “Seward Whigs,” who were opposed to slavery. The Democratic party was also divided on the slavery
JAMES W. GRIMES Governor of Iowa, 1854 to 1858
​issue; the “Hunkers” favored slavery, and the “Free Sellers” were antislavery. There was also an “Anti-slavery” party, which in 1854 nominated a full ticket for State officers. James W. Grimes was known to be outspoken in opposition to the extension of slavery and he was willing to make a vigorous campaign if he could receive the support of all of the opponents of the extension of slavery. He therefore held a private conference with the antislavery leaders, and persuaded them to withdraw their ticket and support the Whig candidates. Mr. Grimes now entered upon the campaign with great vigor and with strong hopes of success. He attacked the National Democratic administration, denouncing in scathing language its persistent efforts to extend slavery into the new Territories. He became the champion of the opposition to slavery and won the support of a large portion of the Free Soil Democrats. It was the beginning of a union of all who opposed the extension of slavery and the forerunner of the coming Republican party. The campaign resulted in the election of James W. Grimes, by a vote of 23,325 to 21,202 for Curtis Bates, giving Grimes a majority of 2,123. The Whigs also elected A. J. Stevens, Auditor, while the Democrats elected G. W. McCleary, Secretary of State; M. L. Morris, Treasurer; and D. C. Cloud, Attorney-General. James D. Eads, Democrat, had been elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in April.
The Fifth General Assembly, which convened on the 4th day of December, at Iowa City, was organized by the election of Maturin L. Fisher President of the Senate, and Reuben Noble Speaker of the House. The Democrats had sixteen members of the Senate; the Whigs and Free Soil, fifteen. In the House they stood, Whig and Free Soil, forty; Democrats, thirty. The Democrats organized the Senate and the Whigs the House.
Governor Hempstead, in his retiring message, reported the financial condition of the State to be as follows: ​amount paid into the treasury for the two years ending November 1, 1854, $125,462.57, adding $8,602.88, the amount in the treasury October 31, 1852, made a total of $134,065.45. There had been paid out on Auditor’s warrants $118,542.90, leaving a balance in the treasury of $15,522.55. The funded debt of the State was $79,745.75. He renewed his advice that no change should be made in the Constitution to authorize the establishment of banks in the State; and also again urged the enactment of a general license law. He recommended the organization of the militia and the appointment of a Commissioner of Immigration and again urged the Legislature to memorialize Congress for a grant of public lands to aid in building a railroad from the Mississippi to the Missouri River. On the 9th of December, James W. Grimes was sworn into office as Governor, and delivered his inaugural address to the General Assembly in joint convention. He recommended a general revision of the laws relating to public schools, that they should be supported by taxation instead of by rate bills. He urged the establishment of charitable State institutions; that the University Fund be appropriated to establish a scientific or polytechnic school; and a revision of the Constitution. He made a powerful argument against the extension of slavery in the Territories, saying:
“It becomes the State of Iowa, the only free child of the Missouri Compromise, to let the world know that she values the blessings that compromise has secured to her, and that she will never consent to become a party to the nationalization of slavery.”
On the 13th of December the General Assembly met in joint convention to elect a United States Senator and Supreme Judges. Two ballots were taken without an election, when the convention adjourned to the next day, at which time the convention adjourned to the 21st without taking a vote on the election of Senator. A. C. Dodge and Edward Johnston had received the votes of most of
GEORGE G. WRIGHT Chief Justice, Supreme Court, 1855 to 1864
​the Democrats, while the Whig and Free Soil members divided their votes among seven candidates, the most prominent of which were Fitz Henry Warren, James B. Howell, Ebenezer Cook and James Harlan. On the 21st, three votes were taken for Senator. On the third ballot Harlan had forty-seven votes, and A. C. Dodge forty-three, Cook seven. On the fifth ballot Harlan received forty-five votes, Cook forty-four, scattering eight. The Democrats being in a minority had no chance to elect a member of their own party, and as Cook was a conservative Whig, and Harlan a Free Soil Whig, most of them on the fifth ballot voted for Cook, hoping to elect him over Harlan. The convention now adjourned to January Fifth. On the seventh ballot Harlan received forty-seven votes, Cook twenty-nine, W. D. Browning nineteen.
The convention then decided to proceed to the election of Supreme Judges. On the vote for Chief Justice, George G. Wright, Whig, was elected over Edward Johnston, fifty-three to forty-five. Wm. G. Woodward, Whig, was then elected Associate Justice by fifty-one votes, the opposition being divided among eight candidates. After several ballots for another Associate Justice were taken without an election the convention adjourned to the next day when the Senate met and, by a strict party vote, adjourned to Monday to avoid meeting the House in joint convention at the time agreed upon, proposing to thus invalidate any election that might be made. When the time arrived to which the joint convention had adjourned, the Whig Senators entered the House and the Speaker announced the joint convention was then in session. Mr. Samuels raised the point that the convention was not properly convened. The Speaker overruled the point and ordered the roll called. Most of the Democratic members absented themselves or refused to answer to the call. Fifty-seven members answered, however, making a majority of the joint convention. The President being absent, W. W. Hamilton was elected to fill the position. The ​convention then proceeded to elect an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, and Norman W. Isbell was chosen by a vote of fifty-one to five. A vote was then taken for United States Senator. James Harlan received fifty-two votes to four scattering and was declared elected for six years from March 4, 1855.
The most important act of the session was the passage of a bill submitting to a vote of the people at the August election a proposition for a convention to revise the Constitution of the State. Among other important acts were the following: to provide for relocation of the Capital of the State to within two miles of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines River; to provide for a Geological Survey, to be made by the geologist, to be appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate; an act to establish an asylum for the deaf and dumb; an act for the suppression of intemperance, known as the prohibitory liquor law; an act adding to the county of Kossuth the territory of Bancroft County and the north half of Humboldt, and an act to establish a State Land Office.
The principal contests before this Legislature were the election of a United States Senator; the revision of the Constitution and prohibition of the liquor traffic. The election of James W. Grimes, as Governor, was the first victory of the Antislavery movement in Iowa. Up to 1854 the Territory and State had been controlled by the Democrats, and its votes in Congress, with one exception, had uniformly been given against the Antislavery or Free Soil movement, which was rapidly growing in the Northern States. Grimes was an earnest and outspoken opponent of the extension of slavery. A majority of the Legislature of 1854 was opposed to the Democratic party and sympathized with the growing Free Soil movement. The election of James Harlan to the United States Senate over the combined strength of the Democrats and
JAMES HARLAN United States Senator, 1855 to 1873
​conservative Whigs was regarded as the most important victory of all for the Free Soil cause. Mr. Harlan was the most radical Antislavery candidate presented to the Legislature and, although the opposition had finally resorted to revolutionary methods to prevent his election, he had received the votes of a majority of all of the members of the General Assembly.
A strong movement had been organized in the State by the friends of temperance for the enactment of a law prohibiting the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquor. The State Temperance Alliance had delegated to Hiram Price, D. S. True and John L. Davies the preparation of a bill to be presented to the Legislature, similar to the “Maine Liquor Law.” The bill was drafted with great care and sent to Dr. Amos Witter, a Democratic Representative from Scott County, who, on the 13th of December, 1854, introduced it into the House. It met with most determined opposition at every stage of progress, but finally passed both houses and was approved by Governor Grimes. One of its provisions required the act to be submitted to a vote of the people at the following April election. The vote stood 25,555 for the law, to 22,645 against. Having thus been adopted by a majority of 2,910, it went into effect on the First of July following. The act prohibited the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors, excepting for mechanical or medical purposes. The penalties were fine and imprisonment. With some amendment and modifications this law remained upon the statute books for more than forty years.
The Democratic State Convention was held at Iowa City, January 24, 1855 and nominated the following candidates: Commissioner of River Improvement, O. D. Tisdale; Register, Wm. Dewey; Register State Land Office, S. H. Samuels. The Whig Convention, held at the same place on the following day, nominated the following ticket: Commissioner of River Improvement, Wm. McKay; Register, J. C. Lockwood; Register Land Office, ​Anson Hart. The Whig ticket was elected. The vote for Commissioner was for McKay, Whig, 24,743; Tisdale, Democrat, 20,006. McKay's majority, 4,737.
This was the last contest between the Democrats and Whigs in Iowa. Before the next election the Whig party was largely absorbed by the new Republican party. The Silver Grey Whigs had United with the Democrats, while the Free Soil Whigs and Antislavery Democrats had together become Republicans. The conflict in Kansas over slavery had been growing in bitterness. Thousands of people from Missouri and other slave States entered the Territory to aid in the attempt to make it a slave State. Immigration from the North poured in and the contest between the advocates of free and slave States became bitter, not only in Kansas but throughout the entire Union. In spite of the Compromise of 1850, the conflict between freedom and slavery was growing more intense year by year, and armed collisions were becoming frequent in Kansas.
During the years of conflict between the defenders of slavery in Congress and the rapidly growing Antislavery sentiment, which grew warm at the close of the Mexican War, our Senators, Jones and Dodge, voted against the “Wilmot Proviso” and later for the Fugitive Slave Law and the whole of the Compromise measures of 1850. In the debates, which extended through many years, no voice was raised in Congress from Iowa Senators or Representatives against the extension of slavery until 1855 when James Harlan and James Thorington took their seats. Elected by a union of the Free Soil Whigs and Abolitionists, they were the first Iowa Congressmen to oppose the growing aggression of the slave power. The sentiment of the people of Iowa on the absorbing topic was undergoing a change.
The Legislature of 1856 passed joint resolutions strongly opposing the extension of slavery. These resolutions were sent to the Iowa members of Congress. No more Democrats were elected to Congress from Iowa until ​after slavery had ceased to exist. The Democratic party in Iowa never opposed the extension of slavery and thousands of its former members left the ranks, uniting with the Free Soil movement which organized the Republican party. The National Whig party, in trying to remain neutral, was going to pieces, and the opponents of the extension of slavery were coming together in a new political organization, known as the Republican party.
Early in January, 1856, the following call appeared in many Iowa newspapers:
"To the Citizens of Iowa:
"Believing that a large majority of the people of Iowa are opposed to the introduction of slavery into territory now free, and that the Democratic party is striving to make slavery a national institution, contrary to the principles laid down in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as taught by the Fathers of the Republic, we call upon all such citizens to meet in convention at Iowa City on the 22d day of February, 1856, for the purpose of organizing a Republican party to make common cause with a similar party already formed in several other States of the Union.
Signed Many Citizens.
"January 3, 1856."
It has been ascertained in late years, that the call which brought this convention together was made in the following manner: Robert Lowry, Hiram Price and Alfred Sanders, of Scott County, united in a letter to Governor Grimes in December, 1855, urging him to prepare a call for a State convention to organize a Republican party in Iowa. The Governor conferred with Samuel McFarland, of Henry County, and a few others. The call was written and sent by them to the Burlington Hawkeye and Mt. Pleasant Journal, which papers published it, and from them it was widely copied throughout the State.
The convention which assembled under this call was large and enthusiastic, and proceeded to organize the Republican party of Iowa. The following resolutions of the platform adopted make a comprehensive statement of the chief purpose of the new party:
An effort was made by Hiram Price and others to procure incorporated in the platform of the new party an indorsement of the prohibitory liquor law, but a majority decided that it was better to unite in the new organization all who were opposed to the extension of slavery, which could only be accomplished by omitting all minor issues, upon which wide difference of opinion would arise. The convention then elected delegates to a national convention which would convene to organize a national Republican party and nominate candidates for President, and Vice-President. Candidates for Presidential electors were chosen and the following ticket nominated for State officers: Elijah Sells for Secretary of State; John Pattee, Auditor; M. L. Morris, Treasurer; Samuel A. Rice, Attorney-General. Among the prominent Democrats who left their old party and were active in organizing the Republican party were, Hiram Price, Samuel J. Kirkwood and Martin L. Morris.
ELIJAH SELLS Member of Constitutional Convention of 1844
JAMES THORINGTON First Republican Member of Congress, 1855 to 1857