The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-01-09

with I per cent. interest. In this way
no injustice will be done to the purcha-
ser. From information Mr.. L. had learn
ed that one high in Office had intimated
to those who bought lots at the sale in
Iowa city, that if a relocation were made,
! their money would be refunded.
]. The fourth provision in this bill recon-
mends the appointment of three commits
sioners to superintend the buildings at
! Mount Pleasant, and as some difficulty
has arisen in regard to the legality Of
the present commissioners, that will be
obviated by making it the duty of the
Governor to appoint them. These COM
missioners cannot 60 beyond the sum ap-
frropriated by Congress (s2O, ooO.) They
are to advertise for the best plan-to
make separate contracts for the different
kinds of work, and are to pay the con-
tractors in drafts drawn or, the Secretary
of the Treasury. All these provisions
give ample security against any unwar-
ranted assumption of power, or squander-
ing of the public money.
/ The fifth provision makes Burlington
the temporary seat Of government until
provision is mode for the reception Of the
Legislature in Mount Pleasant. Burling-
ton will have to give up her rights just as
soon as suitable buildings are erected in
Mount Pleasant; this may be in very
short time. Does this look like claiming
too much for Des Moines? Is there any
| good reason why individuals should COM
bine against her! We advocate this mea-
sure, because we think it will promote
the general good.
/ Mr. L. then pointed to the existing laws.
The 9Th section provides that the Com
, missioners shall issue proposals six months
for plan of building. There are no re-
strctions. they may, according to that
law, erect a building that shall not cost
Sl0G,or they may make it cost $1,000,
, and there is no check to their extravaganza.
!. What has been their conduct! By the
\ law they were to adopt plan, and then
: issue proposals for six months. As late
!, as October no plan had been agreed upon
and the lettings had to be made the 4tf
! November. 1t was ascertained that the
:, acting commissioner had authorized {
y person in Du Buque to draught plan
!, but when it was submitted to Mr. Rague
:, it was pointed on, to be defective and wa
:, thrown aside, and without affording al
Is opportunity for competition, the actin!
* commissioner actually made an arrange
~ ment with Mr.. Rague for a plan Of tn
e building. and employed him as architec
/. Of the same. M L. called this rockies
Or assumption of power on the part of tn
h. commissioner.
NJ Mr L. said, that in passing the supple
- mentary act at the last session, the Legis
Of lature had actually repealed the most in
portant part of the law in relation TO tn
oath Of the commissioners. He contende
that the oath and acts of The commission
ne ers were null and void. They might d
lc- what they pleased, and there was n
be remedy. Where there is no law, there
ole no transgression.
as Even admitting they were legally al
NV pointed, which he denied, they had I
tn authority to make the location. The Il
I'll cation was made on the Sd Of Nay {
'as unsurueyed land, when the act of Co
his gress required it to be made on surueyt
on land. Congress never to his knowled
lde granted land until it was surveyed. T
or showed the fraudulent tendency of su,
Use action, by an ingenious illustration: su
his pose, said he, had four houses in BIZ
err lington, two white, which were the lie;
m valuable, and two red; and should lea
ef- an agent 10 take care of them, &c. In I
uld mean time am travelling east and mc
rue gentleman who wishes to purchase
ow house in Burlington. | tell him the prit
to He concludes to purchase one of the VIII
our and least valuable houses. When he
ses rives at Burlington he views the bulldin!
nee and notwithstanding the arrangement,
po- wishes to take possession of one Of
ne red ones. He goes to my agent, and p
he'd walls upon him to paint one of the
act houses white, and Immediately takes p
had session. and writes me that he has tax
!. its one of my white houses, and the title
Sic. perfected. Would not this be consider
and fraudulent Certainly. So in this c;
acy there were two townships surveyed
for in Johnson county. But there was {
If unsurveyed still better. An agent of
r. ,,,.,,,o,+ ,,,oe nu nInyed IN survey I