, 1840-11-28

authorised to call to his aid. If necessary,
assistance from other divisions, while he wa
al the same time directed 10 use the utmo>l
caution to prevent any unnecessary collision
win the authorities or citizens of Iowa, aud
only IN case the laws of the State, were re-
sisted by an armed force too strong TO b.
overcome by the ordinary powers conferred
upon the civil offers, 10 resist force by force
ana cause the laws To be faithfully executed
and the integrity OF our territory maintain
ed.
IN the mean time the Sheriff of CLARK
County had been seized by an armed force
carried into the Territory of Iowa and there
held in prisonment by its legally constituted
authorities while engaged pcaceablv in col.
Letting the revenue in the district of country
thus brought in dispute. Under this state
OF things Il series OF resolutions were adopt.
ed by the Territorial council of Iowa re.
questIng the Executive of this State to au.
thorise a suspension of hostilities on the part
Missouri until the first day of July last, with
a view OF having the difficulty adjusted by
the action OF congress. A copy of the said
resolutions were also sent by the Council to
the County Court of Clark County and adopt
ted by that body. An order was then issued
from that court TO the general officer direct
ing him TO dIsband the forces under his com
mand with which order he complied. When
The resolutions were presented TO me for
approval | Immediately expressed my un-
qualified dissent. could not for one in
slant recognise as obligatory the assumed
ground that Congress could by any means
interfere with or after the constitutional linn
It's Of this State. While | expressed nv
serious regret that the kindred interests of
the citizens of this State and Iowa, were Of
necessity about to be discovered; that | had
no authority to suspend the execution Of
any law; which power had been wisely con-
ferred upon a different department Of our
government, that felt myself constrained to
ordor that no suspension of the civil and
military functions under the laws of this
State be allowed within its rightful limits,
and called upon all the officers of this State
civil and military that they should use all le-
gal means IN their power TO prevent any vio-
latIon OF law or exercise of jurisdiction with
IN our limits, and that they exercise 10 the
iu!I extent their respective duties in contor-
nifty with the laws of this Stae.
Sence the date of that proclamation | am
to inform you, that no further dis
turbance has occurred on our northern line,
which has called for the interference al the
authority Of the Executive or the military
force of the State.
A. the history OF the dispute and the mode
ii designation Of our northern boundary
A"r. " nunIcated to the last session OF
tt. .e-lsiIrure ] deem il unnecessary 10 en-
." intO any detail of the facts connected
herewith. II the legislature should howcv.
e c',nSidec II n"ceSSary, ! be- leave To refer
LiI":n pmy last mcSSIIe and he accOmpl
lyIng documents. r" SHOW inlt the bnunda-
v line winch We ciaun as tie termination
Il our Territory Oh The north is in strict con
nruity Wifh the coded and constitutional
Units Of this State. that it cannot in anv
manner be construed to trench on the lin.
Is of the Territory OF Iowa. that its desig-
I atom WIS mlde with j just aud opened
OF the rights al the territory and
li;er Il full and fair nn;i." - the time vine,
he survey would he instituted by the author
OF this State, and after Il formal invita-
ion to the general government % partici-
rate in the proceeding. | cannot here how
,ver pause in the history of this whole pro-
without expressing to you the sur
rise which | feel that this State should new
II have been furnished with u copy or plat
# the line which was afterwards made by
commissions appointed by the United
and which forms the foundation of
he claim of Iowa to the territory in dispute.
The increasing Importance and population
# the Territory of Iowa will doubtless very
hortly be made the ground Of an application
or its admission into the Union as a sove-
eign and independent State, and the gov
rnor of that territory has brought the sub
ect TO the attention Of their legislative body.
The consent Of Congress cannot and ought
lot long TO be withheld. whenever the ter
itory shall prove itself entitled to take an
quail rank among the States Of our confed-
.racy, and in this point Of view it becomes
extremely important that this question should
,e definitely settled. 1t would be far better
hat question Of boundary should be settled
~ Congress upon the admission Of Iowa in
O the Union, than that it should be left un-
and remain a ground Of immediate
so soon as Iowa should assume
he authority and rank of a sovereign State.
In ratifying the constitution which the