The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-01-23

IL
trouble, mustered force Of sixty-six
well armed and mounted men and march
led to their relief; and, sir, this was done
when they had a worse than savage foe
on their border. But, sir, it is unnecessa-
Try for me to parlicularize; there is no hos
tili,y in the north against the south.
! We do not wish to draw Mason and
Dixon line in this Territory. But If gen
tlemen will force il upon us, ! say let
them suffer the consequences. The
north will in a very short time be able to
make, yes, sir. to force the south to re-
spect her. She has the Territory and
country, too, not surpassed by any in the
west; why then will they force us to di
vide our interests from theirs. l hope
such may no. be the case, and that no Sec
sional prejudices will be cultivated among
us.
! do not think it necessary to speak to
the merits of the bill before US. for con.
slider the whole debate as out Of order.
Gentlemen have not spoken to the merits
of their bill, but have confined their re-.
marks TO the acts of the commissioners,
and have heaped upon their heads such a
load Of abuse, that really thought they
were about to be demolished. But find
they still live and have some right to exer-
else the duties of their Office.
But did not rise to speak of the com.
missioners or their acts, l believe they
] know their duty. and knowing, will per-
form it; this is all know or care for. l
do not say that they are acting for the
best interests of the Territory. and l
would heartily join with the gentlemen in
? passing some bill to restrict their expend-
lures, and provide for the speedy compile
; ton Of the public buildings, but this is not
/, the time TO discuss this question. The
true issue is, shall the seat of government
be at Iowa or shall it be removed TO
: Mount Pleasant! Now, sir. this is what
, gentlemen should discuss, this is the pro-
. per question before us now. and what,
contend, is the object of the bill. believe
: that Iowa City is better suited for the cap.
e itol of the Territory, than Mount Pleasant.
1 Why, sir, it is nearer the centre of the
Territory, and nearer the centre of the
present population. Iowa City, sir, is a
very central situation: it is about eighty
miles from any place aud from every
e place, at least in this territory.
j. l will not pretend to deny the position
. of the gentleman from Des Moines, thai
the majority ought to rule. But dc
, contend that minori,ies have rights. ant
y such right that an overgrown majority
= cannot take from them. The right Il
!. something like an equal division Of TIL
public favor. Now, sir, what do the,
. wish to do! They would have all publ
i moneys expended this side of the low
d River, they already receive about thirty
;. thousand dollars annually in this town
v which is appropriated to defray the ex
penses Of the Legislature and twent..
g thousand to build penitentiary at For
Madison; and now they envynot the north
e sir, but the central portion Of the rel
Of ritory, the little sum of twenty thousan
- dollars, and one section of land, whic
are about to be expended in Iowa City
= Is this having regard to the interest {
o. the minority? No, sir, they would glad!
c. trample under foot the rights of the mine
IS rity. Yes, they would crush us to tn
dust and press us to the earth, that the
might rise upon our downfall. Such
y spirit is not worthy of notice, it is ne
&c what we had reason to expect from sue
le source.
o The Gentleman from Desmoines ha
stated that the seat of government ougf
to be placed at some place as near the Ger
TO ire of the population and Territory a
e. practicable. l contend that Iowa city
that place. Look at it; there are Of su
veyed land south of that place eighty 81
Townships, and north one hundred an
e. twenty-eight this is forty-two township
OK more north than are south of the preser
IS location. But the south has all the pop,
g. lation, why then are they not willing
p wait till after the apportianment when tn
49, new counties shall have voice in til,
en- House? they know it will then be too lat
y. the county of Desmoines will not then
as over represented here, and she will hay
ast her just proportion here. We see an a
ry tempt to hasten our action on this suhje
to and take step which we may not
lis able to retract.
to If gentlemen are determined to force
on Mason and Dixon line upon US say, !
tn them do it, and the consequences be upo
lot their own heads. Sir, it will create sue
las jealousy between the north and II
of south as nothing can allay. and what wi
y. be their situation then? Soon, vel
ny soon, the balance Of power will chang
is and they may then think themselves 70
'as tunate that the location was made whe
es. it was, or it might be made at pla'
'ed not so well calculated to suit their ma
IAN unanimous imagina,ions. | do hope tn
is question will be settled now, and that to
Use to the honor of the Territory. But
in. this House shall determine otherwise,
for shall cheerfully acquiesce, and wait WI
rn- patience till such time as the north sh
5ut be able to compel respect and attention
he - - ----.----
IN TO SETTLERS.
.ly Extract from letter written by &c
i. >CD