The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-09-17

question and the general policy of the country
becomes settled, it would be madness for the
people of this Territory to take upon themselves
the bnrthens of State form of government.
Although there has been but little said about
lit, we believe that large majority will vote
for the "No Convention" ticket We hope all
will vote one way or the other, so that there
may be general expression of opinion on the
iect.
For the Hawk-Eyc and Patriot.
ADMISSION INTO THE UNION.
A law was passed at the Extra Session
of our Legislature in July, giving the cit
liens of This Territory the privilege of
voting for or against holding Convcn-
ton to form a Constitution for State
Government. This is subject that has
not been examined very particularly, but it
is pretty generally thought that we should
be admitted into the Union as soon as our
population is sufficient. But before we
vote, let US take "a second sober thought
The objections generally raised, are
first, the expense of State Government;
and second, that we shall not receive as
many and as liberal donations for the
purposes of education, internal improve
ments, &c.
TO the first objection it has been said,
that the five per cent. fund arising from
the sale of public lands, will pay the ex.
pense. This, l think, is mistake; for,
even now, while the best of our lands are
being sold, five per cent. on the amount
would not, in any one year, have betrayed
the expenses of our Territorial Govern.
Iment. The probability is that that fund
will fall short of the expenses from ten to
fifteen thousand dollars.
As to the second objection, l cannot see
that it exists at all; for there is no reason
why Congress will not donate to State
just as much as to Territory. And
when we examine the fact in regard to
other States, we find that it has been done.
The advantages of State Government
are-the election of our own officers, and
the influence of two Senators and Rep
resentative in Congress.
In regard to the first suggestion, would
say, that we ought to feel some ambition
about electing our officers. This is the
handspring of our Republican Govern
ment. In our present situation we are
no more of Republic than are the Can
adas. They have not only spent money,
but they have shed their blood in the vain
hope of obtaining this privilege. And
now, will not the citizens of Iowa accept
this high privilege when it is offerej
them? Our officers, in our present con-
dition, are too much dependent upon the
President, and not enough on the people.
Two Senators in Congress ought to
have sufficient influence to procure an ap-
preparation for the improvement of the
navigation of the Upper Mississippi, and
10 obtain an enlargement of our mail ia
(cilities-in both of which, | think, we are
at this time very much neglected, as well
as in many other things. We are well
aware of the cramped condition of the
financial affairs of the General Govern
ment; but we also know that among the
neglected we have been the most neglect
ed: for, when we compare the extra ex-
pense of navigating the Rapids, without
taking into the account the great difficulty
and risk attendant upon the present mode,
from the time that the attention of Con-
gress was first called to that subject, and
allowing their improvement to progress
in the same ratio they have done for the
last ten years, it will be found that this
expense will amount 10 ten times as much
as the actual cost for removing the OBJ
structions. mention this as one among
the many difficulties under which we la
Dor, and under which we will continue TO
labor, while Territory.
We have all been accustomed to exer-
cising and enjoying the blessed rights and
privileges incident to State Government;
and | cannot believe that the citizens of
Iowa will longer tolerate our present form
Iof government, when an opportunity is
afforded them of assuming among the
States of this Confederacy position to
which they are so fully entitled.
| If it should be the voice of the people
that Convention shall be held and a
Constitution adopted, it will most proba-
bly, not be sent to Congress in time for it
to be acted upon in less than one year
and then it will have to go before our
Convention again for its acceptance; SO
that it will occupy something like two
years before our State government can go
into operation, and it will not be at all
surprising if it should take four years.
SUNDRY.
ANOTHER DOSE.
| Inst week we rave the letter of Col Inhnso,,