The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-05-13
Ex-Governor Lucas, Proclamation.

Below will be found a most singular
document. It is conceded-ous oppo 1
nents being judges-that Gov. Lucas has
been removed. Howthen can he legi,i-
malely exercise the functions of the Ex-
ecu,ive of this Territory, if that is the
fact! If, by the non-arrival Of his Excel
lency, Gov. Chambers, he may still con-
slider himself Governor by mere suffer-
anee. which we take TO be the case, does
not the issuing Of this Proclamation al
The present time look somewhat remark
able? BY the extract of the law, included
in the Proclamation, both the time and
the conditions of the meeting Of the mex,
Legislature will be seen. 1t would have
been more appropriate for the Legislature
in less than three month his and half be-
fore the date Of this Proclamation, to have
stated positively by law where the next
session should be held, than for the Gov
ernor-eyen were he the Governor in
fac,-lo have issued such Proclamation;
for the Legislature then knew as much
about The completion Of suitable buildings
as he does. Did the Legislature, when
it passed this conditional la ", dream that
the Proclamation which it authorized
would be issued in the month Of .april?
We believe such documents are hardly
ever issued until few weeks before the
commencement of the session.
We have some reason to think that
other motives induced the Ex-Governor
to issue this Proclamation, besides the
exercise of mere arbitrary power, Ii is
we'll known .ha, he has valuable claim
contiguous, to iowa City, and that he is
interested in the growth of that place.
The sales of Iowa City let's were adver-
Used to take place on the 10Th of May
inst. The impression must somehow be
made that the next session of the Legis-
Iature would positively be held at Iowa
City, in order TO convince immigrants
and spectators tina, they could make
profitable investments by purchasing lots.
TO effect this, no better plan could be
possibly hi, upon than for His Excellen-
cy to issue just such Proclamation as he
has done and thus sanction a forced
sale.
In speaking on this subject, we do not
wish TO say any thing that will operate
delrimentaIly to the prosperity of Iowa
City. We wish it to 60 ahead; but all
!rirks to force it forward will injure it.
The motives Of those who are now enga-
gcd in building i, up should be as pure
as were those who were instrumental in
lis selection. The Legislature agreed to
selec, that spot. because it was Govern.
ment land; no individual had claimed il,
or could enrich himself, as us locality
seemed to prohibit all private speculation.
We coun,enanced the measure on this
ground, and have been favorable 10 Iowa
City ever since; and we should be acting
as an enemy to that place were we to
keep silence, while we see steps taken to
push it forward tina, are viewed as I'M
warran,able by every candid man, and
will, inevitably, if persisted in. create a
feeling Of hostility against it in all parts
Of the Territory, that will materially mar
its growth aud prevent it from becoming
what ii oagh, TO be, and nigh. be, pop
ular and Gnarishing seat of Government
The very unwarran,able steps Gov. Lu-
cas- has taken may lead Governor Cham-
bers to look into the subject, and counter
maud the orders set forth in the Procla
nation. In examining the subject ne will
ascertain that it was the understanding
tina, the Legislature was to sit in Rurling-
ton for three Years at least. or until the
Public Buildings were completed. This
was the understanding of Col. Beeer,
who was then member from this town,
and whose vote, we believe, settled the
question. and this was the iasc. 1t being
pretty clearly ascertained that the Public
buildings could not be completed, that lac
was repealed, and the one quoted in the
Proclamation substituted in its place, TO
accommodate property holders at Iowa
City, who have promised the use of pri-
rate buildings in which the members are
to hold their sessions. The Legislature
has met in this place but t,co years since
the passage of the first law on the subject, |
and we shall not be much surprised i'll
Gov. Chambers, after examining all the
facts, should view the present as a kind
of er post .facto ia,o, and order the next
Legislature to meet in Burlington, unless
tho D,,bEc Io,y.TJs,o o,a A