Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-12-17
Governors Message.
FeAo,o Citizens at the Council,

Governors Message.
| Fello,, Citi=ens of the Council,
And otiAe House Of Representatives.
! Since the last annual meeting Of tn
Legislative Assembly, the people hav
continued 10 enjoy the blessings Of healt
and peace and industry has been reward
ed with abundance. Let us therefore, i
renewing our efforts to promote the ge,
cral welfare, not forget to acknowiedy
with humility, our dependence upon til
Most High, and TO imp!ore a coatlnuanc
OF his protection and favor.
Oar population has continued stealil
to increase, and the progress OF improve
ment in the limited extent of territor
opento settlement has been most cheering
/ by treaty recently made with the
Sac and Fox Indians, under the direc,oi
Of the President, they have ceded to tht
United States all their remaining claim
to land III this Territory, embracing a trac
OF country estimated TO contain ten mil
lions OF acres; Il very large proportion O
which IS unsurpassed IN fertility ant
beauty by any in the world; Astounding
IN nayiga5le streams OF the purest water,
and Offering Inducements to its settlement
al least equal 10 any portion o! tue grea,
valley OF the Mississippi. Ii'this Treaty
should meet The appreciation o., the Presi
dent and Senate, the Immediate influx OF
population into the country acquired by
ii, Will, III order to give effect to the laws
and ensure The due administration OF Jus
ticc, render the organization Of addition
al counties necessary.
Under the provisions Of the act OF the
last session 80 ptovide for The expression.
OF the opinion OF the people Of The Ferri-
tory, upon the subject OF the formation Of
a State Constitution and Government, and
to enable them TO form Constitution Tor
the State OF Iowa." polls were opened in
All the counties at the time Of holding the
general election for members OF the Coun-
Gil and House of Representatives and the
question .Convcn,ion'' or mo Conyen-
tom submitted 10 voters. Returns Of
the result have been made TO the Secreta-
ny OF the Territory, with the exception
OF a single precinct in one OF the counties)
which show majority in every county,
and and large aggregate majority
against Convention
The progress OF the ediice for the ac-
commoda:ion OF the Legislature and Pub-
lie Offices at the Seat ot'Government. has
been quite as rapid aud satisfactory as the
means placed at the disposal OF the Ter
ri:or.al Agent. and Superintendent could
have justified US in expecting; whether
the provision already made will be sutfi-
cient for the completion Of the building,
you will be enabled to determine after
the Report ofthe Agent aud Superintend-
ent shall be submitted to you.
The further progress OF the Peniten-
tiary buildings, are arrested by the want
OF means to carry on the work, and al
though Congress has appropriated money
10 pay the debts heretofore contracted,
Tor labor performed and materials fur
nishcd, we are leltto regret the failure 10
supply the means OF completing it: and TO
regret it the more deeply, because, while
our citizens by their enterprise aud INDUS
try are daily enhancing the value aud
availability of the public domain within
our territorial limits, it forms SO large a
portion oil the great source OF revenue,
available to our more fortunate neIghbors
OF the States, but prohibited to us, that to
raise revenue for such purposes by a di-
re- tax upon those who have obtained a
right to small proportions OF land, by The
sacrifice oil all their present enJoyments,
and many Of the comforts OF Il more adj
vanced stage OF improvement, would be
unjust and oppressive; struggling as they
arc amidst the exhaustion oil their pecu-
mary means thus produced, to erect shell
tiers for their families and brn. into cul
tivation u Sufficient portion OF, the soil for
their support, such a tax III addition TO the
demanded OF them for !ndis
pensblc county purposes, would operate
with a degree OF severity which it is
feared the representatives Of the States
in Congress do not fully appreciate. Our
like that Utmost new coun-
tries, IS made PIN a great degree, Of
and industrious individuals
with young and depcnlen. families, who,
urged by the hope OF bcticring their con
dilion, press forward TO the frontiers with
very limited means, and all the money
they bring with them as well as the first
products OF their labor, is Immediately
absorbed III the purchase Of smal portions
OF land, and in efforts 10 render it avala
bic for subsistence. None but those who
have witnessed, can justly appreciate the
priya,ions, and in many instances, the ac-
lua suffering submitted 10 by the enter.
prising and hard working inhabitants Of
Il frontier settlement, for the procurement
Of permanent homes, on even the smallest
legal subdivision ol the public lands; TO
such a population, standing in the front
rank OF the general defence IN case OF
war with our savage neighbors, extending
the march OF civilization into the wilder
ness, increasing the population and re-
sources OF tbs republic, and replenishns
the national treasury by the application
Of all their resources to the purchase Of
the public lands (which but for their en-
terprise and industry would be compare
lively valuless) just and liberal govern.
ment ought not to dole out its aid with q