Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1842-12-17
parsimon,ous hand. Our crimina, law,

ton Of confinement and labor for punish
ments Of a sterner character, their du,
administration is inseparably connected
with the use Of the Penitentiary, and ii
The absence Of the hoped for aid of tn,
general Government to complete it,
commend to your earnest consideration
whether under existing circumstance
any means, not absolutely oppressive Il
our fellow cilizens can be devised, 70,
carrying on and so far periecting the
work, as to render it more extensiyeI,
available for the purposes for which il
was commenced.
In my last annual message, Itook occa
sion 10 call the attention Of the Legisla
ture to the inefciency Of the laws to pro
hibit and punish the sale Of intoxicating
liquors to our Indian neghbors, but nc
further legislation on the subject was then
deemed necessary, and the offence has
continued to be perpetrated with very few
exceptions, with entire impuniiy, and is
increasing in frequency, deemit, there.
tore, an imperative duty again to invoke
your deliberate consideration Of the mat
ter; the crime not only involves breach
OF positive law, and most perncious and
degrading disregard of the principles OF
morality and religion, but tends to pro
duce collision between our frontier inhab-
itan's and the Indians, affecting life and
the destruction Of property, and may lead
to conflicts Of a more dangerous charac
ter. without some more e!ieclual means
OF suppress!ng ii, than at present exists,
can be devised.
No serious effort seems to- have been
made in any part of,he Territory to car
~ into operation the plan Of Public In
struction, provided for by the existing
laws. and it is to be feared that until the
PERMISSION to organize townships schools,
IS rendered a positive duty, enforced by
proper penalties for neglect, the laws now
III toEce will remain imperative.
The almost total failure Of the officers
OF our Militia TO make returns Of the nu-
mefclal strength aud equipments of their
respective commands. as required by law,
puts il out Of the power Of the War De-
partinent OF the Gener, Government, un.
der the existing laws o, the United States,
10 make such distribution of arms TO
tins Ierfltory.as with proper returns and
reports we should be entitled to; and such
IS he universally of this gross neg ligence
tive authority no means OF correcting the
evil, but by Il resort 10 the onerous duty
OF general disms,on Of delinquents
from command, leaving it doubtful wheth-i
er others could be found to fill their places,
who would perform the duties with more
efficiency. | would therefore respectfully
sugges. for your consideration, the pro-
pretty of imposing pecuniary penalties
or this description oil official delinquency,
ind, Gas it would be difficult, il no: impos-
si5.e to constitute a military court in
WHICH the judges and the accused would I
lot be found equally in delaul,D to com
nit tne enforcement of such penalties 10
he civil tribunals.
The experience Of another year con.
lrms the opinion expressed at the close
u the last, OF the vast Importance to the
people of the West Of the removal of the
Distractions to the sale navigation Of the
Mississippi and lis principal tributaries. |
The destruction OF property Ito say moth
ng of the loss of life.) occasioned by these
distractions. in the last tea or twelve
nonths,i is believed to be equal in amount
0 the sum necessary for their removal,
'ut as a work Of so much magnitude and
general Importance can only bc effected
~ the concentrated action OF the nation,
through its representatives in Congress,
We must endeavor to console ourselves
With .he hope, that the time cannot be
lmong the representatives Of the people
Interested in the navigation of the wes-
ern rivers, will convice their brethen OF
he Atlantic States that their interest will |
'e best consulted by allowing to US
ast participation in the benefits to be de-
lived from the application OF the national
reasure to the protection and security OF
commerce. The West has right Q de-
nand sucha participation, and with union
md concert among its representatives,
he power to obtain IT, Iowa it is true,
las no voice in the councils OF the nation,
,ut her citizens are contributors to the /
upport Of its government, and have
tight to expec, equal benefits from its ac-
ion, which it can hardly be alleged they
nloy, while hundreds of thousands Of
oIlass worth ot'lheir property isannually
destroyed upon one OF he largest naviga-
lie rivers in the world, Tor the want OF
n expenditure OF Il much less sum than
las been appropriated from the National
Treasury Tor the construction OF Il single I
Break Water or artificial harbour, in
he Delaware River, for the protection Of
oa,o,erce. Whether it is worth while
usther 10 press this subject upon the at
en;ion Of the present. Congress. b. way
i memorial or petition is respectfully
ubnit,ed 10 your consideration.
The restrictions imposed by an act Of
he last session eff Congress, upon the ex-
enditure Of the appropriations for the
upport Of the Territorial Governments.
s well as the sum appropriated for this
Territory, indicates a necessity for re
reAchment in the usual expenses Incl
eut to your session. Its my duty there
ore to reccmnend despatch IN the per-
Of your Legislative duties, and
economy in the expenditure Of the fund
appropriated for the expenses of your
eSslon.
II .a,,.;,e onl,, c,r ma "a ass,,ra vo,, ~ /