Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1843-12-28
State Government.

State Government.
A BILL has been reported to the Council,
by the Hon. WIN. PATTERSON, "to provide .
for the expression OF the opinion Of the
People of the Territory of Iowa, upon the
subject of the formation Of State Consti- I
sutton for the State of Iowa"
The bill, in addition to making provis- !
ion, as it purports, to obtain SIMPLY an
depression Of the opinion Of the people" on
the subject, covers the whole ground, by
providing for the election of Delegates to
the Convention-should there be ma orl-
ty in favor of State Government, the
number of Delegates to which each county
shall be entitled-the qualification of elec
tors-the time and place for the meeting OF
the Convention--the publication of the con-
s,itution, when adopted by the Convention
the time when the people are to assem-
BILE to vote for or against the State Constl-
tution-full authority given to the Govern
or to issue his Proclamation declaring the
result-and to the Secretary to have this,
law published in all the papers as soon as
it is sanctioned by the Governor, and to
provide suitable room, with the neccssa-
nv furniture, stationery, &C., for the &C
commodatien Of the Delegates-and closes
by specifying the per diem and travelling
allowance Of the members Of the conven-
fio~
: The bill proposes that the people shall
be required to express their opinion OF TINS
subject at the regular Township elections
in AprH nert, and if at that time there
should be majority in favor Of a Conven'
ton, notice is to be issued calling upon
the people to vote for Delegates at the next
general election; and at the next genera
election thereafter the people will vote FOL
or against the Constitution adopted by the
convention.
We have thus given brief view OF tht
features of the bill. We have only giver
it's features because if it becomes law W.
shall be required to publish it in full, wher
ample opportunity will be afforded ouI
readers to judge of its details.
The bill has nothing in it Of a seriously
Objectionable character that we can per
ceive. There are, however, one or tw'
suggestions that have occurred to us in it
perusal, which we consider of sufficien
importance to mention, and which W
hope may receive the consideration of tn
Legislature. They are as follows -
IL has never been denied that Darlington
was deprived of the Seat Of Government
one year before the Public Buildings wer
ready for the reception of the Legislature
This was contrary to the intention of tn
Legislature who formed the law for it's re
inoval. This cannot be denied. Now,
compensate and do justice to Burlington
we propose that the Convention should NEE
in Burlington instead Of Iowa City w
know it may be urged that inasmuch
the State House is at Iowa City and no rer
will have to be paid for room, an unnc,
essary expense will be incurred, and Their,
fore it should be at the present seat of Coz
eminent.
To such an objection we reply, in tn
firtt place, there is no single room in til
State House in sutficien. state of com l
ton TO accommodate all the members Of til
convention, and the spectators, who woul
wish 10 witness their deliberations, and Sc
ondly, if there was, we believe the either
OF Burlington, il required, would most wi
lingly obviate this difficulty, by furnishin
room gratuitously, either in the Methodi
or in the new Presbyterian church, whic
will be completed during the next summe
AS Tor the furniture, there will, neccssal
ly, have to be much more manufacture
for the accommodation Of the Convention
than is now used by both branches of Il
Legislature; and besides suitable benche
with desks attached, might be made. a
swerng all necessary purposes, at mue
less expense than those now used by the |,
gislature. There are other reasons tn
might be urged, but We deem these suf
cient for the present.
No possible objection can be urged
Iowa City, that we can conceive of, as
priority Of claim in this matter over ar
place; and we trust the Legislature wi
view this matter impartially, and with