Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1843-02-04
OUR LEGISLATURE.

-
course pursued by majority Of tho Le-
gisla:urc, in passing laws that are NO! OH.
" unnecessary, but many which, never
will, nor never can he enforced, and must
become dead !cttor on our statute book,
Our Territory has, from its very organi.
zai'on, been afflicted with over Iegisla.
ton, aud we had hoped ,!,a, the time had
come when such laws only would te en-
acted US were actually necessary Cor the
administration Of justice and the govern
ance Of society, but in this we have boen
disappointed. A large number Of the
members Of the present Legislature have
not only introduced laws entirely unne-
ccssary, but they havo dabbled in mat
1c's which we conceive no legislator has
the power to touch. 1t appears from the
proceedings, that almost every petition
prescnted! has found somo member TO
frame and introduce Bill granting the
Prayer OF the petition; no matter whether
that petition may have been signed by a
minority of those Interested, or even by
= single individual. Obedience to the
will OF hts constituents is certainly prais-
worthy IN every legislator; but we can
see no ground for obeying the will Of q
minority. where the majority are ad-
versely interested, notwithstanding that
majority SHOULD lie dorman, to their in.
forests. Our Territory, 40 before re-
marked, has been overburdened will, le.
gislation. Our statute book is already
encumbered with private acts, and unen-
forced laws, until The very best and most
ne-dful enactments have failed to accom-.
rlish the ends for which they were in
tended. 1t is we'll known that we have
first and last warred against monopolies,
be their tendency widespread, or confin.
ed to the limits Of the smallest political
division Of our inhabitants; and, we had
thought that the present Legislature
would have refused 10 grant any E,ore
petty charters for incorporation, which
experiences has shown are neither benef-
cai to the Territory nor to majority Of
those Interested. We had felt confident.
toe, that the prssen, Legislature would
have refr,ined from in,ermsdd!ing with
those matters winch are properly. and
should b- exclusively, within the jurisdic-
ton Of our courts. We mean the grant
lug Of d.. orces. This is matter which,
should undergo tire for.nalities Of court
of justice, be the circumstances Of the
case what they may. In nine case, out
o! 'c::, tis applicant tor divorce petit
tIons the Legislature for the purpose OF
saving expense; or IN other words, ,c
have Tie expenses paid ont Of the pockets
Of tic people instead u! his own. Every
,.''yo:ce granted by the Legislature, costs
.,s people ten hints what /. would an APP
| plcaI, before court t justice; and yet,
year after year. these applications are
received and acted upon by our Lsgi.la
tura.
| w. have received 4 cory cf' nearly all
| The bins introduced during the present
session. aud we hesitate not ii, saying
/ tia. OF. lhlri OF the number vii. il they
bacon4c laws, do more injury than good
Political economy has, as yet, received
| 100 Little attention \ majority seem
more disposed to rack their brains in the
manufacture 0, something lat viii con
sumo tune, and insure 10 themselves q
per d:e:n OF So, rather than 10 the dis
patch OF sue:, business as i; absolutely nc
.essaty. What may be the present ei.
teci upon the pockets OF the people, mat.
te.s not Such course Of Legislation is
dangerous precedent, and, when Iowa
becomes State it viii! be TOO severely
teit. There are principles, too, which
must be effected by such course, aud
laese rincipIes should be maintained BY
every one who PROCESSES them. 1t il
peculiarly gratifying to see ths, the true
democrats in the Legislature have I'D.
fered to their principles, by opposition
10 this over legislation. Ton, they have
first and last opposed the incorporation Of
petty mcnnpo!iss, and have noby stood
their ground III face OF wing majority
who seem determined to mage the most
OF the short time they wield the leg,sla-
tive power.
GOOD AND GLORIOUS NEWS FROM
lNDlANA-ELECTlON OF A DE.
MOCRATlC UNITED STATES Sc
AYaerAH