Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-12-15


ton Of our citizens, who in defiance Of the laws
Of the United States and Of the territory, and
in total contempt of every principle Of morale
~ continue to supply them with whiskey in
such quantities asto keep a large proportion
Of them in a state Of almost uninterrupted in
toxication. The laws prhibiting this offence
imposed only pecuniary penalties for breach
Of them, and the frauds and extoTtion practised
upon the Indians by the offenders, enable
them, in case of conviction, to pay the penal
ties imposed and still prosecute their infamous
traffic with a large profit. The fact is well
known to these lawless people that their prac-
tees not only endanger their own lives, but
the lives and property of their unoffending fell
low citizens and cause the butchery and des-
trnction of their Indian victims to an extent
not generally known to others; but these evils
produced no computations with them, and
earnestly recommend 20 you the revision and
amendment Of the existing laws IN relation to
this crime, with view to the infection oil
more exemplary punishment for its commits
sion, and if possible to ensure more etfec'ual
execution Of whatever provisions now exist or
which you may deem necessary to enact for
its prevention and punishment. @a
The work on the public buildings a, this
place has been limited during the past season
by the means placed al the disposal OF the
Territorial Agent and its further prosecution
will depend upon such provision as you may
deem it eXpedicnt to make for that purpose.
The payment of the nnsals6ed debts against
the Territory, incurred under legislative au-
,hurity on account Of the public buildings,
ought to be provided for and met, with as mach
prompttude as practicable.
Lavt spring the Warden Of the Peniteniiary
communicated TO me a plan Of operations
which he proposed to adopt for the advance
ment of the work on the buildings and encIo-
sures then in progress, and which were lndis-
pensable TO the secure keeping and accommoda-
ton Of the convicts; his proposition embraced
what deemed the most profitable employment
Of the labor of the convicts, with the least ex-
penditure for which il was practicable to attain
the object Of such an enlargement Of the ac-
commodations Of the institution as the increase
of the number Of convicts demanded. The
plan proposed met my decided appreciation,
and as the Warden proposed 10 incur the risk
of Legislative provision for such advances as
its execution might require, assured him of
my hearty concurrence in any measure which
the legislature might think proper to adopt for
his ;ndemnifca,ion, and learn from a report
which he has made me, that he has very sue
cessfully prosecuted the work he contempla.
ted, with an cxpcnee even less than no had
estimated; adding greatly to the comfort and
security Of the convcts, and placing the lnssl-
tuition upon such a footing, as will with proper
| management enable US to avoid the necessity
| Of future appropriations for its support. The
| Wardens Official Report will explain TO you
more at large the nature and extent of the work
! he has caused to be done and the expenditure
he has incurred f; and respectfully recommend
| that provision be made by law for reimbursing
him.
We have still to regret that our repeated
appeals to Congress for The means OF compile
| ting this work, SO necessary 10 the due execu-
| toa of our criminal laws, have been attended
with but little success, but in the relation in
| which we stand to the General Government,
| our claim for such aid, is to my mind so UNI
deniably just and proper, that cannot refrain
| from recommending that it be again presented
| and urged upon the attention OF that body.
In my former communications TO the Legls-
| latives Assembly Ihave represented The almost
universal neglect Of The officers Of the militia
| TO perform their duties, and especially ttat
their failure to report the number and equip
meuts of their respective commands, as reqnr-
ed by law, puts it out OF the power OF the war
| Department of The General Government TO iur-
1 nish US with the arms to which we would be
entitled upon making proper returns. No
change has taken place in this respect, and If
the means of putting arms into the hands Of
our militia is deemed Important TO the safety
Of our extensive and exposed frontier, would
again recommend the adoption of such meas
ures as will enable US to obtain them. The
causes which render hopeless any effort to en-
| force the performance of the official duties Of
our militia officers, by military means, are sta
ted at length in my last annual message, to
which beg leave respectfully to refer you.
! The law authorizing the organization Of
township schools, seems to be entirely over
looked by those TO whom the duty is commit
| ted, and il is Notifying 10 see how little in
tcrest the important subject Of education ex-
cites among US, even the school lands or six
teenth section in every township. are found in
| most cases, to be wholly neglected, and in
| many 10 have been converted to individual
use, or TO have been trepassed upon and pill
Jagged to their great injury. The value Of this
provision for education cannot be too highly
appreciated, and earnestly recommend tha.
the County Commissioners in every organized
county be moi only permitted, bnt compelled
in every instance where the school lands are
found in the unauthorized occupancy of iid-
vidnals, to obtain possession of them by such
legal means as may be necessary for that pur-
pose, or at their discretion, to permit the occu-
pants to become tenants, paying moderate
rent in making Improvements on the land or
otherwise, and covenan,ing to commit no waste
and 10 surrender the possession to them or
their successors in Office, at the expiration Of
the term agreed upon, and that where the lands
are not occupied the County Commissioners
be required to protect them against trespassers
and cause them to be settled and improved
whenever itmay be practicable to do so.
Notwithstanding the restrictions imposed by
\ Cnnrroes unnn the exnendifllre IF the annro.