Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-08-03

r $50 SiLA. fEHEy.
szahsretto- Of W.;SiJs raj .Neasx,rs,
J. II. JENNINGS.
= - - ---- -
TIE Conyensi0a.-.sAlll rsd Inrlt-
kibtDlsy 81 AEeskls. LETTER and
Wright.
The last Hawkeye cort;ins an article Of
column and half, under The head Of
Qualification in Iowa." upon tie thread
bare subject Of the right of Messrs. Shep.
Leiaer and ]. D. Wright 10 seat in the
Convention to form Constitution for our
future State.
1t has been made 60 manifest, that if the
-)elegacy to the Convention be an office,
and the organic law be regarded as Of
binding and controlling force in the selec-
ZION Of Delegates, they must al be appoint
ed BY the Governor Of the Territory, that
we hid supposed the ground taken By the
swhigs-or. more properly speaking, by one
or two Of their leaders-in regard to the
eligibility Of Messrs. Letter and Wrigh,
would have been abandoned. But in this
we are disappointed. The vain hope that
sSne democrat might BE found, whose
nerves would be weak enough to be op-
erased upon by this clalnor, induces our
opponents to persevcre in it.
The Hawkeye processes great rever-
encc for law, and sloes not think the peo-
pie can act in the important matter of elect
ing delegates to the Convention, without
regard 10 law, and contrary to the COM
mands Of law" This may be all very
well; but we ask what law is it that the
people. in the selection Of Delegates, can
not act without regard to, or contrary to
The commands Of? The answer would
doubtless le The Organic law; and if so,
can we not retort upon the Hawkeye and
Wing party, and say that they are moving
Heaven and earth to trample its provisions
nnder foot-to violate and render null and
voil the seventh section Of this our fuada-
uantal Law? We find in this section Of
that law, after an enumeration Of the off,
ces that may be filled BY the people, (and
Delegates 10 Convention, or the word Con-
vcntion is no where mentioned in il, } the
sshe following provision: "The Governor
shall nominate and BY and with the advice
and consent Of the Counsil shall appoint,
Sc aneipil eie~s NOT herein prcpids for y
Can language be palmer or more explicit
than this? 1.-THE delegacy be an Office
must not the Governor, according to the
Organic law, appoint the Incumbent
And are not the Wings Of Des Moines
county en- masse endeavoring to dact eight
Delegates to the Convention, in atter dis
regard Of law which they contend is
onmipotent and should be obeyed9
Our regard for the laws Of the land, we
trust, is as great as that Of any one; and in
any matter pertaining TO Territorial gov
eminent or policy We look to the Organic
law Is the source from whence we obtain
authority to act. But if that law is exam
ined It win be found that it contains no
authority, nor con'ers none upon the Leg
islature, to move in the formation Of a
State government, except so far as ii ex-
tcnds 70 us the provisions Of the Ordi-
nance Of 1857. This Ordi rance, and the
treaty Of Cession Of 1908, contain the only
guarantees that We have in regard to our
admission into the federal Union, and they
are both witlsnt restriction as to the quail
ificaticn Of delegates, or voters, save that
they arc TO he free v bite male i,,Aa1iianfs.
The Organic law is erfscily silent on the
subject Of TIE State government. II docs
mot, Is the Ordinance and treaty do, pro-
vide that. when We have 60,o0c, or any
cher sufficient number OF free inhabitants.
snd torn : constitution republican in its
shape. Ne slsnH be admitted upon a foot
Ing With dc origirai s'fc:e-. ]. makes no
provision FIR our L.gi.hsa,e Il, GIL a
ssavMtian. o. apro-<io~ delegates between
- different eoarties It sse TERRITORY, as
xss daae b our Last legislature. The
sEesnie 1ar does ns.fe Of sl.fse ssiags. ead
81 We ere ncsi,g in ll,srn. From
uAences theN, Do we receive ;i,e autlority