Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-04-05


columns, 70 suggest 70 your readers two OF
three substantial reasons why they should
on Monday next vote III favor Of adopting
the present constitution.
The great argument against the cstab-
lishment Of state government is its ex-
pense. The amount necessary to carry on
a government under our constitution v i'll
not exceed $4,000 annually. Besides
this, the Marshal now pays out ten or ff-
teen thousand dollars which will have 10
be paid BY the county treasures when We
become State. say ten or fifteen thou
sand dollars; for although the actual amount
paid out by that officer in all parts of the
Territory is double that sum, still at leas,
one half Of what he now pays will continue
to be paid by him after we become a State,
or will not be paid at all. From $40, O0C
TO $685. 90 then is all that will be thrown
upon either the State or county treasures
in consequence Of our change of govern.
mcnt.
Nor are we certain Of saving this amour,
Of taxes. More than year since propo.
sltion was made in the committee of WAYS
and Means in the House of Representa-
tiyss to place the judicial system Of this
Territory upon the same footing as in the
States--lhat is to say, to give us one dis
trict court for the transaction Of federal
business, leaving us to organize and pay
our own Judiciary for the disposition Of
Territorial litigation. This would at once
dispose of all the benefit derived from pay
ments made by the Marshal, in consequence
Of our remaining a Territory, besides oblig-
ing us to pay about $4,000 annually out Of
the $4,000 that is to fall upon our State
treasury. In that case the difference Ct
expense between Territorial and State
government would not exceed SIS 900 per
annum.
Now is there not every probability that
if we refuse TO enter the Union as a State,
the change proposed in the committee in
1874, or one even more radical, will be
made at the first opportunity? The propo-
sition when made as above stated only
failed in committee by one vote, and it is
said that Congress would have adopted il
without hesitation if the committee had rec
commended the measure. Since that time
we have acknowledged by our vote in ia
vor Of calling a convention that we are able
TO take care of ourselves. Congress will
certainly taken US up on our word; and
though they cannot compel US to become a
State, they can and probably will impose
upon us all the burdens Of one without any
of the advantages.
Two or three ofthese advantages is what
| wish particularly to call the attention Of
your readers.
In the first place, we shall then receive
five per cent upon the proceeds Of the sales
Of public lands which shall be af erwarde
made. This we shall lose if we remain a
Territory.
In the next place we shall be entitled
under the law OF lS4l to SOC, coo acres Of
land upon our becoming State. The
price current Of public land may be re-
garded as 81 25 per acre at the time it is
selected. This would amount to 1926, 900
which might be received ty the State i'm
medi tely, and placed at interest. say i
might be received Immediately, for we nigh
select lands already occupied and give The
occupant pre-emption at once, or wha,
would be still more to his advantage, and
equally so to that of the public, the occu-
pant might be permitted to purchase on
time, merely paying the State reasonable
interest until he became able to pay the
principal. This would be enabling be.
tween three and four thousand poor mcr
to provide themselves with quarter sec.
ton of land each, and furnish the State
treasury with the constant annual rcceip,
Of between $4,000 aud $5O.lO,. We
are losing this interest every year that we
remain out Of the Union. Reckoning
therefore, by dollars and cents, the balance
is largely in favor of a state government
| But again, while we remain Territory
We can never have a common school organ.
| ization, and our children must therefore
grow up in comparative ignorance. A.
soon as we become State our school sec.
tons will be under our control. A par,
of these should be sold at once-all those
in fact which are not improving in value
faster than the value ef money will accu
mulate by annual interest. The proceed,
of these sales added to the 1926, 900 above
mentioned, would make a magnificent fund
with which to commence, and which woult
be all the while augmenting as the sales O
school lands went on. 1t would probabl,
give on the average about 800 to each
school district in the State, which being
distributed to all those districts where com.
mon schools were kept, for three month.
in the year would ensure organization o.
school districts wherever there were chill.
dren to be taught. The present generation
Of children ought to enjoy these advanta.
ges.
Another argument in favor Of voting fol
State Government is that we shall Their
have voice in Congress, and can LEND
efficient aid to those great measures which
are every year agitated in that body il
favor of Western interests. The improve.
ment Of Western rivers the graduation q
the price Of public lands-the passage 81
the bills for organizing the Territories 81
Oregon and Nehraska-these, and many
others, highly important to the West, may
perhaps depend for their success upon the
votes 10 which We shall he entitled upor
becoming State. Nh
These and similar reasons would doubt.
less secure the adoption Of the constitu.
ton at the approaching election, but 70,