Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1845-03-22
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Did it ever occur to you, Mr.. Editor,
that there are several weighty arguments
in favor Of the State boundaries as fixed BY
Congress, in preference to those establish
ed BY the convention? Althoughnot there
by convinced so as TO prefer the smaller 10
the larger state, they certainly leave me not
SO irreconcilably opposed to the congress
sional amendments as to induce me to vote
against the whole constitution. will give
You sxcrcH VI sUulr " si...~ -..-..-...s.A =.
they suggest themselves to my mind.
The 500, 600 acres Of land which is our
expected portion on setting out in life will
be proportionably greater, the smaller the
state to which it is given. With given
amount to be divided, an increase Of the
share holders diminislles the dividend Of
each. The same may be said Of other con-
gressional donations, which in most instas-
ces are given to the States irrespective Of
their dimensions.
With the larger boundary, twenty years
At the farthest viii see the seat Of govern
ment removed from Iowa City to some more
central point. This will involve no incon-
siderable sacrifice Of public property, as
well as increase the Inconvenience Of access
frem most Of the Inhabited portions Of the
Territory. With the lesser boundary the
seat Of government might probably remain
unchanged for centuries.
Our western boundary as fixed by Con-
gress passes mostly through broad unin-
habitable country. Beyond and skirting
the Missouri and Sioux rivers, and their
immediate tributaries, is narrow tract Of
excellent land capable Of supporting dense
population. The inconvenience and ex-
pense Of carrying on state government
under such circumstances will be thereby
vastly augmented; but what is Of much
more consequence, an interest will spring
up on the Missouri adverse in MANY res
poets to that Of the bulk Of the State which
will naturally seek the Mississippi for
market. Occurrences 1t Nauvoo for the
last few years demonstrate the danger Of
The existence Of peculiar and isolated in
terest in state, ready to seek its own
qualification by throwing its undivided in
liuence on either side Of the political bal
ance rs its prospects Of success may die
late. Such an interest will be courted by
both the antagonist parties in state, and
The vital interests Of the whole COMMUNITY
will often be sacrificed to secure by this
means party ascendancy. As limited by
Congress, all the uninhabited portions Of the
tate would lie in immediate contiguity with
Zach other. The whole would find an out
ct through the Mississippi river, and thus
ar would have an identity Of interest.
But by far the most weighty argument
Q my mind is, that the influence Of the
valley and Of the Northwest in
'articular win be thereby much augment
d. With the boundaries a. fixed BY Con-
ress ten or fifteen years, at the farthest,
vail see new state on our north and an
Their on our western boundary. With
hose established BY the convention It will
robably Be half century before such
vents occur. Oregon will in that case /
e the next free Stste after Iowa and Wis
onsin. Florida and Texas proper will !!
ONE in with these two latter Territories.
he Texan territory, it j. supposed, win
three or four additional states.-l
Ve should have free states 10 produce .
material equilibrinm against eli these, - |,
icy shall succssively wheel into the grand |
deral column Of States. Can We do this,
We rssain the boundaries y fixed y ne !
,nventisn? -; nv. ~ - IA
These ere all substantial considssaaions 9
-scme Of them weiehty.s To countsfbsl- .
,ce them the strongest argument sddres-
> itself . our Stats psids. We ~ dss;Se '
= future grandeur q orr young State :
- isDa hndable deeire. ! would not =
ek 70 di4inish i; but, alter su, i ON =
'rdly b SID b b based upon IN enliElx- 2
ed and substantial public interesl when .
seeks lis qualification Nv IN cnov,,.,,,,. r