Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-12-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen Of the Senate,
and Of The House of Represent alires:

Gentlemen Of the Senate,
and Of The House of Representatives:
OF the many wise features of our excel
lent system of government, there are none
more worthy of admiration than the mode
provided by the Constitution for the intro
duc,ion of new States into the federal I'm
ion. While other countries have resorted
to force and violence to enlarge their pos
sessions and extend their sway, it has been
reserved for the United States to achieve
these results by policy eminently simple
and pacific. Under this policy infant set
Elements have been nursed, Territories
established, and sovereignlies finally or
ganized, until greater number Of States
than were originally embraced within the
confederacy have been added to the Union,
each imparting additional vigor and strength
to the parent government. AT the present
time we have an illustration of the onder-
working results of this influence in the
history of events within our own limits.
In period of eight years, under the fos-
tering protection olthe general government,
Iowa, as Territory, has gone on to in
crease in wealth, population, and the de-
velopment of her resources, until major
ity OF her citizens have become impressed
with the conviction that it is their duty TO
establish and sustain government of their
own. They have accordingly adopted a
Constitution, and taken other necessary
preliminary steps looking TO State organ
lza,iun; and nothing remains to complete
the admission Of the State into the Union.
but compliance by Congress with the few
and simple forms rendered necessary by
the Constitution and by usage. With a
full knowledge of the pecuniary sacrifices
involved in the change, it has been made;
and sensible ofthe extent and character of
the new obligations which the support of
State government could not fail 10 impose,
they have been voluntarily and cheerfnlly
assumed. Having thus given the highest
possible evidence of her attachment to the
Union, Iowa will henceforth take her place
with her sisters as a member Of the con-
frderacy, exercising her proper weight in
the administration Of the government, and
receiving equal protection and favor with
the older States.
Upon this civil revolution in our form of
government, effected not through coercion,
but by the silent operation Of public opin-
ion, beg leave most respectfully to con-
graduate the members of the State Lecis-
lature. With a Constitution republican in
its character, and containing guards against
improvidence and restrictions upon class
Legislation, we may hope TO escape many
OF the abnses and evils which oflate years
have brought ruin and blight upon other
portions of our common country. The
prevalence of wise and patriotic counsels,
such as | am sure will animate those con-
nected with the several branches of the
government, is all that is necessary to a
happy commencement of our existence as
State. At such a time it becomes us not
to rely solely upon human effort; the aid of
HIM in whom rests the perfection of all
wisdom shonld be sought, and coniinu-
ance OF HIS favor to US as people invok-
ed.
regret that it is not in my power to
congratulate you upon the continuance of
friendly relations betweenthe United States
and all other governments, such as existed
at the time of my last annual communica-
ton 10 the Territorial Legislature. Since
that period termination has been put to
the good understanding previously exist
ing between our own government and the
Republic Of Mexico, under circumstances
which must relieve the former from all re.
sponsibility for the consequences which
may ensue. For the first time within
thirty years, our country finds itself an
unwilling party to war, rendered neces-
sary to repel invasion, to enforce a com
pliance with violated treaty obligations, and
to resent multiplied and aggravated instan-
ces of insult to our flag and injury to our