Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser., 1846-01-03
For the Gazette and Advertiser.
STATE GOvERNNIENT. 7.

vHas VIII the present Legislature 90 On
the subject Of State Government? This is
q question frequently propounded by every
one who feels any interest in the future
welfare Of Iowa. The propriety Of seek
ing admission into the Union has heretofore
been mere question Of time; but now it
has even ceased to be SO. Every one de-
sires State Government at the earliest
practicable moment. The vote for and
against Convention settled this question
by majority Of thousands adversely to
our territorial dependence, and many re-
cent occurrences have added additional
force to public opinion on this subject
The unprecedented immigration Of the
present season, the abundant crops and fair
prices for produce, the entire removal Of
the Sac and Fox Indians, throw ing open a
vast and fertile region for settlement, the
the speedy anticipated purchase of the
lands Of the Pottawatamies Of the Missouri,
and the emigration of the Winnebagoes
from the Neutral Ground, the Importance
ofpolitical influence IN and out Of Congress,
to aid improvements in our Territory of
the FIRST necessity, and to effect general
sale Of lands in the mineral district, and
above all, the increasing desire Of the
people to draw some benefit from the large
amount Of lands set apart for educational
purposes in Iowa, have resolved nearly
every citizen to favor our early entrance
into the Union. Add to these facts, that
FLeRlDA is State, TEXAS almost State,
WISCONSIN, making strong efforts to throw
of her present form of government, and
Iowa is as well fitted for such consum.
nation as either, in population and resour-
ces' and we can conceive no possible rea-
son why our present pupllage should be
preferred by any one. We do not believe
that it is, and repeat therefore that the
question Of admission is not any longer a
i
question oftime, but one as to the most pro-
per and earliest mode of accomplishing the
desired object. 1t is true that Constitu-
ton was presented to the people, and twice
defeated. The first time, clearly because
the boundaries prescribed BY Congress
were not acceptable to the citizens of the
Territory, and at the second election, be-
cause very general misunderstanding,
and we fear Misrepresentation, on the same
subject, was prevalent among the people.
Both the parties-for and against the Con-
stitution-ascribed its defeat to a number
Of causes, Of the truth of which 1t is now
needless to inquire. There is no necessi-
| ty for elimination or recrimination about
the past. The question is, what shall the
Legislature do at present.
1t would be insincere to conceal the
fact, that among those who voted for the
Constitution referred to, there were many
who, concurring in its general features,
were opposed to some of its details, and
looked to future Convention for their
amendment. They knew that the wants
Of a rapidly increasing population would
in few years require an alteration in that
instrument, and then they confidently ex-
pected that some Of its provisions would be
changed. Others who favored the Con-
stitution generally, but were hostile to the
same provisions did not desire to await the
future corrections which might be made,
and therefore cast their suffrages against
it. 1t is confidently believed and asserted
by those who have made themselves ac-
quainted with public opinion on the SUBJ
ject, that if some changes had been made
in the Constitution, and its crudeness cor
rected, large majority would have been
found in favor Of it at the August election.
We desire therefore to ask the Legislature
if they will not take the responsibility Of
amending and correcting the Constitution,
and again present it for the consideration
Of the people? We do not see why leg
islative body could not do this as well as
another convention. 1t is not important
whence the Constitution comes, as it re-
ceives its life from the ratifying power Of
the people. And in addition, the holding
Of another Convention would burden Iowa
with debt Of twenty or thirty Thousand
dollars. This added to her already exist
ing liabilities should and will be an argu-
ment Of great cogency with tax payers
1t the present Legislature should deter
mine to present the Constitution again, it
could be voted on at the next Spring elec-
tiens; and, if ratified. forwarded 10 Con-
gress Immediately, for the action Of that
body, which might doubtless be had, as an
adjournment will possibly not take place
before July.
Should the Legislature decline taking
the course here suggested, another one is
left, which wethink they ought to pursue.
Let them pass law providing that an
election for deleoafae IN a convenfion he