Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1846-12-17

Under an act Of Congress passed a. the
last session all necessary authority is con-
ferred upon the Supreme Court Of the
United States to adjudicate the disputed
question Of boundary existing between
Iowa and Missouri. This law was passed
in obedience 10 a memorial Of the Terrific
rial Legislature, and was necessary to a
determination of the question while Iowa
remained Territory; but as State she
needs no such law to become party to
any case which may be agreed upon. /
adhere to the belief expressed in my an
nual communication TO the Territorial Lee
gislature year ago, that true policy re-
quires that this vexatious and long pend
ing question should be submitted to the
decision Of the Supreme Court, and re-
commended that all legislative provision
necessary to the commencement and ter
minatiOn OF such a suit be made.
The reports Of the Auditor Of Public
Accounts and Territorial Treasurer are
herewith communicated. The liabilities
Of the Territory are stated by the Auditor
to be $40, 79l 25, and the estimated re-
sources $8,l67 so, leaving on excess Of
liabilities, for the payment Of which there
is 10 provision, of 1858 IS. The debt
due the Miners Bank of Du Buque,
amounting, principal and interest, to about
1000, is understood not TO be included in
this excess; which added, will show the
aggregate Of the liabilities of the Territory
10 be $l9,623 IS. This debt is due
chiefly, rot entirely, to our own citizens,
whose interests will demand consideration
at your hands.
The law of last session for leasing the
Penientiary is defective in not requiring
the lessee TO submit an annual report. In
the absence of information f ON the proper
source, am only able to state that during
the past year the number of convicts has
varied from six to two, the latter being
the number at present in confinement
The leasing system, whatever may have
been its success elsewhere, in the opinion
Of those who have had the best opportuni-
ICES of Judging has proved failure, and
should be abandoned. The State owes it
to itself to assume the management of the
prison, and TO prescribe and enforce ri.
gid system of prison discipline. At pres
ent there is no discipline whatever; the
convicts are more frequently employed
without than within the walls Of the Peni-
Tertiary, and can easily make their escape
when disposed to do so.
Within the past year treaties have been
concluded with the Winnebago and Potta-
watomie Indians, by which all the lands
owned by these tribes lying within Iowa
are coded to the United States. TIE
country acquired from the Winnebagoes
constitutes what is known as the '-Neu.
trail Ground a strip of land forty miles
in width, extending from the Mississippi
to the Des Moines, and embraces abou
four millions Of acres of choice and valua
bic land. The Pottawatamie purchase
greater in extent than the Neutral Ground
by about million Of acres, lies on the Mis-.
souri, river, aud is also valuable. By
these treaties the government acquires thu
title to all the Indian lands remaining i,
the State; and we may expect at an earl,
day to be entirely relieved Of our Indial
population. The occurrence of this even
will be the signal for rush of immigration
to the newly acquired lands which mus
materially augment the population ant
wealth Of the State.
The discharge of the Executive duties
under the constitution, will devolve upor
another, recently chosen by the people, o
whose disposition to cooperate with tn,
General Assembly in all things calculated
to advance the interests Of the State, fee
fully assured. That your joint labors may
3 be characterized by harmony, and that
wise, pure, and economical administration
of the government may be secured to th'
people, is my most sincere wish.
JAMES CLARKE.
Iowa City, December I'd, 1916.