Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1846-05-23
Gerritorial Gazette.
5. +. faURSTON, Editor.
sURLINGToN; SATURDAY, MAY q, '4s

The Convention Adjourned The Constitution
Sabmittsd.-The most Eallghteasd lastru.
meat si the kind Exlant. The esmmsa
Consent Of parties 10 Adopt it.
The Convention recently in session at
Iowa City adjourned on Tuesday morning
last, after session Of only sixteen days.
Sundays included, and have presented to
the people for their action, one Of the most
enliyhtened Constitutions that ever was adop-
ted by Republican State. The Conven-
ton appears not only to have availed itself
Of the American Constellation of the United
States, but Of the various improvements
which have been discovered and adopted
by individual States since the organization
Of our Government. Awaiting itself Of all
these, and combining them with its own
reflection. the Convention happily hit upon
all the modern, improved features Of con-
stitu,ional science, the result of which has
been the production Of a Constitution which
will command the respect Of all republican
governments, in all future ages, as popu-
lar basis Of government, at once enlighten-
ed, liberal, yet sufficiently restrictive to
preserve the rights and liberties Of the
people inviolate. sss
No person looking at this constitution,
Invested Of partizan feeling. and compar-
ing it with similar instruments under which
other States Of tie Union are now in oper-
alton, can hesitate to admire the wisdom Of
the convention which framed it, and feel
proud too, that, though Iowa is counted 10
be on the very borders of civilization, yet
her people through their delegates, have
presenteda constitution to the world, vast
ly superior to those Of the old States which
profess 10 be the centre Of expanded polit-
ical science, and polite literature in the
Western world.
But we must hasten to give the reader
compendium Of part of this instrument,
this being all we can do this week, because
it came to hand at such late hour, that
our paper was full. We shall publish the
whole hereafter, and make such commsnts
upon its parts, as the nature Of the case,
and future movements shall seem to cali
for. A
The boundary Of the State runs up the
Des Moines river, and along the Missouri
as before, and up the Missouri
river till you come to the middle Of the
main channel Of the Big Sioux river, ac-
cording to Nicollet's map, thence up said
river until you come to north lat. 43 de-
yress and 80 minutes, thence eas,erly on
hat parallel of latitude to the Mississippi,
hence down said river to the place Of be-
ginning. I
BY recurring to the map it will be seen
hat the northern boundary viii be north Of,
Prairie Du Chen and the whole Of the
Turkey river country, extending north far
enough to take in the mouth Of the Upper
Iowa river. On the west there is quite .
large tract included, not within the old
while ON the north, . eomewha.
larger piece Of territory is left of. The
State however, as bounded by the new
Constitution, will contain not far from fifty
square miles, or thirty-two mill
ions Of acres Of the best land in the world.
This divided into farms Of lGO acres each,
would make three hundred and twenty
thousand farms. Surprising each farm to
contain six persons, Iowa would have q
population Of almost two millions. But
calling the farms so acres each. and tenant
ed Is before, and there would be a popula-
ton Of four millions. Iowa alone may
therefore be set down as good for popu-
lation Of five millions, being one quarter as
many as are now in the United States.-l
With its present boundaries, it win be one
Of the largest States Of the Union. We
will make a comparison hereafter.
The bill Of rights are the same As in the
old Constitution. To be entitled to vote,
requires one to be white male citizen
over twenty lone, resident in the State six
and in the county twenty days.
Sessions ofthe General Assembly biennial;
members Of the House 10 b chosen for two
years, those Of the Senate for four. Lieu
tenant Governor be dispensed with, and
Governor chosen for four years, while the
salaries Of officers have hesn increased !!
very tribe; ihat Of Governor net to exceed
$loo0 for Tho first ten years; that Of Jade4l
e the same, and small rise id the others.
Members Of The Legislature - perd.y isrI
6fay days; .sfler that q. Supreme Judges
elected BY the joint haliut sftoth Houses
District Judges By the people. Banking
IS prohibited, and IN essrorstions 70 Be |
provided for y general hrs. The steck-I
holders are e s. subject to sush liabilities
:. shall bssprovided y Nv. The saate
hall INST bseone stsekhelder in any cor
,of,tion.