Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-04-14

impression that he was an ind1sndtnt can
dldate for Congress, snd was defeated
We therefore state in the second place
that he never stood poll for that Office
either as an independent candidate or 9th
erwise. This the writer knew when h,
penned the falsrhood.
| II is true that Doctor Davis was once
candidate Tor nomination to that Office, hav
ing taken the stump som after the organ
izaion ofthe territory, and before the dem
ocratic party had become organized. Blu
it is equally true, that so soon as an organ
ization OF the party was effected and Z
convention called, he promptly came for.
ward and submitted his pretensinns to thai
convention, and cheerfully yielded to its
decision whereby another man was select.
ed as the demot ratio candidate, ard gave
to the nominee his mos: cordial and
hearty support.
This is characteristic of Doctor Davis
general course in politics; this is his char
.cter as democrat; as man and ci,i.
Zen, his character is above reproach, and
he deservedly enjoys large share If the
confidence and esteem Of the community in
which he lives. Whatever else may be
said Of him, We trust that he has soul to
despise these his pitiful nsligners.
Ferry Chartcrs--A Dubious Grant
Near the close Of the session, our Gen.
ersl Assembly was, as usual, beset with
applications for ferry charters. 1t was
commended by some, that the Mississippi
river, being agreat national high way, was
tree to the navigation fall persons alike,
aud that no state legislature possessed the
pnwer TO restrain the citizens in the ex-
ercise OF that right, or 10 limit it to any
individual or company. In this opinion
We concur. A Stale Legislature has no more
right TO interfere with the free navigation
Of the Mississippi river, by granting to
any man or SET of men the exclusive priv.
'ese o: ferrying across it within certain
prescribed limits, than it has to obst,uct
the navigation Of that stream by building
a dam across it.
1t was commended further, that the gran,
of such privileges as those asked for in
these ferry charters, by special acts of in
corporation. was interdicted by the letter
and spirit Of our State Constitution. This
position was also, in our opinion, clearly
correct.
Be this, however, as it may; the appli.
cants for the several ferry charters com
bined their forces doubled and trebled
teams upon them-and by dint of prett,
hard log rolling, aided by the somewha,
plausible argument that such grants were
necessary to secure good ferries for the
of the travelling public.
they managed TO get few Of them
'througd." When fairly started, with
lair prospect Of "going through" they
were careful to push them ahead with all
possible despatch, for fear Of some acciden,
which might defeat them. This was es
pecially the case with charter granted
10 one Mr.. Lefevrr, Of Lee county, which
was urged forward with such hot haste
that a blunder which was made in the
draf, of the original bill escaped the
notice of its friends. Consequently the
bill as passed. reads:
THAT Isaac A. Lefevre, his HERS and
assigns, are here' y authorized to establish
and keep ferry across the Mississippi
river at Montrose, in Lee county, for the
term Of twelve years; with the exclusive
privilege 10 the same; commencing at bis
wharf and warehouse, on the bank of said
river; thence down said river two miles;
thence up said rirer tro miles; from said
wharf and warehouse"
So that Mr. L-!ev:e enjoys the exclu.
sive right Of ferrying or The Mississippi
river, for the term Of twelve years, from
hi. wharf in Monrrose, tuo miles doun
said rirer and back again. We would ad.
wise him to KEEP near into shore, and by
no means TO run his craft over to the city
Of sain 5, least he might come into COLI
sion with some sucker who has obtained
from The Legislature of Illinois the erclu-
size privilege Of ferry ing across the Mis-.
sissippi river within the same limits which
he lays erclusiue claim to, and perhaps for
many miles up and down on each side and
in the channel too. These exclusive priv
ileges on the Mississippi river are beau
tiiul things. especially when SO explicitly
worded as in the charter above alluded to
Banks.
"Let farmers and mechanics unanimously re-
fuse to take the rag money Of other States. and