Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-03-03
ADDRESS
To the People Of the State Of
Iowa,

The undersigned, members Of the
Senate and House Of Representatives, on
the eve Of parting from each other, and
about to return home to their constituents
at the close of the first session Of the Lee
pislature. held under State government,
In lowe, which besides being long and la
borEous, has been marked throughout from
its very commencement to its close, by
events Of exciting and unusual interest
beg leave to give hastily, and as briefly a
may be practicable, an account Of thei1
stewardship.
Il is well known to every body under
what circumstances the Legislature as
sembled here on the 30th day Of Novem
Der last, to-wit: that with great interest:
pending. and important action to be had BY
the body upon very many questions, ont
brancIh Of it contained majority of Dem.
ncra,;c m ,smbers, and the other of wings;
While nnon ;oint meeting Of the two, the
three members from Lee county claiming
to be democrats, but 'nefally known a.
"Possums," held the balan.. q power oe
tween the two, and could ,hwa., >''e a.
ton of both, or give the ascendency !"
either, as they might see fiji; and that with
such state Of things existing, much EN-
barrassment to Legislation was looked
for-an anticipation which, unfortunately
has been realized to its fullest extent.
While, however, in consequence of this
peculiar and unhappy state Of affairs, OBJ
stacles Of serious, and, at times, appa-
~ently of an almost insurmountable ma.
ture, have been interposed in the way o.
legislation, the undersigned are gratifed
in having it in their power 10 state, that
all the important questions, without an
exception, which were expected. prior 70
the commencement of the session, to be
acted upon by the Legislature, and dis.
posed OF by the passage Of the necessary
laws, have been Sc disposed of by The
enactment Of such laws.
Thus, bills have been passed. providing
for the objects named below, which have
received the signature ofthe Governor, and
are now laws Of the State Of Iowa, to- wit
l. For the location OF the new seat OF
government Of the State, SIC
2. To divide the Stale into two Con
gressionaf Districts. ss4s,s-s.
3. To divide the State into four Judi.
cial Districts.
A. In relation to the duties ard powers
of the District Judges.
5. Fixing the terms of holding the Dis
trict Courts.
6, To authorize general interpretations
2. To complete the change from Ter
ritorial toa State Government
8. Regulating the election of District
Judges.
9 Concerning the Southern boundary
of Iowa.
To- Staying the School Fund.
IL. Prescribing the general duties Of
the Governor.
r. Prescribing the general duties OF
The Secretary of Stale.
10. Prescribing the general duties Of
The Auditor of State.
Ia. Prescribing the general duties of
the Treasurer of State
is. To provide for the payment of the
Miners Bank Of Dubuque.
IL. To define the duties Of Prosecuting
Attorneys.
II Fixing the salaries of certain off,
GERS therein named.
Is Amendatory Of the act for the
organization Of Townships. Approved
Feb II, 1912
49, In relation to Clerks and Prosecu.
ting Attorneys.
20. To provide for taking an enumera-
'tion Of the white inhabitants of the State.
81. Concerning the distribution Of
School Funds.
%. To confer the authority of changing
the names OF persons, towns, and villages,
upon the District Courts.
% To provide for loan for the pur,
pose Of defraying the expenses, and pay
ing the creditors Of the State,
"a. To provide for the election Of Uni,
ted States Senators.
25- For the establishment of State
University.
Is. Providing for the improvement of
the navigation Of the Des Moines River.
"a. Establishing system Of Common
%. To provide for Criminal returns.
20, Regulating State Roads
80. For levying and collecting revenue.
81. Toprovids FOR the election Of Eiec-
tors Of President and Vice President.
81. To amend an act relative 10 the
Probate Of Wills, &c.
80. To provide for the management and
disposition of the School Funds.
"a. In relation 10 the Salt Springs
granted 10 this State.
80. Making an appropriation for The
Public Buildings at Iowa City,
36. Defining the time ofholding elections
for State, District and County officers.
~, To provide for term of the Su-
preme Court, and to change the time Of
holding the same.
38. For the relief Of the Poor.
80. To incorporate Towns.
40. In relation to the Peni,entiary.
Al. Making appropriations for the sup
port Of the State Government.
Schools.
The above is list of the laws of
general nature that have been passed du.
ring the session; but besides these, some
leo others, local in their character have
AA~. 81 Il