Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-05-26
COMMUNICATIONS.

W " AtVh ue iSSs SoSnSS'sSS "A'Sc"'
COMMUNICATIONS.
For the Reporter.
Mr.. Editor - In the Hawkeye of the
18th inst, underline head Of $ Highhunded
and premeditatsd locofoco game monstrous
oppression to the people" | notice that my
course in relation 10 The "School laws" has
been fire " commented upon BY that sheet
and The Dubuque Tribune.
A. an officer expect, and indeed am
willing, tina, my official acts shah be sub
ject to The most rigid scrutiny, either BY
friends or foes; and as a democrat ! ex-
pect, az matter Ut course, to be misrrp-
resented and abused by the wing leaders,
with some honorable exceptions. But !
am determined th4t my motives shall not
be questioned in silence lmay err in the
discharge OF my official duties, bu, | ilatter
myself that ihose who now me beat will
he the last to accuse me OF so doing inten-
tienally. However, contend. that IN the
case ,e:ered toll have not erred, either
or otherwise unless an
over anxiety tha, the school laws should
go into effect, may have induced me 10 60
beyond The strict line OF my duty, in pub.
lishing them when not SO required to do
~ law.
For the satisfaction Of an Oppressed
people" l viii set out the facts in the case.
Som after the ADJOURNMENT Of the General
Assembly. my attention was directed To
The defect IN tie '.cemlnon school law" III,
p,nvls'nn having been made For its news
paper publication. as in case Of other laws
Intended for immediate effect. In view Of
the constitution, which is perempt"ry as to
the manner in winch laws of a general
nature sh II BE- made to take effect. was
then, aud still am, convinced that said law
could no, take effect until the provisions
OF The constitution in regard 10 its publi-
cation and distribution, had been complied
with. Others were Of opirion that
the difficulty might be obv'a'e by having
the law published in The usual newspa
pers; being anxious that the law should
take .tfeci, it possible, and being deter.
mined THAT no blame should Justly attach
to me. prepared copies aud requested their
publication in the Iowa City papers, in.
forming The editors that hal l,o au.hori-
ty TO order their publication, and that they
must run their risk about payment. l
also obtained copies VI the law and for.
varied the same t,y mail l" every c. nnry
in the State, directed 10 the County Com
missioner, Clerks and to the Scout Fund
Comlnissio ers' OF the ssveral couni,es;
III. Sc las, named off ers were
not III existence. So much icr tie COM
mon school law.
With regard to the aSohal Fund.- and
University" laws, | believe there is no
pretex: that they Can possibly take effect
until they are regularly published and
with the other laws. according
10 the constitution, there not being word
in either Of them relative to Their pubica-
ton. The whole matter, as well as the
intention Of the Legislature. it we can
judge anything BY their acts. is sci at rest
BY the following JOINT resolution passed
on the last day bu. one ofthe session. 10 wit:
Resolved by the General Assembly Of
the State Of Iowa. that all acts of public
nature shall take effect from and after their
publication and circulation in the several
counties in this State by authority, ercept
such acts as confirm SPECIAL ERovIsIpss
TOR their liking effect By publication in neus-
papers in This Scte, which shall take effect
accordingly"
But it 10 contendsd that under the 18th
section OF the "School law, il is my duty
to have the laws relative TO schools ard
school funds, .'printrd separately and dis
trlbuied TO the several fund commi. sioners:
Granted; bu, wEet,? It surely was not
intended that should distribute laws Il"
officers not in eristence! have been taught
to believe that the law requires no intpos-
slbtl!'ies; but not 50. it seems. with sume
wing editors.
Beng j, the time engaged, as have
been ever since, in preparing the genera!
volume Of, the law tor publication and dis
tribu,ion, ] did moi wish to delay them by
attending to the school laws, unless there
was some necessity for it--.ome object to
be attained. Therefore wrote TO Chief
Justice Mason, as the h'ghes, legal author.
ity in the State, for his official opinion and
advice in The case. which will be found
fellow. also consulted with the District
Prosecutor tbs District, and his opinion
co,ncided aith thai Of Judge Mason. !
,!leIl concluded not /, distribute the school
LAYS uhlll the same time thai ! distributed
the others. NJ. acts or opinions IN this
matter have no. teen, and will not he. in
ilaenced b. the result Of the late election,
however, much ! night deplore that result
II it had been attended with any effect.
TIE Hawkeye, among Other things, says
tina, l shave taken the responsibility OF
Withholding altogether corrected copy Of
the school fund law frsn the people, aid