Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-11-08

CLARx, 10 now on throw Oh the and southwest
eoua,ss Of tho State We hope that all those srbscri
bss who in in that quarter will be prepared for
him. Those who reside elsewhere and in the same
WIZ" can forward their dues by mail.
M has been in employ for several years, and we
commend him to all who have outstanding accounts,
as good Collector.
Keokuk v. The Davenport Convention.
Il will be remembered that before the meeting of
the Davenport Convention, we suggested that the
Keokuk editors were endeavoring to array the peo-
pie Of the Des Moines Valley against those living
on the Mississippi above the Lower Rapids and that
they acted if they hostile to the convention
and the Improvement Of the Rapids. The Register
of that place took the suggestion in high dudseon
and went so far in a"Cassius help ME or sink like
whine, to call upon the ssnpriver' papers to exon
crate the editors of that print from being obnoxious
to such charge. Every one out Of and disinteres'-
ed in the affairs of Keokuk, thought as we did The
convention was held. Three delegates, including
the senior editor Of the Register, from Keokuk, at
tended. All three were deeply interested in build
ing up that place. The convention passed resoiu-
ton, proposing the speedicst and most economical
mode Of improving the navigation OF the Mississip-
nj This mode was strenuously opposed, though.
We are happy to say unsuccessfuly, by the gentle
men from Keokuk. After being fairly defeated by
majority OF fifty in the convention, and in view OF
the bes. assurances that the mode adopted by the
convention was the favorite plan of all the people
above the Lower Rapids, any reasonable person
might suppose that these peculiar lovers of Keo-
hulk would quietly acQuiesce II the action OF such
an overwhelming majority. Policy, if nothing else,
one might think would have led them to conceal
their chagrin, especially after they had disavowed
being hostile to the improvement Of the river. But
no such thing The editor Of the Register not only
tacitly acknowledges that we were right in suppo-
sing him to be hostile to the Davenport Convention
before il was held, but since Its adjournment; and
finding he and his friends Col. Curtis and Judge
Mason could not control the action Of that body,
they endeavored to do, he now attempts to ridcuie
the convention itself. What, ridicule body Of
men, who had met for the great and grand purpose
Of annihilating distractions in the Mississippi,
which had been the cause of draining the pockets
Of our IA, mers out Of their hard earnings and
sing them to lose ten per cent. and more on their
produce, ever since Iowa was settled? What, rid
icuIe those who adopted what is considered BY
ninety-nine one handrcdths of our population, the
best the speedies AMI most economical plan TO re-
move this tax secure free navigation to all tlose
>bpvr 80 fellow the Raril-a E~sa O. A1tAs
excusing himself for not having published the oi-
ciai proceedings of the convention, and in pallia
ton OF such neglect. presuming that it "will be
matter OF little regret to This readers, and at all
events we do not intend to trouble readers with
THE PUERILE STUFF at this late day. he choos-
es to take up the amusing proceedings that occur
red on the Ciermont, and which were got up as
mere pastne FOR the qualification of the passengers,
and to relieve the tedium Of the voyage up the riv
or, and treat them of more importance than the
actual proceedings.
When he does come TO notice what occurred in
the convention, he starts with two glaring mis-
statements by declaring that the .Re solutions pres
cr.oas to Congress the mode Of improvements sand
dictates to the Department the appointment Of Maj.
Lee" "to perform the duty Of civil engineer III the
eremises.' There is no such thing in the resolu-
tions. The resolutions are simply suggestive
They neither prescribe 10 Congress- nor sdctate 10
the Department. They only declare the conyic-
tions Of the convention, that in consideration of the
thorough survey made by Maj Lee, and the sue
cess he met with in removing the distractions in
the only eighteen working days allowed him, and
the confidence he expressed OF being able 10 make
sgcodnarigalle channel in another that body
requested L. s. Senator's and Representatives. to
use their influence in securing an adequate arrro-
priation to secure the completion Of the work as
begun by Maj. Lee.
They did this with the belief that the improve
nent could be effected more speedily, more econ
onically and more thoroughly in this way than in
nny other. They also took into consideration that
any and every other mode would certainly involve
tho expense and delay Of another survey. These
they wished TO avoid. With the laboriousy got up
and accurate maps and reports Of Maj. Lee before
them, and as much out OF compliment TO him as ex-
pressivc of wish tina, the Department might see
it consistent to employ him in finishing what he
had begun, his name was mentioned i'll the connec-
ton in which it stands in the resolutions.
In relation 10 the amendments propos.dby Judge
Mason and advocated by Col. Curtis, we need only
say that according to Judge Mason's own acknowl-
edgement they called for aer surrey before any
thing could be done. The amendments were hain,-
less only as they gave room for delay. This is
what every citizen in Iowa, except those living and
having an interest in KcokLk is anxious to avoid.
The peore-tae farners--hare teen taxed more
than enough to pa! Cor thc Improvement We cali for
ten times over, and they insist that ties obstacles
SHOULD no longer crush them, when they can be so
easily removed.
Tae only apparent ground Of opposition to carry
Ing out tie plan proposed hy the cunv enion cones
from those interested in keokuk, and as the lead
ing paper in that place has voluntarily thrown down
sac Gantlet, we must take it Up. Judge N.son has
.avorite mode Of improving the river hr lock,
AMI dams, which. besides calling fr new sur.
vsy, would involve an enormous expense beside.
a,ns Of doubtful! utility. THIS has 10, received
countenance until recently, anI that Only among
those Interested in keokuk. Perhaps ,hcy look
rroiitionsly upon i. i'll compliments to the ~ ojcctvr
all in consideration OF his contemplated permc,st nj
residence At tani place. Sol. Gems claims much
property in keoHuk. and lie has another project in
view. He proposes tn construct stugsnduus ca
nal around the Rapids ard, believe has gone SO
far as 20 form company for this purpose. This
company have already at great expense obtained the
engraving Of notes Of stock, which VIC are told are
very beautiful to the eye. If have not been mis-
informed, they propose to make speculation out
OF the undo r.akng by pocketins, if they are sue
ressful, nearly million OF dollars. The speeches
OF hIcssrs H. W. Starr and Rorer were most etfec-
tive, in not only showing the i,npraciicability OF
fart nrp ~ nd ,n3c nj