Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1849-12-21

/ pack, In relation TO the River Improve,
ment. Ye Gods and little fishes! what .
cas:igation he inaicts upon US in his las
paper! Avery severe fellow, that editor
and unfortunate indeed. are we to have
unintentionally provoked his ire! In
justice 10 ourselves it is necessary for us
TO explain why we were so very i'm.
2ruden las to express an opinion TO oul
readers on the subject Of the Des MONIES
Improvement, in full knowledge of the
existence OF the Iowa Democrat. The
fact is, at the time we dared 10 expose
ourselves, we had received-the intelli.
gence that James Shepherd, Esq, the
causlic, witty, sarcastic and deeply pro-
found editor of said paper, had concluded
to retire into private life; intoa learned lei
sure;a sort of otium Gun, dignitate, where,
surrounded by circle Of admiring
friends, and reposing on the laurels ac-
CURED in the editorial department of the
Iowa Democrat, he s.expccts to live and
dieain Iowa. perhaps in Keosauqua."-
1t was, dear reader, under this precise
state facts, and in the firm belief that
we had no longer the whitening pen Of
James Shepherd to fear, that we veniur-
ed, very cautiously, and with many mis-
givings we must confess, to emerge some
what, and indulge in the luxury of the
article referred to. But alas for all hu-
man expectations! No sooner is our pa
per issued, and our article gone on th.:
wings of the wind, than up starts this
eternal James Shepherd, Esq. "not on,
yet" who is destined, we verify believe.
to be the plague OF ourlives. We don't
believe he ever intended to retire, but on
ly meditated a ruse upon us, TO bring us
into an ambuscade, after the manner OF
Indian fighting. We are then, it will be
seen, in a dilemma; but as there is no
help for it, we mustresign ourselves with
the best grace we can, TO our fate.
It's true, as the Democrat charges,
and as a reference to the article itselfw
show, we did denounce the Board of
Public Works; the Democratic party, and
THE management Of the river improve
mcnt, as commenced and carried on by a
Democratic Board of Public Works.
II is also true that we expressed the O.
plnion, IN substance, that the said i'm
provement would have been managed
upon better plan, and with more econo.
my,under the control of ''Whigs, who
haoe gone dAlength, for ,oorks of the
Kind and for scattering the acork," be-
cause 'such men would commence a
large number of dams along the river"
and could lust as easy supelintend the
building of fifty dams at once as fve.'
Well, what of it! as Jerry TwitcheI
says. Suppose we did advocate keep.
ing the election of the Board separate
from party; it was for the purpose OF
preventing, what we are sorry, and the
people of Iowa will be sorry to the la.
test generation, did happen after all, the
election of a Democratic Board. We
confess to the fact, that for the purpose
of electing good. capable and honest
men, experienced in such works, and oil
the business habits especially demanded
in planning the work, and managing
faithfully and skillfuily, the funds belong.
ing to it; wewere willing to lay aside
for the time being, all party feeling, and
unite with our fellow citizens of ali
parties in that election.I But our fair and
reasonable propositions was rejected; the
party lines were drawn,and an out and ou
Locofoco Board placed in control Of the
work. We have right, now, 10 hold
them and the party that elected them to
account; to abuse them to our hearts
content, il they deserve it, and certainly
to express our regret that Wings, who,
we know and repeat, and can prove by
1 the history of improvements in the west
are, in every respect ADLER men; possess q
more accurate knowledge of such bust
ness, and eau with more safety be en-.
1 trusted with the management of funds
i We do not aspire to an argument will
the Iowa Democrat, but if we hear from
him again, we will endeavor to furnish
him with some items bearing on this sub
lject that will be unanswered by him o
his party. m
4 We have but one word to say abou
the views expressed by us in regard Il
scattering and putting the whole worl
under contract at once, which seems Il
tickle the Democrat amazingly. Our re
ply will be found below in an extract from
the renorf of the onr;poor re The nor1