The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-07-19

ments. They build h,uscs that arc some.
whit rough n their cxterior, their furniture
is plain and scantv, their garments would
shock London tailor, aud London cpl
cure might turn with disdain frnm The
homely but abundant food which forms
their daily fare. What is there in all this
to terrify an cmigrnnt, or which nm emf.
grant must NOT be prepared to encounter, 90
where he will?
Amidst tho rudencss Of frontier life, there
are many redceming traits. So far ms the
northwestern region is concerned, am
satisfied that life and property are more
secure than in this country. Il is my 10,
now 10 live under the protection of English
law, and 10 share tho security which the
legislation and institutions Of centuries
guarantee TO all; soldiers are in our bar
racks, ready nj a moments notice 10 sus-
tain the public peace; wcl-orgnnizcd
police patrol IN our towns aud villages 10
guard our persons and possessions. Even
with these advantages neither persons nor
possessions nre altogether safe VIC feel that,
though in England, there are masses Of
III men who live in utter violation ofihc law I;
and We should rs soon think OF taking poison.
or throwing our purses into the toa, MS OF
going TO bed without previously ascertain
ing that our windows aud doors arc secure
Now, ! did once 1.-Two where few of these
advantages exist, whore these precautions
are not necessary, and yet where lifo and
property were as secure rs here; aud tina,
happens TO have been in the frontier terri.
tory Of the West--,hc very corner Of tho
world which Mr.. Sidney Smith regards as
a refuge for those who have made other
places too no, Ia hold lhemn was loca.
ted amongs. sluntiers, within n few miles
ct the extreme irouticr line. in the i,nmc.
date neighborhood oian Indian settlement,
and | have never felt greater sense OFFS
curity than then cnjnyed. One fact will
illustrate this: slept Tor a consider, bic Pc
riod in lOg-honse which had neither door
nor window-irame, and with no other com
panion than small Scotch terrier; people
around wero acquainted with the circu,n-
stance, aud may be supposed also TO have
known Tint. as recent settler, was M,
wholly without money; other settlers Eel,
equal security, for only in one instance that
J am nwnre Of was lock or bolt employ cd !;
mud vet. neither in my case, nor in any case
within ms kn"w!edge, was any robbery or
outrage effected or attempted.
The kindness ot'ihc popnla,ionis as uni.
form MS their honesty. | could name sevc-
ral instances which cnme under nv own
observation where children deprived ofpar-
entail protection were nj once aud without
solicitation taken homo by neighbnrng set
tiers, md fed. clothed, mud educated by
them with rs much care and consideration
as though they had been their own offspring
The highest purposes of n poor-law are
voluntarily fulfilled nsa religions duty and
without The degradation which hero at
tends the acceptance Of relief.
Admitting, then, that in Iowa aud Wis
consin, no less than in England, there arc
men Of fcrocious character aud lnwless
habits. maintain that the m'inri,y OF the
population are wcll-prncipled citizens,
obliging 10 neighbours, kind.hcnr,ed aud
generous to strangers. Every man who
has lived in the 'Iar west aud, while there.
has properly discharged the duties which
devoIved upon him, will bear me on, in the
assertion, that the Judgment pronounced BY
Mr.. Smith is essentially untrue.
But, Mr.. Smith graveIy tells us, Iowa
possesses no settled inst i,utions or legisls.
ture.' This 10 news, indeed, but, like much
other 'ncws' Of The presen. day, il by ~
means IN accordance with facts. Cotton.
.lland.h"k,' recently published in New
York, aud which the editor of the .E,ni.
grants journal has revived most iavorabl.
gives tho following authentic particulars
upon this subject
'The government Of Iowa 10 based on the
constitution Of 1916. Every white male
citizen is eligible for voting or office, on
attaining tho age Of twcaty.onc. The
legislature, called tho General Assembly,
consisting Of q Senate and House Of Rep
resentu,ives, assemblies at Town city bien-
nlalIy. Both senst"rs and representatives
are elected by ballot from among the PEG.
pie, and l"r the term Of two years. The
governor 10 chosen by . plurality Of the
popular vote, and is elected for four years.
lie must be thirty years old, and have 70.
sided in the state for two years previous 10
his election. The secretary ofs,n,e, auditor,
and treasurer arc chosen by tho people,
The judicial power 10 vested in courts Gre
ated by tho constitution. The supreme
court consists Of chief Justice and two
associate justices. elected by joint vote Of
the General Assembly, for six years, and
until their successors are elected and quail
fed. This court has appellate Jurisdiction
only. The judges Of the district courts are
elected BY the people Of the several Judicial
districts for Eve years. Justices Of the
pence have Jurisdiction over al minor civil
cases and breaches fths psace Of al de-
scripiions. Tho cosstiluiion 10 very strin.