Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-02-22

1t. Again, before The elecllon, resolution
of instructions to our then Representatives
and erpected Senators, was introduced by
one Of us,with the same result as before
every Wing voting for it. This, then,was
the position assumed OH the question by the
friends of the Senators elect, and such the
position that they themselves have always
taken. We submit 10 you, fellow citizens,
whether this is your will (; whether Sena-
tors entertaining such views upon this ALL
absorbing question, are, or can be the true
representatives Of your wishes. If not the
remedy is in your own hands, and we say
look to your immediate representatives.
So far as our votes were concerned, we
could expect nothing, but we gave them
to gentlemen for the Senate who were
known to be sound on this question.
We here dismiss this question of the
election ofSenators, with the additional re-
mark, that it is much to be regretted that
our young State could not be correctly
represented on the floor Of the United
States Senate, where already some Of the
brightest lights from the Slave States have
manifested liberality and independence
that should put to the blush every man of
our State who favors the doctrine OF slave
~ extension, or doubts the power OF Con-
gress to act in the premises.
We have already said that our Demo-
cratic friends had frequent opportunity TO
act on this subject. After the elections,
resolutions were introduced by us in Ell
Their branch Of the General Assembly, in
structing our Senators and Representa-
tives--which were Immediately laid upon
the table by party vote-postponed m
definitely or sought to be amended in any
and every way that was disgraceiul and
ridiculous. While individuals Of the same
party in other States almost bordering up
on US have had the intelligence and moral
courage to speak out in their representa-
tive capacity upon this question and TO
speak as becomes the age and the country,
the majority in this General Assembly
have time and time again grasped with a
vidity the letters that bind them blndly to
the car Of party-more than once have
they spurred the same doctrines that have
been recognised by the ablest constitution
al lawyers Of the land, and sanctioned by
some Of those who framed the constitution
itself. We claim fellow citizens, 10 have
taken the ground which your opinions will
snstain-the great interest of the nation
demand; and certainly such as our wn
Judgments directed. The issue we sub
mil TO you.
You are aware that it was confidently
expected that the Committee on Revision,
appointed last winter, would have been
ready TO report at this session. When we
assembled here, it was al an earl y day as
certainea tina, the Committee had not COM
pleted their arduous labors, and that we
could not have their report. Such being
the fact, the undersigned were clearly OF
the opinion that no necessity existed to
postpone the Session beyond fifteen or
twenty days. We have now every reason
to believe that we are correct in the opin-
ion then formed. Two resolutions Were
introduced by Wings in the Senate pro-
posing to adjourn OH the 2lst and then on
the 3Oh Of Dec, which passed in the SEN
ate, but were Immediately laid upon the
table in the House, by an overwhelming
Democratic vote. The session has been
heightened out to forty three days. And
now you will ask, as you should do, for
what purpose? We are compelled an
swer for No good one. We wish fellow
citizens, you would take the action Of the
Democratic majority into careful conside-
ration, SO far as the prolonging Of the ses-
sion is concerned. We have managed for
several years 10 get along under our pres
ent laws-it was knownt that the Commit
tee would be ready TO report certainly by
the next session-from their known abili-
ty it was expected with confidence that
they would bring order out Of the confu-
sion that now exists. The people Lad at
last got to understand to some extent our
present code. To hope to better in any
material degree our geEerallaws,b by amend
ment was vain and idle. Every day add
ed hundreds Of dollars to our State debt;
every day added to the enormous profits
OF the printer in the way of large journals
and mass Of local laws; for all these rea-
sons and others that might be mentioned,
we were clearly of opinion it was worse
than useless TO stay here-yea, even an
absolute injury; fearing as we did that
we'll enough for the present would not be
let alone. Subsequent action has justif-
ed our fears. The expenses of this Ses-
sion will, we predict, be larger, than eth
er one we have yet had under the State
government, and if we add the prohigate
allowances that have been made, which
should be properly added TO expenses pro-
per OF the session, they will be found to
be almost double. For what end then was
the session continued? To pass school
Bill it may be said. This is not true
Our School law it is true was the subject
of complaint. Its defects, however, were
generally understood, and it was certainly
better to amend the most glaring defects,
and let the law which most of the school
officers had got to understand, stand for
two years, than TO pass an entire new law.
The revising Committee will report an en-
tire School System. A school law has
been passed almost every winter for five
or six years past, another has been passed
this Session, and before il is circulated or
half understood, another one will come
from the Committee. What nonsense then
totry or attempt to do anything on this sub
ject. and this is clearly 50 when you find
4 a. .sl