The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-07-19
| From Sidney's (E;ng. Erniy- anis Journal.
SOCIAL CONDITION OF IOWA.
ny GEORGE sHEPrAIp.

BNGEoeGE SnEPrAED.
In work just issued from the pen Of
Mr.. Sidney Smith, find the following dis.
henrte ming description of tho social cond
ton Of luwa:-
this territory, which once formed part
Of Wisconsin, is now separated from il, and
is the frontier territory Of The West, and
tho ultima Thule ot civilization. Il i. vcr,
healthy, very beautiful, very fertile, abound
ing in lair uplands Of slluvial soil. Bat its
population IRE rude, brutal, and lnwless
aud, possessing no settled institutions or
legislature, ii is obvious TINT Il will he avoid.
ed by oil persons Of character and ordcrI,
habits. It's miners, like those Of GaIcna,
are worse than savagcs. We may dismiss
our account Of this region, Cor which MIXTURE
Inns d"nc everything, and man nothing, by
he assurance that il 10 entirely unified for
he settlement % emigran,s, except such rs
'lcave their country Tor their country's
good lie Inns taken Iowa Short is the
American phrase Cor a rascal who has
made other places too no, To hold him.
This is the entire account of iowa given
in volume which Processes TO be "A Guide
Ia Emigrants in the Selection Of Settle
men,;' f"r tho reminder al tho chapter,
headed Iowa relates not particularly 10 that
state, but purity TO the entire Western
Country, aud partly 10 tho American char.
nc,cr generally.
Mr.. Sidney Smith docs no, pretend to
have a personal owledge of the various
countries about which he writes. His work
is compilation, maniie.,ing judgment, in.
dusiry, aud . not ungcnerons appreciation
offoreign character; but il is not free from
nnsonnd conclusions aud rather glaring
contradictions. In summary view OF the
American character (04, D. he says:sThc
balance Of testimony ID in favor OF the
American character Cor cvcnncss Of temper,
difference 10 women, substantial good man.
ners, with great pIainness Of speech and
address, aud great and genuine iimdncss
To the sick or the distressed, particularly
strangers, widows, and orphans. CONNER
cinl integrity is low, and there is much
over-reaching and sharpness in bar9nins
and mercantile contracts. The litigous
and pet,ifaggiog tendencies Of the people
are the results of their ncutcness, logical
intellect, and inferior sentimental endow-
menis. The American ms are the
hes, informed and cducn,ed people in the
world. The universal education
and intelligence Of her people, the deep
root which religion has taken among them,
their love--nlmost conceii-of country, md
ihcir reverence Tor their really great men.
/ s..sn nl h.. Ii 4
their territory, and the comfortable circum-
stances Of all, arc guarantees for the STA.
bili.y and prosperity Of her order of
society, to be found nowhere else. Their
extraordinary progress in every art Of lie,
aud their superhu'nan conquest ot nature
over the anplitudes Of boundless territory,
mark them out ns tho greatest nation tina,
ever existed
All this occurs in the chapter devoted 10
Town; but the commentator 10 lavishiy aud
think justly uttered Is obviously ,rrecon-
cilable with tho opening sentences; and
am bound TO attribute their connexion 10
accident rather than design.
Let Us Take Mr.. Smiths unqualified con-
dcmnation Of Iowa fr what il il worth-as
the judgment ol a clever and an honest
man, bnsed, not upon observation, hut upon
reading; md let us sec how far his conclu-
sinns nrc sustained bv undoub,ed facts.
IN the first place, it is geographical error
10 state that lows is the frontier territory
ofthe West.' il is only a part Of that from.
tier, and any objection which attaches 10 i,
IN that ground is shared equally by Mis-.
souri, aud by 1t least three-iour,hs Of Wis
consin, ms we'll a. by Arkansas and Texas.
Granting tina, the population of Arkansas
and Texas faro rude. bru.nl. and lawIess,
is il, therefore, 10 be inferred that the entire
frontier population hear similnr character?
Ia his account Of Wisconsin, Mr.. Smith cites
the Testimony of settler who declares that
in TINT state arc 10 be found sali convent
ences-shaps, goods No cheap no in Eng
land, places Of worship, saw and -four mills.
daily newspapers, and the Now York mail
everv day. Now personal knowledge Of
the Western States enables me 10 say, that
this declaration is not morc true of Wiscon-
sin than Of Iowa. Neither i il untitled
for tho settlement Of emigrante,' by reason
Of tho savage character Of It's scttlers.--
They form part Of the sltima Thule Of civ.
ilizn'ion,' but tlsey are, nevertheless, eligible
fields for emiRrants, even Cor persons Of
character and orderly habiis.' =
Undoubtedly, the general character Of
the population Of tho Western Esa,ss-lowa
included-exhibits large proportion Of
what orr excessive refnement calls rude.
mess. They arc in tho main men who
have had tough fight with foriune--who
have reclaimed forest and prairie With their
own hands, end by their own lshor have
raised themselves above want o. the fear Il
want-who, though Independent 10 circum-
stances. are vet styon0oro 10 luxurious oaee