Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-04-04
For the Iowa Capital Reporter.
The Report q the Board Of Pub
lie Works.

article published IN your last weeks pa
per. accuses me Of having tortured" GER
tain portions of their report. but has not
pointed out wherein it has been tortured,
| wish to submit few farther remarks in
order to set this matter right before the
people. In doing SO it is not my purpose
! 10 detract from the real merit OF any indi-
vidual, or to misrepresent the doings of
any officer, or to create any division in the
democratic party. Any thing of the kind
would be very far from my intention or
design Nor would l wantonly Join in
the Secretary imaginary ''union between
wings and democrats in deprecisting the
course Of conduct pursued by the Board $
But, being firmly convinced from the Re-
Z: port itself, that the Board have transcend
ed their power, and disregarded the pro-
visions OF the law making the appropria-
! ton, and in their onward strides over
looked the plain provisions Of the consti-
tuition, feel it my duty to direc! the at
tention Of the people tathese matters. Were
| to be silent under such circumstances, l
should be disregarding the injunctions.
warnings and principles Of all the ''early
(democratic) Presidents. as well as their
illustrious successors. And, though there
may seem to be from the general express
sion Of public opinion against the Repor;
ard the various bills introduced in accord
ance with its recommendations, coalition
between the wings and democrats vet,
| am unable TO perceive how such demon
STATIONS Of public opinion can be any
source of qualification TO the Board. The
! press and the people. it is believed, have.
whenever they have given any expression
Of opinion as TO the recommendations and
course OF the Board, disapproved of them.
Not paper. nor even newspaper scrib-
bier. has as vet uttered sentence in ia
vor OF the Report, SO far as have been
able to ascertain. 1t may be unpleasant 10
the Board, as it certainly is to those who
assisted in placing them where they are,
that their course and recommendations
should be SO repugnsnt TO sound policy
and correct principles, as not 10 find one,
",o sing their praise" Though l regret
the necessity which impels me TO notice
the Report, vel nv motto has ever been,
principles and not men," The party
has never been injured the one half as
much by promptly opposing wha, is wrong
in principles or policy. as by permitting
them TO creep into the party, by which it
is sometimes saddled with burthens not
properly its own. Every oenocra, should
guard we'll the party against the introdue-
ton Of false issues. as they tend to weaken
and iis,rac, more than ali other courses
combined. Keep the party free, ~ strict
~ adhsreing to the real principles and
policy, legitimately belonging 10 it, and it,
ascendency viii be sure, steady and per-
uanent.
The Secretary of The Borrd charges NE
with having selected, words and SEMEN
ces from the Report, and tortured them
TO his (my) purpose IN order 10 make the
Beard say what they never contemplated,
and what the context does Tot warrant"
Blu, he was s,udiously cautious in nos
specifying wherein had tortured The Ian
suase OF the Report SO as TO make the
Board say VIVA, they did not contemplate.
or in what particular nv quotations were
controlled by 1.-The context" The reason
why he adopted general denial, is obvi-
Gus: he wished 10 avoid taking issue up
on any Of the principal statements. OF con-
illusions contained in that article, know
ing as he must, that the report would be
evidence conclusive. in support 0: these
statesmenls and conclusions. Hence. ne
avoided the issues rendered, and seeks TO
get out of the controversy by general
evasise denial. In that article stated.
tina, The Bard, in fact, say that it was
understood between the Beard and con-
tractors at the second letting. that esti-
mates were TO be made monthly as the
work progressed, and that bonds or certi-
feases OF indebtnsss were 10 be issued on
these monthly estimates, bearing six per
cent interest per annual." Is Rot this
true 10 the very letter: Yet lie pronounces
it false. also charged that the Bard
had transcribed Their legitimate powers.
This statement will show 10 be true in re-
ference 10 more than one OF the statements
in that article. From whence did the
Beard derive the authority to issue ceril-
icate>, bearing six per cent per annam:
wv 1fsSNt Is lLkaa EAfcS NStN IL iiSEA LEl
legitimate source. Therefore they trans
cended their power Again, does nos the
Report recommend the General Assembly
to authorize the Beard by legislative en-
ac,ment. 10 issue bonds? Aud in pursu-
ance Of this Recommendation. was not bills
to the number Of nos less than three intro
duced for this object. each following "a
pidly upon the destruction OF its inansedi-
ate predecessor And were not AZ least
two Of the members Of the Board,hen aid
ing. advising and eiee;ionesring with the
members of the General Assembly for the
purpose of procuring their Introduction
and passage: And were nos these ssSs-
raj bills either drawn up or dictated BY
one or both Of the members Of the Bard
These bills have been generally consider
ed the legitimate progeny OF the Board
They (,he biIls) as stated in nv former
article. authorize the Board to issue bends.
running twenty years. TO an amount hot
exceeding the money the Bard might
have on hand, and all the unsold lands con-
tanned in the garnt =, 81 90 per acre; which
bonds were TO draw ten per cent in,erss,
-