Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-08-23
what will Won do,

are defeated-and their opponents eve-
rywhere triumphant. The destinies Of
the state for several years TO come, are
in the hands, and exclusively dependant
upon the action Of the Democratic par
~. So far as the legislation of the
State and the..effect Of hatlegislation up
on the public interest and prosperity is
concerned, the Wings, as party, are
absolved from all responsibility.
Well, gentlemen locofocos, wha, will
you dol The desiinies of young and
growing State, are recommitted to your
hands at a most important period Of our
country's and the worlds history. You
commence your present administration
with large majority of the popular suf-
frsges; you have apparently the conf
dence of an overwhelming majority of
your constituents; you have therefore
the power of great good, or immense, al
mos, irretrieveable mischief.
The spirit of the age is active, invent
i've and progressive; men are earnestly
seeking something higher, better, perfect;
something substantial, practical, and con-
ducive TO the accomplishment of the
! high destiny which we, as a state, have
a right to expect. Nothing temporary,
crude or imperfect, will long be tolerated
in this age; your work must be well and
wisely done, or sooner or later day OF
reckoning and retribution will come.
Platter not yourselves, that the syren
rame-democracy-will protect you
from the consequences Of misfeasance
or malfeasance, in the discharge of the
high trust you have assumed.
You will Immediately be called upon
to enact code of public laws, in the ma
lure of things destined TO fleet, favora-
bly, or unfavorably the public intere SITS
for long period of time. This is the
highest and most responsible Office oil
the legislator, efecting as it does i'm
mediately the lives. persons and prop
erty of the community. 1t requires tai
ents Of the highest order-profound and
varied learning; familiarity with the prac-
tical operations of the laws of other
States and nations; and above all, practi-
cal common sense, directed and control
led by pure and honest intention. 1t
requires notmerely lawyers-men whose
minds and views have been rather con-
tracted than enlarged, by limited expe-
rience, derived from limited practice,
ola crude undigested and imperfect code
who attach more importance to the
technicalitifs Of the law, than to the rea-
son upon which il should be based
But 60 ahead, we hope with fear and
trembling.
Again, the currency of the State is in
very bad condition, poor in quality and
too limited in quantity. The complaint
is universal, that money is scarce; you
made loud professions on this subject in
the .ate canvass; let us see now some of
your practice. One of your first duties
will be 10 regulate the currency. You
are opposed to banks; then Danish this
\ 4.
miserable, ragged shinplaster stuff, and
give us good currency, and cause il to
circulate; as every good currency sho d
and will, equally throughout, the commu-
nifty.
The State is deeply interested in In
ternal Improvements; the people of the
State are In pressing want of better
market. 1t is for you 10 devise a plan.
without mourning State debt, by which
market shall be brought to every man S
door. The Des Moines River improve
ment, is in your charge, both in the pro-
curement of the grant, and in its ap pill
cation and management. This work
should be prosecuted vigorously, without
taking any extra dollars from the poor
settlers pocket. The various Rail Road
projects will require your earnest atten-
ton, and, as you are opposed to an am
endment of the Constitution, it will be
for you to say, how the munifcence OF
the general government can be enjoyed,
and at the same time, State debt avoi-
ded.
In short. we hope now you are e.ec-
ted. that you will do great deal better
than your opponents have predicted
We have by no means suggested above,
the whole work before you, but may re-
cur to the subject again, as we wish to
have you well informed of the expec,a-
tons which have been formed OF your
labors in the public service.
i IT The steamer Lightfoot, which ar
rived at st. Lous on the l lih inst. reports