Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-02-15
COMMUNICATION.
EDIToRs OF THE COURIER:

DIS THAT VI Tic. diHeHulHclit VI TIC WIN
stitution.
This we conceive In be an essential
point, which ought to be discussed thro'
the columns of every Wing paper in the
State, and ought also to be one of the
leading doctrines for discussion by Wing
orators whether candidates or noi) the
coming August e'ecti on The watchword
OF all should be the amendment of the
Constitution. On this question, more
than probably on all others, we as par
ty can succeed. ~
The people. we think, are beginning
TO open their eyes on this subject, and if
The current of popular opinion can once
be turned on to this point, Locofocoism
must yield. In discussing this question,
we wish to call the attention of the far
mers particularly. We ask every think,
ing and rejecting man, regardless of his
politics, if he really does not think there
is something wrong. Why do We have to
take one third less for our produce here
than others who are no nearer market
than we are, so far as distance is con-
cerned! And why does our river improve
,ment get along SO slow! &c. These are
questions which interest us all, and GER
tainly no person, nor party, can be the
looser by an investigation of this kind.
In trying to give the necessary informa-
ton we must commence at the right point.
We have no means of transportation,
only mud wagons; no channels through
which to convey our surplus to market;
neither can we have under the present
arrangement of our Constitution. Nor
can the river improvement be facilitated.
Nothing but the old, slow process of
ying on the work, can be anticipated:
the funds squandereG or eat up, and all
on account of constitutional enactmen is.
1t is well known TO every one, that the
Des Moines River improvement is
State work. l ask why does the I'M
provement get along SO slow! Nearly
three years have elapsed, one Board have
run their course; new one just in, with
probably less experience than the first,
and yet not three dams completed.
| am not trying to prejudice the public
against the Board of Public Works; that
is not my object in the present com
munica ion. But wish 10 show why
the Work is not as near completed
to the Racoon Forks by this time, as
the first three da ms are below Farming
ton.
The reason is obvious. The Consti-
tuition comes in with its prohibitions; its
RICH. to obey its mandates while in force.
But it is equally as right for the sovereign
people 10 alter or amend it, at any time,
as it was to make and adopt it at first.
l shall only point out three Objectionable
features at present. The first is, that
the State shall not be in debt at any one
time, over 100000; this clause will al,
ways keep us back, it is impossible for
us as State, to embark IN any State
work, it is no matter what may be our
means, without mourning State debt
over that amount. The second is, the
lorbidding special corporate companies
to engage in works of Internal Improve
ment, machineries, &c. And the third
is, the forbidding Of The issue of any
paper currency Of any kind whatever,
&c. ! shall only notice in the present
communication this last clause, and ap-
ply il TO our River Improvement.
Suppose our legislature had had the
power in the organization OF the River
improvement to allow the commissioners
to issue State scrip at 6 per cent interest
per annum, and that this issue should not
exceed at any one time in dollars, half
the amount of acres of land donated for
said work; this to be redeemable by
cash arising from the sale Of said lands,
and also be taken as funds TO enter the
same. We would then have had fund
Immediately, TO carry on the work with
vigor. To make it siill palmer, suppose
there were in the River grant 100000
acres of land, the commissioners would
then have issued 5000, 900 to'commence
with. This would have built twenty
dams, allowing $4,000 per dam, and
100000 left for expenses for the Board,
incidental, &c. These twenty dams
believe, would have re ached as far as
Red Rock Now, ask every man
of common sense, who would be the
loser by this operation! Could the
State be involved and lose anything!
or would we be the losers up here by
the onera!ion2