Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-11-22
he River Improvement---T'he
Courier"

"The Courier In lis coWinehts WI 'io
river improvements, makes an unmaniy
attack mon the Board of Public Works,
md mon our members in Congress Tor
not procuring the passage OF an explain
atory act securing TO US the 900,0Oo a.
ores of laad above the Forks.
GAN this "noise and confusion about
an ac. 10 explain one which needs no
exclamation, and which is as plain as
the nose on their faces, is buncomb got
up Cor political effect. "-Repubdc.
None are SO ready TO accuse others OF
talking for buncomb, as those who WRITE
and do everything for buncomb, andnoth-
ing else. But the Republic says we
have made an unmanlv attack upon the
BOARD of Public Works. Indeed, we
never knew before, that it was unnaanty
TO hold up to the public gaze the actions
of officers who are chosen to act as
servants for the people. And in what
we said concerning those paragons OF Of
fcers-the Board of Public Works -
we only ventured 10 reiterate what was
charged by one of the Republics own
stripe-,he Keosauqua Ie0srsonian.
we are happy, indeed, TO learn that
the Republic has so much confidence in
the present cabinet, and acknowledges
their honest intentions towards the peo-
pie of this portion of Iowa. We-neVeF
approved of the decision of the former
Secretary of The Interior, and so have
spoken time and again. Bat. when po-
liticaI hucksters attempted 10 bear him
dawn and crush him to the earth, we
showed that he ,CGs sustained IN thai
decision by two LocoFoco Commission
ers of the General Land Office, and al
SO by the Proclamation of President
Polk ordering the sale of the lands above
the Forks.
We presume that it was not out OF a
esprit Of petty revenge" that Mr.. Ew-
ing made the decision in regard to the
river grant, and if the Republic thinks,
that in the face of all that has been said
and proven on this subject by official
documents, that it can cram such sfuN
down the threats of the intelligent peo-
pie of this part Of Iowa, ii is indeed sor-
ily mistaken.
Il has been "Jenny bang the weaver
with the Republic on this subject, from
The time it was sprung, and we hope TO
hear from them often, inasmuch, as the
of.ener they bring it 10 light they only
show their insincerity and want OF hon.
esty.
The Republic knows as well as every
bodv else. that we desire the speedy
completion of the Improvement, and
that il would be suicidal as well as SUI
prcmely ridiculous to oppose ii when 1t is
Of such vital importance to us and the
community in which we live, in pecu-
mary point Of view. But we well
know why it is that the Republic cries
aoueb'' when the toes of the Board Of
Public Works are tread on. Large sal
aries for the board, is no doubt one OF
their hopes of sustenance, and they are
only regarding the first law OF nature
when they cry ''unmsuly attacks &C.
Not regarding the cries of our neigh
bors, we shall insist upon reduction oil
the salaries of the board, and in SO dong
we only insist for our rights and the
rights of the community in general.
Our neighbor surely does not pretend
TO say that the little that has been done
ON the River would have been accom-
plished, If there had not been indiUida-
als-who are in no way connected with
the board or improvement,-who had
laid their shoulders to the wheel apd
thus in manner accomplished large
portion of what has been done. Ii 1t
does il is more than the board will say,
we presume.
From what we learn from the Repub-
lie, however. the grant will be soon res
tored land we say God SPEEDY and "all
will be we'll" We hardly think that
the matter will be finally settled without
an explanatory act" though we hope il
may be otherwise. More anon.
ERv a letter received at this place,