Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-06-13

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and is edited with the ability character
istic of the General.
"JH0msieur TOnson, come again.
The people Of the Des Moines Val
lev have become so accustomed to see
vigorous and aciive preparations made
by the Locofoco Office holders, to com.
ple,e the River Improvement, just on
the eve Of each election in the State,
for the last four years, that they look for
it now as a matter Of course. They
were therefore prepared for the card OF
Messrs. Dodge g. Jones; which came as
an earnest Of wha, was to follow, and
richly ladened with heartfelt grief at
the conduct OF the Administration and
precious promises of speedy relief,
wrought GU, for the dear people by their
almighty influence. This was, we say,
bat a precursor of what was to come
The wire-pullers have just commenced,
and now the puppets begin to dance, all
along the hallowed banks of the conse-
Grated Des Moines--consecrated to the
Locofoco leaders and their hangers on.
The first move after the opening
scene, was to herald forth in the Dis
patch, with flourish of trumpets, that
the Commissioner had settled with the
contractors, and got The State out of the
awkward dilemma into which an incom-
petent Locofoco Board had placed it,
This, however, was too shallow trick,
so easily detected, that they backed out
Of that, and the contractors are now
here, clamoroas for their '.poond OF
flesh" A claim, we understand, OF
one hundred thousand dollars! -
For the next move they thought they
had a "5effer ready;" and now we are
informed, with great eclat, through the
same organ, that tie Commissioner has
had bid for the whole improvement,
from the mouth to the coon fork--(,hey
don't mean TO improve the coon fork for
fear the coons will claim the credit of ill.,
Well, we hope it is SO, for we have
ever and sill wish to see the river made
navigable. But these annual compile
tons, made by the Locofoco officials and
sexpeciants, SO promptly and regularly
just previous TO the LIST Monday in Au-
gust, we must confess, has so shaken
our confidence in their promises, that we
of the Valley begin TO look with great
distrust and suspicion upon June and
July promises. We have been fooled
this way several times before, and don''
like the appearance Of that "vhite heap
Of meal"
Z Bin we are told that the matter will
soon be all fixed up now. Oh, yes, a
rich company in New York have bid for
the entire work. We have been told
that the Commissioner knows but litile
about ihe resources of the company, less
about the terms upon which they will
take the job. and nothing definite or Ger.
tain is promised. He is not--although
alawyer--quite certain whether the law,
made by the Locofoco Legislature, gives
him any power to give out the work,
and il may be necessary to call that au.
gust body of Solons together, at cos,
of several. thousand dollars Of the peo-
PIES money. to interpret iaU framed
By tkemseiues. For heavens sake, we
beg you, in the name Of tax-ridden
and suffering people to keep your vora.
scious paws out Of the pockets Of the
people, already emptied by your extrav.
sgance last winter, until they can have
1ime to replenish them again. Nay, the
&eoPle demand that you do, as they are
ltisfed from the past. that all your leg
t|ation to get hold of the river money,
MY places i in your power 10 do with
ms you have with the thousands thai
Ave heretofore fallen into your hands.
The people are heartsick Of your
promises. they are restless and weary
nnder your electioneering system Of
Qll-trsps 70 catch voters. and win. you
lay rest assured, listen TO no more Of
em. They have few plain, direct,
spd pointed questions 70 ask you, and
foFe they trust sou again, they expec,
y taarswefs'
4 Whsi;hass You been doing he pas'