The Davenport gazette., 1851-07-17
From The Dcs .Moines Courier.
"MoNsIEuR ToNsoN, COME AGAIN.

land actirc preparations made by the Loco
foco office holders, to complete tho river
improvement, just on the eve Of each cleo
ton in the State, for the last four years,
that they look for it now as matter Of
course. They were therefore prepared for
the card Of Messrs. Dodge g. Jones, which
came as an earnest Of what was to follow,
and richly ladened with heartfelt. grief at
the conduct OF the ADMINISTRATION and
precious promises of speedy relief, wrought,
out for the dear people by their almighty IN
eueace. This was, we say;but precursor
Of what was to come. The wire.pullers
have just commenced, and now,he puppets
begin TO dance, all along the hallowed anks
Of the consecrated Des MoiueS--consecra
ted to the Locofoco leaders and their hang
ers on.
The first move after the opening scene,
was to herald forth in the Dispatch, with a
fourishing Of trumpets, that the commis.
sioners had settled with the contractors, and
got the State out fthe awkward dilemma
into which an incompetent Locofoco Board
had placed it. This, however, was too shal
low trick, SO easily detected, that they
backed out of that, and the contractors are
now here clamorous for their '.pound Of
fesh.' a claim, we understand, of one
hundred thousand dollars!
For the next move they thought they had
a "better ready" and now we are informed.
with great cclat, through the same organ,
that The Commissioner has had a bid for the
whole improvement, from the mouth TO the
coon fork--Qhey don't mean to improve the
coon fork for fear the coons will claim the
credit Of it,
Well, we hope it is so, for We have ever
aud still wish to see the river made naviga-
BILE. But these annual completions, made
by the Locoloco officials and expectants, 50
promptly and regularly just previous to the
lst Monday in August, We must confess,
has so shaken our confidence in their prom
ses, that we of the Valley begin to look
with great distrust and suspicion upon June
and July promises. We have been fool
ed this way several times before, and
don't like the appearance ofthat ",chito heap
Of neal"
But we are told that tho matter will soon
be all fixed up now. Oh, yes, rich com
pany in New York have bid for the entire
work. Wehave been told that the commits
sioncr knows but little about the resources
oftho company, less about the terms upon
which they will take the job, and nothing
definite or certain is promised. He is no,
-althougha lawyer--quite certain wheth-
or the law, made by the Loco!oco Legisla-
ture, gives him any power to give out the
work, and il may be necessary TO call that
august body Of Solons together, at cost Of
several thousand dollars Of the peoples
money. to interpret a lap framed by them
selres. For heavens sake, we beg you, in
the name Of tnx-ridden and suffering peo.
pie to keep your voracious paws out Of the
pockets Of tho people, already emptied BY
your extravagance last winter, until they
can have time to replenish them again.--
Nay, the people demand that you do, as
they are satisfied from the past, that all
your legislation to get hold of the river
money, only places il, in your power to do
with il as you have with the thousands tina,
have heretofore fallen into your hands.
The people are heart-sick Of your Promi-
ses. They are restless and weary under
your electioneering system Of guli-traps to
catch voters, and will, you may rest assu
red, listen to no more olthem. They hav.
a few plain, direct, and pointed questionsto to
ask you, and before they trust you again,
they expect plain answers:
What have you been doing the past four
years to advance the improvement?
Where is the money you got for the lands
you have sold?
What are you doing with that stupendous
piece Of humbuggery, the Canal---which
your want of foresight and incompetency
caused you TO commence, and squander
thousands upon?
How many dams have you completed,
and how far isthe Rirer improvement navi
gable?
AT the rates you have advanced and the
actual cost. so far, how long will it be before
the work is completed to Keosnuqua, TO OF.
tumwa, or TT. Des Moines?
Can the people place as much reliance on
your specious promises now, as on those
made just before our previous annual cleo
tions?
How much Of the money will it take to
pay off the contractors whose work SO far
is useles to the State, and topay the officers
These are plain practical questions,
questions which we hear asked every day
by men Of oil parties with much earnest,
ness. And whatever the leaders and off. |
GERS Of The Iocofoco party may think, the
people are much more interested about these
questions than the promises and presen,
unusually .faaering prospects Of the i'm
Away with your fathless promises. AL
truce to your deceptive prospects! Have
vou not by mighty effort, managed, just
before each election, TO dspeI the dark
clouds and cause the sunshine ofprosperity
to CLEAN out for moment, just TO be sue
ceeded by prospects more gloomy and
clouds more dark and portentious? No;
gentlemen wire pu'ers, the days Of hum
buggery and deception in relation to the
arc numbered The charm
is broken and the people, awake 10 their
interests, are calling on you in thunder
tones for an account Of your stewardship. |