Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-11-20
Great Deyslepms nts Expected.


October 2, 1851 EpwARps & BRcApwELL
Great Developments Expected.
The last number Of the Keokak Dispatch con-
tains letter from Gen. Van Antwerp, the Com
missioner Of The Des Moines river Improvement.
to the editor Of that paper, announcing the sue
cess Of his mission to Washington. aud the final
settlement in favor Of the State of the question
as to the construction Of the Act OF Congress.
making the donation Of lands for the improve
mcnt Of the D,s Moines river.
Having made this announcement, the Commits
sioner proceeds to glorify himself BY an account
Of the difficulties he had to contend with, and the
Herculcan labors by which he oyercame them !:
II went to works he says cas- il the word 'fa;r
were not in the English language, and did no,
know its meaning and, thank God, with the in
valuable aid given me, have sacceeded.s
What an occasion for the opposite quotation of
the Commissioner, Gan is NOT lost that is in dan
gerw or, if It is preferred, for the memorable
saying Of Sam Patch-sssome things may be done
- well Is others!"
We are not told, however, in this letter, how
much Of this ertra labor that the Commissioner
was required to perform, was caused him by the
biundsrs Of Messrs Shields aud Piper, two De-
mocratic Commissioners Of the General Land
Office, Of Messrs Clarke and Briggs, two Demo-
cratic Governors Of Iowa--of Gen. Dodge, who
introduced the bill into Congress, and of the
Legislature Of Iowa that passed The JOINT resolu-
ton accepting the grant in the name Of the State
The Commissioner promises fuller derelope-
ment and explanation on his return. He special
y promises that Mr. Crittenden shall hear from
him further, hereafter, with regard to his action
in the premises. From the ominons manner in
which the threat is made, and from the sstouch
Of his qualty,s that the Commissioner gives US
IN his letter in the Dispatch, it is very much to
Be feared that he meditatcs some deep design
against the peace Of mind Of Mr. Fillmore's At
torney General.
Il Is very evident that the Commissioner of the
Des Mcincs Improvement is q dangerous man.-
II IS uncertain as yet, whether he intends to at
tack Mr. Crittcndea with argumen. or sneers. II
IS to Be hoped that he viii begin with Que a. a
time, Or serious consequences might be the result,
No living man could possibly stand the force of
his reason and his rid:cu'c combined.
We give an extract from the letter Of the Com
missioner 70 the Dispatch. Let the people of
Iowa Judge whether the author is not worthy a
seat IN the U. 5. Senate or whether he must first
dcuaolish the present Attorney General:
The truth Of the matter is, that the case was
Sc presented, in connected history, and strong
~ backed BY the elaborate legal opinions OF such
eminent men as Chancellor Walworth and Chief
Justice Bronson Of New York, Hon. Reverdy
johnson. Col. Benton and others, that it was next
70 impossiblc any other decision could have been
made than that now given. Yet Mr. Crittcnden
Perhnac iously adhered to his absurd opinion and
I was obliged to get The case back out of his
hands, and place il before the Cabinet. There,
4 Is said, and believe, il was unanimously dec;-
dcd in our favor! shall ask you 10 publish,
when get back, the legal opinions above refer.
red to, together with the history Of the case pre-
pared BY myself, which accompanied them and
shall have something to say with regard 10 the
acton Of Mr. Crittenden, and the man n...ser6eld,
VINO unworthily fills the post Of Commissioner cf
the General Land Office here. This fellow has
0een the bitter enemy Of the claim OF Iowa. and
would have killed it il he could--but he has
struck IN vain! Excepting him, and the disiin-
golshed and courteous (?) God save the mark
-Auorney General, | have had no cause to COM
plain particularly Of the conduct Of officials here
" my intercourse with them, in this matter. On
the contrary there are several of them who tool
nold q 4 IN good faith. and cne-geticaly, from
the time arrived here, and shall, at a proper
TINE, take occasion TO mention who they were.