Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1851-09-03


Within the four weeks which have elapsed
since the call of the October Rail Road Conven-
ton, it has received the marked attention of all
parts of the state From this emphatic recog-
milton Of its importance, we augur the most de-
cded advancement Of the interests of the two
great rail roads, which are TO connect the east.
ern and western, and the northern and southern
cxtremities of Iowa. Itis quite apparent to us,
that, if judicious counsels prevail with the
friends Of these improvements, non-committal-
ism is at an end, and procrastination itself can.
not much longer delay favorable response by
Congress to our equitable demands for aid.
The real, steadfast friends of the roads, are
piedgIng themselves, every where to hearty
cooperation in behalf of the grants; whilst
their enemies at the two points (Muscatine and
Burlington) from which alone any opposition
has ever been manifested, are rapidly exhaust
ing their expedients of fnesse and denuncia-
ton. In this state of the case, we care not TO
occupy time or space. in response to the spite
fui injunction of last Saturdays Enquirer, to
cease our clamors at the door of Congress. !" or
in exposition of the "7e;egraph's" better natured
out rapidly evaporating craft to generate divi-
slons among our friends. No serious diversity
OF opinion has yet been shown by the real
friends Of these roads, and we trust none will
exhibit itself. Let them stand firmly up to the
great improvements upon which they have set
their affections and they may command success.
we shall. nevertheless, carefully watch the
signs, and if it shall turn out--contrary to our
present belief-that Gen. Morgan is the expo
hent OF Des MONIES county, in procaiming "a
determined and invincible opposition at home"
to the original propositions" upon which the
people of the State have based their action for
six years past, We shall embrace every suitable
occasion to vindicate these vastly important
works from this sectional detracton, and help
to solve this problem of home opposition ,to its
ultimate effects upon the interests 81 ~ Are
parties.
MORE UPON THE SAME SUBJECT.
Thus much we had written and set up for
this No of the Reporter, containing all that was
deemed at present essential; since which we
have received the Daily Dubuque Tribune of
"Wednesday containing the appointments of their
delegates, and a well tempered article in which
we are directly appealed to for an expression of
the views of the Iowa City friends of the roads,
as to whether it would not be better to enlarge
the terms of their CALL so as to permit delegates
from all parts of the State" DC. Until the peo.
pie Of johnson county shall have been called |
together for the appointment of delegates, no
opportunity that we are aware Of will occur for |
a suitable response to this inquiry of the 7ri-
6une. Nevertheless, our individual opinion,
which seems also to be sought for, is adverse to
the propriety of the suggestion and to the suffi-
cheney of the Tribune's reasoning in its behalf
Whatever views may have been entertained |
elsewhere, it is quite evident that the people of
johnson county heretofore have, now do, and |
will continue, to regard this application for rail
road grants, as a serious, bona tide, business
transaction, designed tocontrbute vastly to the |
,ntessts of the interior portions of the State,
and to extort from Congress aportion of the aid
to which the people of Iowa are equitably enti
tied The people upon the lines Of these roads
will be directly benefited by these grants, while
those off the lines WILL Of necessity, share the
advantages, by indirection, which will newt
ri,y. Noman, in any part Of the state, of sound
intellect and common honesty, can find justif
cation for opposing these roads, either of them,
because he is without their immediate range.
We can conceive of men being comparatively
indifferent, because their interests are in magni-
tude less or more remote in degree; but that any
well disposed citizen Of Iowa will array himself
in hostility tothe acquisition Of Congressional
aid to construct two great lines Of rail road
through the State; and least Of all, that such
hostility could seriously affect the grants, We
do not believe.
But whether these roads, and these anticipa-
ted land grants have enemies or not, it is un-
deniable that they have friends; and to their
friends they must be indebted for success if ac-
compli he'd. 1t is not merely the right, but it
is the first duty Of these friends, to combine
their energies in their behalf-to meet in coun-
Gil as often as may be necessary. and to accept,
with honest cordially, the services of all who
will cooperate to secure the common object
leaving those, if any there are, W til avowed en-
nifty or equivocation, to consult their inclina-
tons in the premises. "being responsible for
the abuse Of the liberty" This is what intel
Egcnt men in every other part Of the world
would do, and why would the Tribune have the
friends of the Dubuque and Keokuk and Da.
yepport aud Council Bluffs rail roads do other
wiser If It be the apprehension that certain
counties, out Of the convention, would endea-
vor to prevent our application for land being
favorably considered" it is perfectly conclusive
that. in the convention, they would endcavor to
prevent" the same application being made!
If the argument be valid, it is only in behalf of
the admission of enemies To be more specific
what earthly reason. as we are at present ad
yised, can be given for inviting Des Moines and
Nuscatine counties to council in behalf Of
these roads? In the former, at the very best,
no syllable has been breathed in their favor,
and if the whiting Telegraph is an exponent of
their feelings, (which is problematical,) they