The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-30


changed or repealed. Our late Governor, in his
message, takes the ground that the haJeaS corpus
act only be suspended in time Of war, invasion
&c, which does not now exist the law in this
respect is therefore null, from his showing The
decision Of the courts that the writ is only civil
process and that entrance to a dwelling cannot
be forced to carry it out, will make it imperative
in many instances. Those that made the law no
doubt intended that it should be enforced in a
summary method, and that no court should have
power to issue writ to examine into or stop their
proceedings. There is another provision in the
Constitution, that no person shall be deprived
of his life, liberty or property, except it is done
by due process of law, which it attempts to null
ify-and, finally, it is unconstitutional on the
ground Of its being post (ac,O law, being
brought to bear almost entirely on claims for
service older than the law.
see by the record, that Mr. Augustus Cesar
Dodge voted against giving those runaway con-
tractors, who had left their contracts for work
made in the sunny South, unfinished, trial by
jury, to if the contract is binding them and
also against giving them the benefit Of the writ
Of habsGS corpus. l. recommend to Senator Dodge
to try and sustain the principle Of equal and ex-
act justice to all men more fully hereafter-study
the higher law laid down by Christ in his
Sermon on the Mount good deal more, which,
If he does, do not expect he will be found voting
again for Fugitive Slave bills, or to extend
slavery. 4" Il good name IS Lsfisr than riches"
Friend Howe, of the Iona Tine Democrat, is still
at his post, which is an arduous one. The oppo-
sition the paper has had TO encounter, and his
having to contend against the prejudices Of the
people pro.slavery party influence, and an income
less than his outlay, has made it necessary that
vigorous efforts be made to sustain him, which
should be done promptly as without such paper
we cannot speak for ourselves here, and expose
error in others Friends Of Free Soil principles
in other portions Of the Union, who can spare the
means, can at this time do good service to the
cause by sending US money TO assist rs 10 pay our
debt on our press and also by sending suitable
Free Soil tracts for distribution, gratuitously,
through the State More can be done now to ex-
tend our principles than at any former time-gve
us your aid.
Our population is increasing very fast, though
the census was taken at a very unfavorable time
after the California and before the fall cmigra-
ton. Our numbers must, however, be increasing
icsy5-4and on every side we enterprise and
prosperity, where, sixteen years ago, the savage |
had dominion, and the prairie-wolf kept his COM
pany now you zee towns, one Of them 500, and
z1csder-.2 5uo and sNpIner Apop, 900 inbphiA-
ants and about fifteen smaller villages all in this
and Dcs Mones county, Iowa Assessed value of
property in both near $4,000 900. A plank road |
is also constructed in Des Moines county, eight |
miles into the interior, which pays good interest /
on its cost, and will Immediately be followed by |
others leading from the river at various points so
constructed as to be easily changed to railroads
when necessary 1t is not over ten years since
the FIRST brick house was erected here now we
have scores of them of the best kind We have
beautiful site for city, excellent water easily
got by digging, and little sickness as any place
in Uncle Sans bounds When towns on the |
river, last summer and before, had cholera, we
s tirely escaped the disease.
Particular attention is now directed in the |
State to the subject Of building railroads. Every |
town on the river wants a railroad into the inte-
rior, which of course they cannot have soon. Our
State is too new for them to pay, if built now |
but lands might be got for the purpose now, to |
use when necessary. The Improvement COM |
menced some ten years ago by the Government |
on the Rapids of the Mississippi, by excavating |
the rocks, to deepen, widen and straghten the |
channel, which is quite practicable, las what was
done under Lieutenant, now Colonel Lees direc-
tiOns at the above time fully prOves) hope will |
again be resumed by the direction of Congress |
and, if practicable, under the direction of the |
officer who commenced it. The interests of the
Government, as well as the people, require the
work to be done forthwith Doctor, please re- |
fresh the memories of the M C's on the subject |
occasionally, so that when you conclude to give |
Iowa visit, You will not be sent with the boat,
bang from one rock TO another, OF he brought up
of one of the reefs Of which there are several on
the Rapids
The Worlds Fair will soon claim the attention
OF the world and think Of no better offering our
State could send than sample of all the papers
and journals now published in the State We
have between twenty and thirty. Ii would show
civilization and progress at the present time,
and no doubt would be gladly accepted The
same might be done at little cost by every State
or nation, and would be q sight worth seeing when
together, and might be preserved a memorial
Of men and things in 1851. Ii you take it 10
hand, il can be done, though | am afraid not in
time TO send by the Government conveyance. |
will make an effort TO attend to it as far as our
State is concerned. | would like to show the
crowned heads of Europe, and all others concern
ed, what community can grow up in sixteen
years ON the free soil of America, where before
it was commenced the Red Man held possession.
and all was unbroken wilderness, without any
inducements to emigration to it, but what the rich
prairie soil offered, or the sure reward that al
ways may be secured by well directed enterprise
and steady, persevering free labor Several col
leges are already commenced in the State and
the cause Of education is progressing amongst us
Substantial brick schoOl-houses and churches are
erected in many neghborhoods, and next sum-
mer we expect to erect two suitable two story
brick buildings in this place for school-houses
Our Legislature is now in session. new code
OF laws, prepared by committee Of prominent
citizens appointed for said purpose will claim
their attention. Part of il has been already
printed hope that every word of it will be in
the English language; or if not so, | hope our
Solons will see to it, that the people receive the
small change Il. e. meaning) of every big or
Outlandish word in the law 1t is too much the
case that lawyers, doctors, and other professional
men, throw so much mystery into and around
their systems and modes of action. Every man
who is amenabe to the law should have il so that
plain English scholar can read and understand
1t. The Legislature are considering the question
Of doing away with the collection of debts by
law, with some prospect of Its passing.
The Grand Jury Of this county, at late term
of the Court, presented unanimously, the lcens-
ing of grog shops as a great evil, and as tending
to more than double the county expenditures by
offering facilities to men to get drunk; and when
in that state they commit crime they would not If
sober which crime has TO be punished, and their
families frequently have to be supported by the
county. Two cases Of murder, traceable to this
cause, happened here lately, that showed the evils
Of the license system but too plainly. Ii is be-
leved that the Legislature will put their veto on
the retail whiskey trade in this State at this SEES.
sion, which is contamination every taxpayer
and good citizen will be glad Of About fifty
men in this county Of about 70 000 inhabitants
keep groceries, who can make an honest living at
almost any other business now if it is even par
tial loss TO them for time, the moral and pecu-
mary interests of the rest Of the people are Of
much more Importance, and should at once decide
the question against license. The above is evil
dence Of progress and reform
have made this letter to you twice as long as
at first intended, and must now quit ] have
received your circular and will contrive TO attend
toit intended to say something about other mat
l..k, H. a Il