Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-11-20
The Des aoines Improvement.

ers that, through the interposiiion Of that
sterling wing and true friend to Iowa,
Hon. REvERDy JOHNSON, the 100000
acrcs OF land above the Raccoon Fork.
which has been so long III dispute. had
been given to The State. Or, rather, her
right to j, had beer confirmed. This
was but an act of justice to Southern 10.
wa; and the administration of Mr.. Fill
more will not lose any Of its already
high character by rendering this act Of
justice. To Mr.. Van Antwerp and the
Messrs. Bangs the people of the Des
Moines Valley are also under obliga-
lions, for their zeal in bringing this mat
ter before the administration, and urging
j! on TO successful termination.
But, at the same time that we ac-
knowledge the services Of Mr.. Van Ant
werp, we must condemn the self-lauda-
tions which he seems to wish tn bestow
on himself, and his peculiar friends, the
Uire-puiiers of the Democratic party.
Gen. Van Antwerp, in his usual
egotistical style, informs the people OF
Iowa that he is the man that has brough,
this about, and no doubt he thinks they
will swallow il, and reward him with a
seat in the u. S. Senate for his wonder
full tact and influence. But we doubt
very much whether the Democracy
would consent to send a delegation to
the Senate, composed of men more suit
able fol the ballroom. or to perform in
some travelling theatrical troupe. than to
snstain the dignity Of our State.
For four mortal long years have The
people of this Valley been fed on hope
in regard to the improvement, and for
an almost equal length Of time have
been compelled to listen to, and be bored
by, such sycophantic letters as the last
written by Gen. Van Antwerp; either
from Gen. Dodge, Gen. Jones, or some
other Of the wire-pullers. Nothing has
been done or aimed at, (save lining the
officers pockets with the Improvement
funds but to make political capital out
of the Improvement for the Democratic
party.
The time had arriyed-and well the
Commissioner and the leaders of that
party knew it--when talking alone
would not do. Something must be ac-
accomplished for the good Of the I'M
proUement or the party mus; sink un-
der the weight Of the charge that had
been preferred against (which needed
no proof, for every man in the Valley
was bu, too well aware of its trutb-that
Of mismanaging and squandering the fund
provided for the accomplishment of the
Work A Democratic administration
had sold a considerable quantity of the
land; and Democratic Treasurer had
been defa,lter in goodly sum, land
which he has never been prosecuted for
by the Board y; a large sum had been
eaten up in contingencies; 1 900 a
ores of the land had been given 10 Jesse
Williams for doing the duties Of Sccre-
tary to the Board about eighteen months,
(which took about one-fourth of his
iime, in addition TO cash salary Of
eight hundred dollars year! A large
quantity Of work had been laid on. by
the Board, but little had been done; and
the contractors were clamorous for the
pay for it. The people were dishear-
tened and openly denounced the Board
FOR their inactivity and political knavery,
and something must be done to Sc. mat
sers right, and consequently that has
been accomplished Qhe grant securely
which nigh. have been long ago, had it
moi been ,hought by these political Jug
glers that the improvement could still be
used as a machine with which TO hoist
men into Office, for little season longer.
Well, we are glad that il is so. Not
withsianding all the mismanagement and
rascalily that has been practised, we re-
joice that "good has come out of evil"
for once.
The grant has been confirmed to the
State; the work has been let to a Com
pany. and its speedy accomplishment
thereby rendered certain. And although
nothing but the complaints and frowns
Of an indignant people compelled the
Commissioner to do what should have
been done long ago; and prominent
wing has been the means, mainly, Of
bringing this favorable decision about,
still Gen. Van Antwerp hangs on to the
hobby-horse, and is determined not to be
thrown. A little more democratic