Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-07-08
The State Canvass.

approaching election in this State. It's
importance is measured by no mere con-
sideration of party success, or individu-
al advancement. PRINCIPLES are
al stake, which ahec. every interest, pub
lie and private, among US. Let it be
distinctly understood tina, whoever votes
at this election, votes for or agains. his
own nteresi,-that every vote will con.
| tribute to the success or defeat Of MEAS
UREs indissolubly connected. with the
general prosperity of the State; with the
value of property; with taxes; with our
currency: with our Improvements; and
with State, County, and individual in
debtedness. Let this matter be kept dis
tinctly upon This ground, by every Wing
and every sincere friend of reform, from
now until the day of election--let every
citizen who would prevent the commits
sion of any further errors; who is salts
fled that the policy OF the State ought to
be changed;-.hat no further confidence
ought 10 be placed in those who have
already been tried and found wanting as
party and legislators;-let all such
men ia every township and neighbour
hood off with their coats aud go to work
let every private feeling and personal
preference give place TO the public good,
and we have no fears for the result,-,he
good sense and enlightened judgment of
the people will carry us safely through.
l he questions which every man should
ask himself in making up his opinions,
and determining the way his vote shall
be cast on the first Monday Of August,
next, is in what way will my vote the
most favorably affect my interest! Ev-
cry one will find while investigating this
matter, tina: while The same set of men
boiling the same views and advocating
the same principles and measures, have
been in power and have enjoyed the
confidence OF the people for years; while
legislature after legislature has been held;
and statute after statute, ending with tina,
expensive bu. foolish experiment. the
Code. have been passed; while an i'm
mense amount of money has been rails
ed in the shape Of taxes; while all this
is true and has been done, scarcely any
beneficial results are found to have fol
lowed. The times are VIGOROUSLY hard,
and getting harder; money is scarce;
property is not advancing in value as it
ought 10 do in young State like ours:
we can show comparatively no improve
ments, in this county certainly no valua-
BILE public buildings; no expensive brid-
ges or roads; no work done on our riv-
er;in fact there can be found no place
where the taxes have gone, unless it be
into the pockets of the Office. holders
Besides all this, many of our citizens
are in debt, and many are paying heavy
rates Of interest, which sooner or later
must be paid, or farms and property
must 60. But this is not all. The State
is in debt, and SO is the county of Wap-
clio, the latter especially to large a.
mount, but how much we have no means
of knowing, in the absence of any Off
| cial statement; but that il is enormous,
and growing larger by accrung interest,
is very certain. Farmers and all others
feel and know that things are in bad
condition, and it is a common remark
among our best citizens that unless there
is an improvement speedily, they must
leave the State; in fact we have already
los! great many of our best citizens,
who have lei, US, carrying with them to
other States their labor, and their prop
erty.
In this state of things the plain ques-
lion is presented to every voter, shall
| sustain the presen. policy; or shall /
try something else? Shall vote for the
candidates of Convention, who have
been nominated by the influence of the
present incumbents? Shall / vote for
those who will be interested to cover ur,
excuse, and extenuate past delinquin-
quencies, and mismanagemen.! Or,
shall vote for change; and directly a
gainst the old system, and all interested
in continuing it; for those who ask for
support for the express purpose of re-
forming abuses; ascertaining and expo
sing to the people the real condition Of
the public business, who will foo, up the
books and let US know how the balance
stands; who will find out where the
money has gone TO; who can be relied
upon 10 give TO the people an opportuni-
ty 10 vote upon change OF the Consti.
tu,ion,-to remove the barrier in the way
of capital coming into orr State, as il is