The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-02-18
RTInoAn coNyENrloN.

RIILnOAD CONVENTION.
+. At a Convention Of delegates from Che eoun-
les Of Clayton, Allamakee, Wihnesheik and
:ayette, held at West Union, in pursuance Of
public notice, on the 9Th day Of Feb, for the
purpose ofadophng measures to obtain from the
General Government grant of lands 10 aid IN
he extension Of the Mobile and Dubuque rail-
Dad to Pembina, Hon. Jno. A. Wakefield was
chosen President, Saml. Hull, Esq, Hon. BENZ.
BEARD. HI n. Thos Woode and Rev H. Brunrs
ION, Vice Presidents and p. F. S,urgs and H..
D. Evans, Secretaries 80
The Presiding officer sta ed the object Of the
Convention, and eIoquenty vindicated the right
Of Iowa and Minnesota to demand grant of
lands to aid IN an improvement, which, when
completed would unite in, the bonds of c"nmer-
cial interest, the extreme northern and southern
portions Of this confederacy, thus rendering
more sacred to the citizens Of every SECTION Of
the country, the tie which binds these States
together, and serving to Derpetuate the glorious
institutions which were purcha sed by our Fab
ers, and transmitted by them 10 after genera
tons. sss $500 a-7se ,st IS saa- "a lags 'l, ge's
On motion, the char appointed comm .tcc
consisting of j. T. Atkins, E.q Of AIl,,mkce,
A. McGrrgor of Clayton. Gre" Merrill of Win
nesh.ik and j. w. Rogers of Fayeit, t exam
in, credentials and report tothe Convention the
names of he duly authorized delegates.
After few minutes conference, The commit
tee reported the following persons: -
From Allamakee, Jno. A. Wakefield, Chas.
O'Nrill Lenu-l s Pratt, L. Ellis, Ezra Reid,
Geo Merrill, and Fl Howe.
Winnesheik, Hon Benz. Beard, Nj. Nj. Swain,,
| J. Il. Atkins aud ID. Read
Fayette Clark Newcomb, Rev. Mr.. Webb,s
| Jno Conner, Esq, Chas. Sawyer, Esq, Danl.
| Cook S. B Forbes, Thos b. Siurgis, Hon. T..
woodle, Rev II S Brunson, DR.. J. Il Stafford,
DR.. J. ~ b. Elliot, Benz Tiff. Rev. Joseph
Forbs, Jas Boale, VIM. Wells, Saml. Hull, Esq.
| VIM. McClintock, ESQ.,, Jno, Bowman, Nj. ",
Burdick, Esq, J. w. Rogers, Esq and A. e.
Perry. 4.n
On motion, the report of the committee was
accepted and the committee discharged.
On motion Of Clark Newcomb the delegates
reported by the committee were invited to take
seats in the Convention. sG. f.aH
A motion was then made to equalize the votes
among the different counties, which after spir.,
tied discussion was finally lost
On motion, the chair was authorized tn appoint
a committee of two from each county, to draft
suitable memorials and resolutions expressive
Of the sense of the meeting; ..-F
Whereupon the chair appointed the following
persons, VIZ A. McGregor and IL. ID. Evans OF
: Clayton, Chas. O Neill and Geo. Merrill of AL
: Ianakee, Hon. Th,s. Woodlc and Rev. II S.
, Brunsnn of Fayette, Mi Mckay aud Hon.
Benz BearG of w ,nneshe,k. ail -
I The committee after consultation reported the
following memorial and resolutions: =
To the Hon. Senate and House Of Representa-
i tires IN Congress assembled
The memorial of he citizens Of the Northern
counties of Iowa. by their delegates IN general
= Convention assembled, respectfully represent,
a that the continuation of the Mobile and Dubuque
IS railroad 10 Pembina port of entry on the Red
j, River of the North, would be of vast importance
to the United S ates well as to the State OF
u Iowa and Territory Of Minnesota, as 1t would
form an important addition tn the connecting
10 links in the chain Of internal improvements
&C which will secure the indissoluble union of the
- confederate m mbers Of this republic; by the
completion of this important work the connec
ton of the North and South, and the East and
!, West would be streng ihened by the Ties OF COM
e mercia intercourse, and the union Ut the > ates
/ would bid defiance to internal commotion, Sec
tional jealousy and foreign invasion. All the
n States of the union would then be influenced by
= the most powerful motives to resist every at
'e tempt at dissolution. gt 4..,4sa ss, f,afsl a !
$ Your memoriasts believe it to be of sufficient
pf importance to engage the attention, and awaken
- the mnnificence of a Government, the princi-
Of pie Of which is the promotion OF the general
r welfare Of its citizens. Your memorialists are
scnsibly alive tn the spirit of Improvement that
manifests itself in every section "f our extensive
country, and would fain lend helping hand in
:. so great cause. Their situation, however, de
II tiers them from doing much without the aid of
the General Government, into the treasury Of
which, nearly all their funds paid for the pur-
Of chase Of tn. public lands. While this state OF
l. Things shall continue, and the money thus paid
= in is taken out Of our State and Territory, our
of people will not be able to engage in the glorious
OF work of improving our comm m country
H. If, as your morialiss believe, the construc
ii III tr0vvr 10th 10
II. South, would be highly beneficial to the union
at large; if the receipts into the treasury OF the
Uni'ed States would be augmented by the in.
lie creased sales of public lands, and # the Interests
n of this State and Minnesota Territory W. uld be
er also advanced thereby, is it unreasonable 10 aP
ply to a paernal Government for assistance il
the promotion of such beneficial ends!
Your Hon body is aware that this State ant
,o Minnesota Territory, are situated on the Dor
ders Of an Indian country, filled with nuner"u:
and powerful tribes OF the sons Of the forest
ad our country should again be engaged in war
rs the saving of expense in The tran portation {
nd the munitions of war, would g. Tar towards dc
N, fraynr thu expenses OF the contemplated Rail
ur road, and justify the United States in max n!
liberal appropriation 10 assist IN lis construc
ton.
49, Your me,norialists do not however, ask you
Ii honorable body to appr' pirate money out Ut thu
-, treasury; they only ask the donation OF aternat
- sections of lands through which the c"neniplat
30 ed road should pass. Your memorialists sincere
-, ly believe that liberal appropriation OF lane to
=" this object would be of immense importance t
the nation, as it would not only induce the i'm
T., mediate sale Of land in the vicinity OF the road
r but it would increase its value so that 1t NIGH
I'm be sold at a considerable advance upon the min
imum price Should this position be correct
land Ices not experience sustain it?) the Unite
ny States would be gamers by the proposed dona
ton of land at the same time it would contribut
C. to convert the bowling wilderness into fruitful
=" fields, the wandering savages would give plac
"' to an industrious and intelligent people, and in
stead of the war son rs of the Indian, these Ter
w.. tile plains would re echo with the church goin
~, bell.
'u' Your memorialists, in behalf Of Minnesot
Territory, would respectfully ask, that St Pau
be inserted in the bill granting the lands, lnstea
g. of the great bend OF the St. Peters river To III
end therefore, that your memoralists may b
enabled to commence and complete this grea
and useful work they pray your honorable bed
d. . TO grant to the State If Iowa, and Territory 9
-" Minnesota, liberal donation 81 the public land
ee' by alternate sections, for given distance o
each side Of the contemplated road; the avals {
IS which to be applied in the construction Of tn
c. same and your memoriasts will ever pray.
oy Resolutions.
an Rcso'ced, That the prosperity Of this unto
e'r Of States, d pc nds mainly on the existence {
amicable relations between them, and every III
ers u,on, :, I'LL ,,nas u, i, q ,,;ta,a ;nterc ours
nto + -, ~ ! e., oo,;.n,f 90. con,no
So country, serves additional safeguard I
N. ~ our nationality.
MI Resoired, That railroad from Dubuque I
A' Pembina, as it would open communication be
= tween our northwestern frontier and the centri
are and southern portions of the union, is sufficient
nus ly national in its character to induce from tn
10 C,oroI (,ov.r,mont, mn ,;fcen, iran, IF Ian
le to aid in its construction.
gs' Rcsolred, That the liberality of Congress
10 donating lands and making appropriations
OH our sister States for purposes of internal in
provement, jus,ifies the hope that railroad {
,eo such importance to the whole nation as the on
~ under ,nsderation, will receive the early al