The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-12-29
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENTS
Iowa CITY, Dec. 18th 1852.

DEAR JENNINGS:
: An other epstle from this
quarter, may not be unnterestng to our many
readers. The seat of government during a
legislative session, must be the great point OF
attraction in the State-the sun, from which the
rays Of light and heat radiate into every portion
of the State Illuminating and invigorating our
political system and promoting the general and
local interests of our people. Such being the
case, we have no hesitation in believing, that
communications from this quarter are always
interesting and acceptable.
In the House on Wednesday very animated
and somewhat personal discussion took place
between Messrs Grant OF Scott and Folsom of
Johnson, while in Committee of the Whole,
upon resolution offered by Mr.. Haun of Clin-
ton, to instruct our Senators and request our
Representatives to vote for such modification
of the Tariff, as to abolish the duty on railroad
iron. This discussion lasted for nearly one
whole day and excited good deal of interest
and feeling. Judge Grant took the floor in fa-
vor of the resolution and Mr.. Folsom against it.
The affirmative of the question was sustained
upon the ground that every man was equally
interested in the building of railroads and the
cheapning of freight; that it was a commodity
as much if not more required than any other
which is produced in foreign country; that it
could not operate detrimentaly to the IRON inter-
ests of the country, because such interests would
be better subserved by turning their attention to
the manufacture of bar and other iron, ndepend-
ent of that of railroad iron and that the gov
ernment could not be injured by such change
in its revenue policy, because the present tariff
produced an excess of revenue of some Sl4,-
000,000 which could be as well dispensed with
as not. The negative of the question was sup
ported by Mr.. Folsom on the ground, that it was
unjust to abolish the duties on one article and
not on others, which were absolutely essential
to the subsistence and comfort of man that it
was impolitic to tamper with the tariff, unless
general plan of revision was deemed necessary,
which he could not believe existed at this time !:
fable act of partial legislation, calculated to
promote certain interests of the country, to the
great detriment of the iron interests of the States
that it would be a gratutous distribution of
millions of dollars to the railroad monopolists of
the country while it would prejudice the inter
ests of the poorer classes whose SALT tea, coffee
cheap clothing and mechanical utensils would
bear the same old prices; that the collective
wisdom of the country assembled in Congress
were much better judges of what legislation
upon the subject of raising revenue neces-
ssary, than the Iowa Legislature; and that, in
proportion as the Tariff was modified and the
revenues of the government thereby lessened,
to accommodate the railroad wants of Iowa, a
grant of lands for the construction of railroads
in Iowa would be graduated. Both gentlemen
were very forcible and happy in illustrating
their POSITIONS, but according 10 the general
sentiment of those present, Mr.. F. came off the
champion of the day. Some humrosome per-
sonal illusions and comparisons were directed
by these gentlemen at each other, but it is both
unnecessary and unimportant to descant upon
them. Suffice it to say, that when the period
arrived for taking the sense of the House, the
resolution was voted down by a vote of AZ to 1S
Thus ended the resolution for abolishing the
duties on railroad iron.
Some other members of the House spoke
upon the resolution, but we had not the pleasure
of hearing them and therefore cannot express
an opinion as to the merits of what they
said.
The disposition to tinker with the Code,
seems to be more apparent now, than-when
you last heard from me. Amendments are
finding their way into both houses in consider
able numbers and it may not be improper to re-
mark that great care will have to be observed,
or the Code will be in worse condition at the
end, than at the beginning of the session. For
one we sincerely hope such will not be the case,
although as State Printer, perhaps we would be
consulting our interest to encourage amend
nents and alterations But, this is not the
course, as citizen of the state, feeling an in
terest in it's welfare ard prosperity, that we
should take, and therefore do we witness any
approach at radical alterations and amend
ments of the Code, as alarming and dangerous
to the interests OF the State and the prosperity
Of the people. With the mass of the people, we
SiuCeIeIg UcltSc, tudI dBdlisL tHt
Code results more from an ignorance of its pro-
visions, arising from either neglect to examine
it, or the improper administration of it, than
rom any well defined aud national objections to
is leading features Such being the case, we
cannot think, that our General Assembly, com
posed as il is, of men of intelligence and integ.
rity, desirous of making as few laws possible
and thereby curtaing the expenses of the
state, will feel authorized, in adopting any rad.
ical changes in the Code.
An effort will be made during his session, to
submit to the people the question, of calling a
convention, for altering the constitution. Such
an effort, from present indicati ms, may be sue
cessful. Indeed it is hard to say that such a
question should not 60 to the people. If the
General Assembly can be satisfied by petition
or otherwise, that such is the desire of the peo
pie, then we can no impropriety or objection