The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-12-30
IOWA CITY CORRESPONDENCE.

IOWA CITY CORRESPONDENCE.
AS we have no original correspondence
from the Capital 10 present our reader.
this week, We copy the following compre
hensive, though rather speculative, letter
from The Dubuque Democrat, without
however, endorsing any of the views Of i.
auihor:--
Iowa CRY, Dec. 10Th.
! Two weeks Of the session have passed owe
and it is yes quite difficult 10 conjecture wha
alterations, good, bad or Indifferent will b
made in the code. Our opinion is that no ma
terra! changes will take place, although il vii
be difficult 10 preserve the present body OF laws
from being mutilated in many respects. al
mest every memher has some amendmen; o.
alteration to propose, bu, as il takes a msiotit,
| of two different bodies to make alterations o
amendments, the probability is that the motions
TO amend or change viii be sustained. In h
Revenue Law, provision will probably b
made for a County Assessor, or Tor Township
| Assessors lit be thought that a county oil
Ger can perform the required services withou
| deputies, there IS disposition among the ma
iori,y 10 prefer such an officer; bat If It be tht
opinion that one person cannot perform the du
lies OF the Office and that recourse must, IN The
end, be had to the employment Of deputies, II
that event il is probable that recourse will be
had TO Township Assessors. The other provIs-
ions OF the Revenue Law, will not, we think, be
much changed.
A Liquor Law will be adopted, differing ma
terialy in It's principles and provisions from the
present Law. II will recognize the right Of
property in liquors as also the right to sell and
buy the same, subject to a tax on the seller-in
other words license TO sell. The abuse OF the
privilege Will be regulated by the same law, and
the criminal code will provide for the punish
ment of,he criminal excuses growing out ofthe
use of intoxicating drink. This, we regard as
the true principle for people to adopt who are
presumed 10 be accountable; who know wha, is
right and what is wrong, and who all admit that
crime should be punished when committed, but
ting drinks or using them moderately as n bey-
GRACE is such an immoral act as should be de-
signa,ed or recognized as statutory crime.
The bill, OF which notice has been gwen to
provide for convention 81 Delegates TO amend
the CONSTITUTION OF the State, will be very APT
TO pass. iii should nor be sirangled by ParIia
tactics. There is way OF killing laws
on their passage without voting against them,
and it would be next TO impossible for jury Of
common men 10 tel who perpetrates the deed.
1t would sometimes be as difficult to tell who
killed bill as il has been 10 find out who
struck Billy Patterson. But II is often done
nevertheless, in broad daylight, and in pres
ence Of hundreds Of witnesses. Tas may be
The fate Of the bill 10 call convention oil Dele
gates although il is not 10 be expected that
those who have assumed 10 be It's God fathers
viii lett perish without; placing its murdeseEs|
on the record. As matter Of course, all the
wings vii vote for the bill, and, as many Of the
democrats from the southern and western coun-
ties are pledged 10 vote for il, the probability is
that unless the Indirect killing process be re-
sorted TO successfully. ii will pass The Assem-
BIZ; whether il VIII receive The signature 1t the
Governor or be allowed to become law with
out, is more doubtful After the objections
made 10 changing the present constitution in
the Executive Messsge,i it is not hazardous to
predict what course his Excellency viii pursue
With regard 10 schools aad school lands, but
little is said and less done towards reforming
the abuses which have seized upon that depart
ment. The Superintendent, has not yet made
his report, owing, as he informed the House al
few DAYS ago, 10 the fact that the School Fund
had not made tier annual re-
ports TO him al the time prescribed b. law
Here is another instance OF the evils OF the
present system. Although the School Fund
are directed to make their re-
ooris long enough before the meeting of the
General Assembly 10 enable the Sapernten-
lent 10 make his report on The first day Of the
session. yet, they take their own time to report,
and consequently the Superintendent is obliged
10 take his--ihe positive command Of law to the
contrary notwithstanding. The system IS all
wrong. Experience has shown il to be 50, and
no head of the Department can with the system,
Or rather the want ofsystem he has TO work on,
approach 70 anything like perfection IN his
operations.
The educational department should be one
branch separate and distinct from the Fund De-
and independent in every respect ex-
,ept for subsistence and support. The Land
Department, including the School lands should
be another De partment or branch, and, until the