Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-16


oil the work by contract with various
other persons all of which have so far
proved unavailing-and present appear
ances indicate that il may be compelled
to proceed only rs means may be real
ICED from the sale of lands. Under
the persevering efforts of the officers the
portions Of the work begun have pro-
crossed SO far as to re. open The river for
navigation By providing for the passage
Of boats through the locks. and opening
the channel below St. Francisville. The
brief period since the report, will moi al.
low me 10 examine the suggestions con-
tained therein, for the future progress of
the improvement, sufficient TO recon-.
mend any specific course of action in re.
gard To them. The importance, how
ever, of the subject will claim your ear
nest attention, aud will recommend itself
to your favorable consideration by every
constitutional means in your power, to
insure its completion al the earliest prac.
ticable period. ....-0. ..
In consequence of the failure of Con-
gress, at It's last session, to make dona-
ton of land for the construction of rail-
roads in this State, il would seem 10 be
advisable TO again urge this subject upon
their consideration; and coming as you
do directly from the people, you will be
able TO understand their wants and their
wishes, and it is to be hoped tina, in a
spirit OF concession and harmony con
flicting views may be reconciled. and
such an application may be made as
would conduce TO the best interest Of the
State, aud NEE. with the appreciation of
the General Government
For the purpose of carrying out the
provisions OF an &C, of the General As.
sembly relative to the Swamp lands
within the State, did on the 22nd day
of February, 1851. address a communi-
cation to Col. G.. II. Booth then Sur
veyor General of Iowa and Wisconsin
requesting him 10 furnish ne with "a
list of the lands returned TO that Office
as swamp lands" With this reques,
he did rot feel himself authorized to
comply unless the assent of the State
should be given to authorize him to Sc.
lect those lands. Not finding myself
authorized under the law to give such
assent the list was not furnished. On
the first of October 1851, | again re.
newed the same application to the pres
ent Surveyor General and on the 18th
day of March, 1852, received the list as
requested. Being satisfied from The
best information | could obtain that
much valuable land would be lost to the
State unless re examination should be
made, instructions were promptly issued
to the County Surveyors, Of each coun-
ty where the public lands had been sur
veyed. to make more particular ex-
animation and report The same as soon
as possible. Thus far reports have
been received from the Go, of Musca-
tine. As i, is desirable that these re-
turns should be made to secure the title
TO these lands to the State, would rec
ommend that the law upon this subject
be so changed as TO authorize the EN-.
ployment of other persons where the
county surveyor neglec!s or refuses TO
perform that duty. ~
In accordance with the directions of the
last General Assembly | have purchased
five hundred dollars worth of books for
the State Library, which are daily expect
ed. AS soon as they are received the list
of the same will be laid before you.
In looking to the future | cannot avoid
feeling of deep concern at the opinion
expressed by some portion of our fellow
citizens in favor of amending the Consti-
tuition OF our State in sucha manner as to
authorize the establishment of Banks,-of
special acts of incorporation for pecunary
profit, and of contracting State debts with
out Limitation by the General Assembly.
Restrictions which are eminently calcula-
ted 70 protect the people from hasty, un-
has come when we should examine with
more than ordinary care the principles of
political economy connected with our
government, and avert as far as possible
approaching evils. Among the first of
these In my estimation is the system of
banking which has been and is now carried
on in the United States. The power of
these Institutions over the CONNIE rec,
trade and industry of country is easily
understood when it is remembered that
they are invested by law with extraordina-
ry privileges, First, to concentrate their
capital and credit, and to issue their notes
to double and even TRIBE he amount of
that capital. Second, to loan their credit
at high rate of interest; and third, an
exemption from the ordinary liability to
pay their debts and contracts to which the
majority of mankind are subjected. Pos.
sessing these powers and privileges by the
sanction of law, aud to the exclusion of
Others, it is not surprising that the agricul-
tural, commercial, and manufacturing in
terest of the country should be subject to
frequent and disastrous commissions. The
depression and ruin which was brought up
on thousands by the failure of the banks
of Illinois and other Western States in
lS4l and 2 cannot be forgotten. And
when we find that number Of these
States, not profting by former experience,
have recently organized a general system
OF banking for the purpose of again flood
ing the whole Mississippi valley with
paper currency, we may justly conclude
that another CONFUSION more destructive
than the first will shortly be at hand.-4
Would il be wisdom in us, under such
circumstances, and when il is in the pow
er OF every citizen to retain if he sees prop
II L Il "a