Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-01-13


Mr.. Harris followed. He was IN ia.
vor of removal; and that 10 Fort Des
Moines. His constituents were in "a
vor of this removal. 1t would benefit
the whole State by acceera,ing the set.
dement, oil the interior and western por
tions of the State. Ii would benefit the
Des Moines valley, and the Des Moin-
es river improvement. And he should
doub, any Senator'S friendship for the
improvement who did not vote for this
bill. Mr.. Haris spoke at length on the
merits Of the bill until after IL NJ, when
he gave way to Mr.. Hendershou who
moved the committee rise, which was
carried.
And on motion of Mr.. Clark the Sen.
ate adjourned to II o'clock, P. NJ.
HALF PAST ONE O'clock, r. NJ.
Mr.. Coop gave notice tina, he would
introduce bill to secure the right of
way for railroad from Keokuk via Fair.
field aud other places to Fl. Des Moines-
Mr.. Hull moved that the Senate go
into committee of the whole on Senate
file No. 4, for the removal Of the seat Of
Government to Fort Desmoines. but after
some conversation between him and
Messrs. Lowe and Harris the motion
was Withdrawn. .y- sait
Mr.. Lewis moved the indefinite post.
ponement of the bill and amendments.
He was convinced. by the arguments OF
The gentleman in favor of the removal
that The seat Of government should re-
main al Iowa City. nj least ten years Ia
come; that il was nearer the center Of
The population Of this State than either
of The points To which il is proposed to
move il. He was anxious to get this
question out Of the way that the Senate
might give its attention to other matters
upon which our duty TO our constituents
requires us to act at this session.
Mr.. Hull moved an amendment as a
third section of the bill, that the State
should not be al any expense in making
said removal or providing temporary
buildings for the use of the Legislature,
He said If the bill was 10 be killed he
wanted il to have its grave clothes on.
Mr.. Lefiingwell made long and very
forcible speech in favor of the indefinite
postponement Of the bill. He went on
to show that two thirds Of the popula.
tion of this State were in the two tier ol
oun,ies bordering on the Mississippi
that the present capital was in the west,
ern part of those tier Of counties, and
consequently was as far west az the cen.
| Ter of population. North and South j,
was nearer the centre of the State Than
any point that had been named.
He did not appear as The champion Of
Iowa City. There were other persons
interested ia this question, than LOT spec.
ulators in the towns and villages in the
Des Moines Valley, who were making
all kinds Of bids for The Capitol. His
own constituents and the whole people
of The North as well as the South were
interested in this question. They did
not wish to be taxed 10 the amount ol
$3.50, 600 or $500. 900 10 make the for.
tune Of those who were making these
bids.
Those gentlemen who had been such
siickiers for economy in small matters
were now willing to vote for measure
which will require the State to erect new
public buildings al an immense cost, in.
crease The mileage Of members of the
Legislature, aud the collectors in carry.
ing the revenue to the sea, Of govern
menI He was not picsyeunish econ.
omist. He was always willing to vote
TO officers liberal salaries and to claim
ants against the State all they deserved
But he could not vote to saddle the Stat.
with the Unnecessary expense which
would result from the passage of this
bill.
Mr.. Leffingwell read the act of Con
gress granting The land on which the
Capitol now stands and argued that the
Capitol and the whole of the land on
which Iowa City is bull, would revert .o
the General Government upon the remov'
al of the Seat of Government Of the
State, without the consent Of Congress
Mr.. Hull made few remarks in reply
and Mr.. Harris followed again in q
speech Of great length after which ,ht
Senate adjourned.
The final vote in the Senate on the a
bove bill was had on Thursday the 9Th
which stood l3 yeas. and Is nays
Ed. Courier.
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