The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-11-23
THE PAINTINGS OF A WEAK
DAQTIS

THE PAINTINGS OF A WEAh
PARTISAN.
The Davenport Gazette in its iattering com
nents upon the recent strange and nOrd course
Of the Progressive Era, speaks in the following
erms of our Senators in Con gress:
ITO not one act during the long years they
have received their eight dollars per diem, can
their most faithful toadies point in illustration Of
The actual benefit they have been 10 the State OF
Iowa"
This is broad and sweeping declaration, as
erroneous in IFS sentiment, as II is partisan IN
spirit. Few men, who properly regard the OBJ
legations of a reliable journalist, would be will
ing to risk their reputation, by statement, SO
entirely and totally destitute of reason, Justice
or truth The editor of this journal is either I'M
pardonably ignorant of the common history OF
the state, or totally depraved as to make
statements without any regard to their truth or
falsity. If not, why should he hazard state
ment which every child in the state knows to be
wholly gratuitous, Let him take the stand,
and respond 10 the interrogatories that shall be
put to him.
Who procured the passage OF bill
through Congress, declaring Wisconsin and
Iowa absolved from the Territory Of Michigan
1t was Gen jones and grateful do the old
pioneers yet feel to him. for having relieved
them from the trouble, expense and hardsh'ps
incident to a three months tour to Detroit, to
transact their legislative aud Judicial business.
Who first proposed in Congress and by his ex-
ertions carried through that body, an Act, to
grant pre- emptions to Miners as well as Farm
ers? 1t was Gen. Jones. Who procured in
1886 an appropriation for holding treaties with
the Indians, for the lands that we now occupy +?
II was Gen. Jones. Who procured the pass
age of bill through Congress, organizing tins
country into Territory? II was Gen Jones
Who procured the establishment Of the Survey
or Generals office in this state 1t was Gen
Jones. Who procured by special Act OF Con-
gress the donation of public grounds to Dubuque
Bellevue, Burlington and Fort Madison? IT
was Gen. Jones. Who aided to procure an APP
preparation in 1888 for the improvement OF the
Mississippi Rapids 1t was Gen Jones; aud
il makes no difference whether the money was
judiciously expended or not, the labor and d'fii-
culties Of procuring that appropriation he had to
en- counter and to him should be given the same
credit, as though the money had been judiciously
expended. Who procured large appropriations
in 1888 for our State House and State Library
Our Penitentiary-the State Road from Prairie
Du Chine, by Dubuque, Iowa City &c, to
Missouri-two Land Offices at Burlington and
Dubuque, Post routes &C.. 1t was Gen. Jones
Who procured an appropriation f,r the state road
from Dubuque to the Southern line of our state
and an additional appropriation for completing
Who secured by his own personal exertions the
retention in Office by President Tyler of our
then Supreme Judges and the then Receiver o.
the Land Office at Dubuque, Thomas Mcknight,
who was represented to President Tyler, as a
staunch whig, but an honest man. twas Sen
ator Dodge. Who labored with unremt,ing
energy and ability against large influence and
capital and distinguished attorneys to proven
the passage through Congress of an Act, to dis
possess the settlers upon what is termed the
"Dubuque claim" Involving as it did, the rights
of property in the City and large portion Of
the County of Dubuque? 1t was Senator
Dodge. Who prevented the passage of an Act,
to greatly extend the limits Of the
Half Breed Tract, in Lee County, and thereby
favor the Spectators and still further Cypress
the settlers L. was Senator Dodge. Who
procured that magnificent grant of public lands,
for improving the navigation Of the Desmoines ?
1t was Gen. Dodge, for which he is entitled to
all praise. If the lands have been squandered
by those into whose keeping they were placed,
as charged by some, it is no fault of his. He
displayed his ability and industry in procuring
that extensive grant and he should reap all the
credit that the oct merits, without regard to SUBJ
sequent events. Who subsequently, procured,
at great pains and labor, of both mind and body,
a decision from Cabinet officers. defining the
law to mean that the grant should extend to the
sources of the Desmoines, in place Of Raccoon
Fork, as most stoutly but secretly commended for
by Fitz Henry Warren and his whig allies at
Washington II was Senators Dodge and
Jones. Who procured donation of 100000
acres of public lands in Iowa, for school purpos
es, from which most magnificent fund is being
raised' 1t was Senator Dodge. And let not
the parents and guardians, who feel proper in
terest in the education of their Offspring and
Wards. forget the duty and the gratitude be-
soming to them. Let not the editor OF the Dav-
export Gazette, if he is so fortunate as to have
an offspring, forget to whom is due the credit,
of having provided the means for his or her,
Who procured the removal from
Iowa, Of that depraved and dissolute band of In
dams, the Winnebagoes, who were constantly
preying upon the small means of the frontier
settlers and committing repeated murders' 1t
was Senator's Dodge and Jones. And the peo-
ple about Fort Atkinson will remember them
with gratitude for it. Who procured an amend
ment to be inserted in the bill, making that i'm
mense grant of lands to illinois for railroad pur
poses-a grant which is to render her one of the
wealthiest and most powerful states in the Union
that the Western terminus Of the Northern
branch Of said road, should be in the state of
Iowa II was Senator's Dodge and Jones'
And here we may remark, that it was peace Of
shrewdncss in legislation, which entities those
gentlemen to all credit, the beneficial effects Of
which TO this state, cannot fail in few years TO
be fully appreciated. Who aided to procure
q the last session of Congress, an appropriation
Of $1,000 for clearing out the distractions in
the Rapids of the Mississippi and an additional
appropriation of $l25, 900 to be expended in the
construction of snag and Dredge boats for Wes-
tern rivers? II was Senator'S Dodge and
Jones. Who labored with ability and untiring
industry, during The whole period of the last
session of Congress, to procure for this state
grant Of lands for railroad purposes and sue.
ceeded in carrying the bill by triumphant
majority through the senate 1t was SEN
ator's Dodge and Jones. Who opposed the
passage of that odious and infamous ssBen.
net Land Bill virtually proposing to sell out
the West, hook and line, bob and sinker, to the
land sharks and money jobbers of the East' 1T
was Senator's Dodge and Jones. Who stood
conspicuous on the floor of the Senate defead-