Demoine courier., 1854-12-14

ideas and principles OF civil and religious
liberty, and contrary 10 the spirit and in
~ien,ion of our Constitution and laws
] he rational government havo no power
10 make laws respecting an establish
ment OF religion. or rohibiling the free
exercise thereof" and the constitution OF
this State declares thu, "no religious test
shall lie required as a qualification for
any Office or public trust, and no person
shall be deprived Of any Of his rights.
privileges or capacities. or disqualified
from the performance Of any Of his pub.
lie or private duties, or rendered incom.
petent to give evidence in any cour Of
law or equity, in consequence Of his
opinions on the subjectof religion"
To my mind it is manifest, that the
objec: of these provisions we're to guard
against prescription or intolerance, either
BY legislation or by individuals, and to
leave TO every one the right Of judging
for himself upon questions which relate
to eternity, and over which human gov
ernments cannot properly exercise con.
troll.
In connection with the subject Of i'm.
migration and settlement, in Iowa, il may
be observed that her agricultural and min.
eraI resources are but partially known.
and il is believed tina, an and
scientific geological survey would dis.
close sources of mineral wealth. and the
capacity Of Our soil for the production
Of many profitable articles, the benefits
Of which Information TO the history of
the State, and to the people, would far
surpass any expense attending such an
examination. would therefore recon-
mend this measure 10 your favorable con.
sidera,ion.
l again invite your attention TO the
laws regulating the sale of intoxicating
liquors, and to the recommendation made
by me to the Last General Assembly, Of
granting licenses under proper ~res,ric.
tons. for tie sale thereof. Belle wing
that such a law would have a salutary
effect in restraining the indisc-iminale
sale Of such liquors, and would be the
means OF producing a revenue to cities,
towns and counties, which is now lost to
them, and that good order nigh, be main.
tanned and The laws enforced, | am there.
fore induced TO presen, the subject for
our candid consideration.
l am aware that there are many per.
sons who take a different view OF this
question, who insis. with g,ea, per,inaci.
ty that laws should be enacted prohibit.
ing the manufacture and sale of any spir.
i%tuous, %vinous, or NAL, liquors, under ee-
we're penalties, with a RICH, to search in
houses and premises, and a destruction
o. such properly wherever it may be
found, and prescribing rules of evidence
in such cases unknown in any other
criminal prosecutions.
Such laws are not calculated 10 rene
dy the evil complained of. and are look.
ed upon as an unnecessary infringement
upon the natural and constitutional rights
of the citizen. The idea that pervades
such enac,ments Is, that unusual. numer.
ous, and severe penalties. will lead TO
their enforcement; when all experience
shows that their undue severity defeats
their execution, and that after the ex
element which caused the enactment has
passed away, no one feels disposed to
enforce them.
Although this question has been thrust
into the political arena, and made 10 fig.
ure extensively in our elections, yet, as
guardians and representatives Of consti.
t~u,ional supremacy, and the rights of Cit.
liens under that government. you will
ca,af,,tv ovom;no The sub;oos ..h.ch hoe
thus been presented, and make such pro-
visions az may seem to you the bes. cal.
culated 10 promote the public good.
Your attention is also invited to the
act, passed at the las, session Of The
General Assembly. regulating the in
terest on money. and Of which may
say, that since its passage up to the pres
ent time, has TO, been generally regarded
or enforced, and that without being of
any bene6. TO The borrower, has resulted
in keeping out OF the State much capital,
which would otherwise have been intro
duced among rs, and which by fair COM
petition would have reduced the rates of
interest much below what is Eow paid.
Such laws are always evaded, and npon
the principle that men should be permit,
ted to make their own contracts and dis
pose of their money or property upon
such terms aud conditions as may seem
to them most appropriate. For these
and many other reasons which might be
urged. | would respectfully recommend
the repeal Of all laws 10 this State upon
the subjcc. of usury.
Az yet no grants Of land have been
made 10 the State OF Iowa for the con
struction of railroads. no,wi lhsianding
the repeated applications which have
been made to Congress for tina. purpose.
l would, therefore, again call your at,en.
ton to the subject, and recommend that
a memorial be passed urging the justice
of our claim, and that such application
be concentrated upon one road 10 run
from the Mississippi 10 the Missouri
river, through the central portion Of The
State, az it is believed that such an APP
plica,ion might meet with q favorable re.
ception. It's very much doubted whe.h.
er the policy Of applying for a suficien.
quantity Of land 10 construct five or six
roads in Iowa will soor he favorahlv