Demoine courier., 1856-12-11

are engaged in the discharge Of their du
ties, and viii be able 10 lay their reports
before you in a very few days.
REGISTRY LAW.
Almost every person residing in any
Of the large towns in this State, ack
rowledge the imperative necessity for
soma law TO protect the purity OF the
ballot Box. Tha. gross frauds are per-
pe,ra,ed a, every exciting election. by the
voting and double voting of unqualified
persons, is no, 10 be denied. To remedy
This great and constantly increasing evil,
the passage Of a registry law is respect.
fully recommended. Such laws have
been in operation in several States from
a period long anterior to the adoption Of
the Federal Constitution, AID have fully
answered their design.
COUNTY INDEBTEDNESS.
The Constitution. wisely provides
that the Stale shall aot in any manner
Greats a debt exceeding one hundred
thousand dollars. The trainers Of that
instrument did not imagine that there
war 40 great q necessity TO prohIbi, the
counties from creating large public deo,s.
for the reason that the history OF the
country did no, then present. the case Of
. county becoming a large stock holder
in private corporations.
Within the past lew years. however.
SO great has beer he anxiety TO procure
The construction .: works Of internal i'm.
provemen,. that many counties and cities
in this State have adopted the very
doubtful policy of creating large muni-
cipal debts, for the purpose of becoming
stockholders in railroads, and other pr,
vale corporations. The amount of mu.
nicIpul Indebtedness already voted by
the different ciues an counties exceeds
seven millions Of dollars.
Without stopping 10 enquire into the
authority. under which the loans have
heretofore been voted, it SCENE 10 me
tina. prudence and sound policy. requires
.ha, some check be imposed ufon HE fu-
lure exercise Of this power TO create pub
lie Indebtedness. Ii Is true that many
investments made by the counties snd
cities may resul, Pro6iably TO the stock
holders; bu, il is equally trae, that man,
will prove disastrous, ss some have al
reacy done.
Municipal corporations are designed for To-
cal and limited purposes, and it is a perversion
OF their organization when they are embarked
in internal Improvement beyondtheir Jurisdic-
ton. Nor is that an equitable principle which
4 an, Oh ao.Ia Sc ora .xArtiAn nf n npnptr,
TO fasten an indebtedness upon a remote por.
ton of the country, for other than legitimate
purposes. Equally unjust is it to allow the
property Of one man to be heavily burdened by
taxation, imposed by the vote OF another man
who is without property, without a household
and who sustains none of the burdens OF gov
eminent. There is a manifest propriety il
allowing every man the right of suffrage, I'M
der ordinary circumstances. 1t is pfopert tina
every man should have the privilege to join il
IT, e selection of his own lawmakers, and his
own executioners, but there is not the same
propriety in allowing to every man the priyil-
eye of creating an indebtedness for others to
pay.
Ii occurs to me that too many check.
and safeguards cannO, be thrown around
this power il such power exists At all, Of
creating municipal Indebtedness for pun
poses OF internal improvements. Its
dangerous power, and liable to The gross
est abuse.
KANSAS.
During the past summer il was re.
ported and generally believed tina, sht
President Of The United States only fail
ed to in,erpose his authority for the pro
teciiou Of the rights Of the Free S.a,,
people in Kansas for the reason tina, n,
official intelligence hat reached him tha
any odtrages had been perpe.ra,ed il
that unfortunate territory. Havin,
such information myself, conceived j
70 be my duty 10 notify the rrssiden, o
the crimes that had been committed 4
gaiuss the persons and property OF form
er citizens Of Iowa. and 10 demand 10
them that protection which the fedora
government was in psst established Il
secure.
Accordingly. on the 2s,h dav Of Au'
gust last. | addressed 10 him a letter o,
This subject a copy Of which l herewith
Transmit. Without desiring 20 fores,al
the opinion or action of the General As
sembly in THE regard, ! Deg leave to rel.
crate tho opinion then expressed, tina, j
10 the right and duty OF the State to pro
tect tho rights Of her former citizens il
Kansas. when the federal government
fails 10 perform tina. duty.
/ desire TO CO operate with The Gen
er.l Assembly in adoption of any meas
ures tina. MAY tend TO uphold the sover
eighty. and promote the prosperity ant
honor oil our noble State.
JAMES. w CRIMES.
EXECUTIVES OFFICE, Iowa ClTY,2
I'd December, 1856.
BEAUTIFUL THoUGHr.-Here 10 one
L of lha manu- hanniicnl iha.,xbA-a A. .l..l