The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-01-21

than local In their character. alude to marine hos
pitfalls. We have distinguished precedents for calnl
the two great rivers that wash shores seas
They bear upon their bosom heavy and growing com
merce. next in Importance to that which floats upoI
the more expanded realms of the open seas. The
sells OF many States ply upon their waters and they
throw upon our borders annually no inconsiderabl,
number Of afflicted and disabled watermen These ar,
not citizens alone they belong to the CARRYING
trade Of the whole country and they should be kind,
cared for at the public expense Our associated rela
ton to the General Government makes IL your duty
early and persstently press upon the sderatior
OF Congress the importance only oferectng
hospitals at the proper points but that also custom
house and portal buildings those places made ports
of delivery, and where distributing post-ofices have
been established II the amount ofbusiness connected
with these branches of the public service will justify
the me.
| Cordially approving and adoptingthe views and sug
gestions contained in the message delivered by my
worthy predecessor upon all the ordinary topics otle
slaon, 1t is only necessary for in general
terms 10 some Of those things which impress nv own
mind with their Importance.
The unexampled Increase Of population the last
two has had the effect to exhaust all the
copies Of the Code well the phamphletlaws sub.
sequenty enacted leaving large body citizens
destitute of the of knowing the laws under which
they living.
This evil should be remeded at as early period as
practicable. six years practice under the Code has
brought to light many defects especially in the chap
tiers regulating civil procedures which ought
to be reformed. This done, the publication of
edition Of the Code and pamphlet laws including the
practice act might perhaps be left to individual
enterprise It is known there persons now pre-
pairing and taking the nitatory steps for such publ
cation.
rejoice TO know that the people of Iowa have been
sngularly fortunate in the selection Of competent
and intelligent body Of for the transaction OF
their business. No occasion has arisen In the State,
In my judgment, demanding the exercise Of wis
dom, sound discretion, and craftsmanship, than the
one which you are now convened.
But in view Of the great amount Of other business
which will occupy your attention during the session.
beg 20 recommend the appointment of two or three
competent legal gentlemen to act once in conjunc-
ton with special committees constituted for that pur-
pose, in revising, amending and getting up ef-
cient and perfect practice act, TO the end that the
may go with the publication OF the other laws
in the sprngand the people of this State be blessed
with system of civil and criminal procedure under
which the great principles of justice and right be
administered-all wrong snppressed-goodness and
virtue protected-and evil doors punished.
In this connection 1 cannot forbear making ausion
to the great inadequacy OF the State Penitentiary
eectuate the objects proposed It is under the
agement Of highly competent inspectors who can, with
the generous aid Of body make il what should
be- first Glass; sefsustaining institution The abso.
lutte demands of criminal justice in this direction
init of denial delay The report the inspectors
will tell Its own story, and command doubt not your
very considerate and prompt attention.
The practical experience Of the whole country at
tests the indispensable utility OF railroads Although
diusive in the benefits they bestow extending them
selves to class in community yet the country is
indebted for the part individual capital and
enterprise for their construction This should
down with great urgency upon the mind both Of the
State and National Government, to hold up the hands
and encourage hearts Of the noble and sacrc
Ing few who manifest Willingness peril much of
their fortunes push forward description ofimprove-
that marks of great features Of the age
| The Constitution contemplates important legs-
lation upon judiciary and militia system, upon the
school lands and funds and radical change in ed
vocational department. well other subjects, upon
all which it will afford me pleasure to communicate
/ freely with you during your deliberations.
| The questions of currency and agriculture
subjects oflegisation in this State authorized and
| Joined by the Constitution and possess ordinary
significance.
| In the absence of a national paper currency, and
with an established policy of seventy years standing
in the Of mixed currency Of paper and metal by
the States each for itself pro vdng and regulating its
own circulating medium, it would be the very
| climax of human folly for single State possessing
equal powers lean wholly upon other States and for
egn corporations for its currency Yet iowa. from the
beginning, has been guilty Of this great folly the effect
ofwhch has been to keep out that amount fair pro-
portion Of gold and silver which wise and well regu-
lated banking system would have necessarily supplied
and subjected us to the necessity well as all the
hazard of employing the paper Of thousand backing
institutions In other States, at immense annual
cost in the shape ofnteres failures and counterfets
and now, when the whole country is overtaken by a
money crisis in which many ofthese banks have gone
into liquidation, and others Withdrawn their issues
find ourselves entirely destitute Of circulating me-
dium.
1t is needless to disguise the fact that like the bal
| ance Of the civilized world, greatly Ia debt
with disposition, however, break faith with our
creditors Possessing millions Of produce and other
good property, still we have no money or available
| credit to meet our liabilities.
sudden enforcement Of these liabilities under the
circumstances, would be disastrous as it would be
the people OF this States and the question
may be seriously propounded whether any principle
in ethics would be violated In aording reasonable
time and that relief which shall be fair to all parties
the liquidation of these liabilities.
As the State in its sovereign capacity has clearly
been at fault in not providing the way for supplying
safe sound reliable currency her own that
people might be placed equal footing, and with
like advantages and privileges enjoy by the people
other States she is bound by every Of
fairness repair and uphold the falling fortunes Of
the people, far they affected by the want Of
home circulating medium.
According the statistics of the Federal treasury
there is in the country 900 of dollars Of
specie 900 Of this form the basis Of bank issues
in other States. Had ten years ago established
wise State Banking SYSTEM endowing with the atttr
butes and powers Of similar institutions, the probable
ity is that to-day would have had fair proper
ton Of this specie both in the circulation the State
and the vaults of banks, jusfyng the issue Of
amount Of paper which by its plisbility TO sudden
emergencies would greatly relieve people In these
days Of evil porten at least keep them from falling
into condition than fellow countrymen in
other States.
Forgetting however the ofthe past let make
haste to retrace steps; do what should have
been done years ago-make provision for sound and
an adequate currency Of our own.
1t is competent for you frame general law under
which either or both OF the banking systems contem