The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-25
Communication from the Governor-state Aid

Communication from the GOyernor-Stnte Aid
Projcc, Receives its auie,us.
From the following article, it will be seen
that Gov. LOWE declines giving aid and COM
fort to the State Aid project. We honor
the Governor for this exhibition of his back
bone. The Railroad Genii are respectfully
requested to paste this in their hats.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, Dies MONIES,
Iowa, Dec. l4th, 1858.
In view Of the unsettled state of the pub
lie mind in regard to the proposed call of
an Extra Session Of the General Assembly,
deem it proper to make public the conclu-
sions at which have arrived. Many petit
tons, remonstrances, and letters, for and
against the call, have been received by me,
and the proceedings Of the late Cow ention
at Iowa City have also been laid before me.
The respect which l entertain for the
gentlemen whose views have been thus
communicated, impcl me also to state briefly
the reasons which have influenced my
action.
The Constitution confers on me the power
con extraordinary OCCASIONS" to convene
the General Assembly by proclamation.
The call has been demanded mainly on
the ground of the necessity Of further
legislation in aid of our Railroad enterprise,
and for the enactment of relief laws. /
appreciate thoroughly the Importance to
our State of the completion of her system of
internal improvements. A large portion Of
her territory having no access to market at
any season, the interior having no reliable
route Of transportation, and the West being
deprived of navigation a portion of the
year,-these causes undoubtedly operate to
retard immigration, to depress the value
of lands, to diminish both the quantity and
value of agricultural products, and to dis
courage the establishment of manufactures
throughout the State. But acknowledging
the importance Of these considerations, the
practical question presented to me is,
whether the legislation demanded in aid of
these works is question of such immediate
Importance rs to require special convention
of the General Assembly twelve months in
advance Of its regular session.
BY making this call should decide that
this was IN "extraordnary OCCASION" within
tho meaning Of tho Constitution. l cannot
so regard it. The occasion does not arise
upon any sudden or unforeseen emergency
it shows new interest in the questions, but
nc new condition of affairs since the late
session of the General Assembly. do not
consider it an extraordinary occasion in the
constitutional sense.
am further influenced to this conclusion
by the fact that Mt the time Of the election
of the General Assembly the demand now
made for legislation was not before the
people. Their representation of the popu-
lar will cannot be fairly predicted of them,
on question of such Importance, -inaugu-
rating or rejecting new State policy of
great magnitude, Except upon an election
after the agitation Of the question before
the people. Without this, there is danger
of hasty legislation. The Extra session
would also require considerable cxpcndi-
ture Of public money at u time when the
condition of the Treasury, owing to the
large amount of revenue in arrears, does no,
justify it, except in a case of imminen,
Importance. Believing, as have the bes,
authority to believe, that the General
Assembly is not prepared to act in accord
ancc with the prayer of the petitioners, this
expenditure would be at the hazard of that
economy in the administration of public
affairs which it is my duty to observe. Being
also satisfied by very numerous communlca'
tons from all parts Of the State that q
decided minority of the people are averse tc
the Extra Session, and are not prepared to
approve the proposed legislation, and that
the General Assembly would not regard il
as their duty to act in the direction proposed
have resolved not to convene the Genera
: Assembly in anticipation of their regular
Session.
RALPH p. LOWE, Gorernor.