The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-12-29
From the Governor.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER. DEs Morsxs,
Inva nn~ "a -lQSH Z

Executive CHAMBER. DEs Molsxs,l
Iowa, Dec. IL, 1855
In view of the unsettled state of the public
mind in regard to the proposed call of On Extra
Session of the General Assembly, deem it
proper to make public the conclusion at which
lhave arrived. Many petitions, circumstances.
and letters. for and against the call, have been
received by me, and the proceedings Of the late
Convention at Iowa City have also been laid
before me. The respect which entertain for
the gentlemen whose views have been thus
communicated, impel me also to state briefly
the reasons which have influenced my action.
The Constitution confers on mo 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 enterprises, and for the
enactment of relief laws. / appreciate thor.
oughly the importance to our State of the com.
pleti0n Of her system of internal improvements.
A large portion Of her territory having no 40
cess to market at any season, the interior hav-
West being deprived Of navigation 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 discourage the
establishment of manufactures throughout the
State. But acknowledging the importance of
these considerations, the practical question Ere
scented to me is. whether the legislation demand.
ed in aid of these works is question Of such
immediate importance % 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 an 'e.tIaordinary OCCASION, Within the
meaning of the Constitution. ] caunot % re-
gard it. The occasion does not arise upon any
sudden or unforeseen emergency it shows .
new interest in the questions, but no new, con-
dition of affairs since the late session of the
General Assembly. do not consider it IN ex-
taordinary occasion in the constitutional
sense.
am further Influenced to this conclusion by
the fact that at the time of the election of this
General Assembly the demand now made for
legislation was not before the people. Their
representation Of the popular will cannot be
fairly Dredicated Of them. on question Of such
importance, -inaugurating or rejecting new
State policy Of great magnitude,-except upon
an election after the agitation of the question
before the people. Without this there Il dan
ger of hasty legislation. The Extra Session
would also require considerable expenditure
of public money at q time when the condition
of the Treasury, owing 10 the large amount OF
revenue in arrear, does not justify it. except in
case Of imminent importance. Believing, %
have the best authority to believe, that the
General Assembly il not prepared to act in &C.
cordance with the prayer of the pettioasr1. this
expenditure would be At the hazard Of that
economy in the administration of public affairs
which i 10 my duty 70 observe. Being also
from all parts Of the State that q decided ma.
jority Of the people arc averse to the Extra
Session, and are not prepared to approve the
proposed Legislation, and that the General As
sembly would not regard it as their duty 70 act
in the direction proposed. have resolved moi
to convene the General Assembly in sntioips-
ton Of their regular Session.
RALPH p. LOWE, Governor.