The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-09-03

Prom the BuriinGsoa Hawteys
GEN. DODGE AND STATE POLICY.
The Democratic candidate for Governor
% very anxious to give all national questions
the 60 by, and discuss what be terms "ques-
tions of State policy " alone. lie seems to
imagine that be is ~ eminent and infsllible
in the I" State policy T" line ~ was THAT other
distinguished gentleman, the quack doctor,
vino declared that he could core any dIsease
in the world IL he could only 6rst convert
the disease into fits, for he was "h-ll on
6ts." Gen. Dodge is vain enough t" be-
leve that he is equally invincible on State
poll y.
Now, 20 far as We can hear, Gen. D"Iye
has identified himself with only two 'n"a..
ures Of State policy during the whole period
Of his residence in Iowa, and BY his position
on them We can JUICE how sagaclously he
would act ~ the executive ruler Of the State.
About no other State matters have We ever
heard it in mated that he ever expressed or
entertained an opinion.
lat. When Congress undertook to ca tail
the boundaries OF Iowa, by making line,
drawn midway between the M,,sslpPi and
Missouri rivers, the Western boundary, Zen.
Dodge addressed letter to the people Of
the State, in which he urged them to acqui-
esce in these proposed limits, telling them
that IS forming nv opinion from extensive
inquiry and observar must in all can
dor inform you that whatever your decision
on the first Monday in April next may be,
we wiN not be able hereafter under any cir.
cun,stances. to obtain one square mile more
for our mew State than is contained uithin
the boundaries adopted by the act Of Con-
gress admitting Iora info the Union."-
The country lying Immediately on the Mis-
souri, river, and "f which Congress has de-
prived Us. is said to he fertile but large
srtemt ofland forming the diriding ridge Of
thr Udiers running 1ni0 the Mississippi and
Missouri ,ire,s. called the Illus Of the
Prairie, aud which ha bren excluded from
0nr neU State, is barren and STERILE" 1t
was Gen. Dodge's - State policy in lS45
TO allow the State to be divided by the line
We have described, and we have never heard
that his views have Undergone an, change
on this subject. If elected Governor will
h" use the infurnce ami patronage of his
Office to divide tn. Stl,.2
Gen. Dodge, g. forming his opinions from
extensive inquiry and observation" was sat
istiei that not another square mile could be
obtained beyond the limits FIRST fixed BY
Congress. The people Of Iowa, forming
their opinions from common sense princip.
not so comprehensive to Gen. Dodge, per-
hnps, were satisfied that thousands Of square
miles could he obtained. and therefore re.
jected HI, advice. Had Gen. Dodge's
- State policy" bean adapted the counties
of Polk, Msnroe, Clarke, Decatur, and all
West OF them. would now be beyond our
State limits. Everybody can judge for him
self Of the value Of this " State policy" and
every body must admit that the General was
Il very poor judge Of the views of Congress,
when he declared that not IS another square
mile" Of territory could be obtained to add
to our curtailed limits.
We learn that Gen. Dodge will soon re-
turn to the Eastern part Of the State, and
we trust that he will lose no time to lay be.
fore the public an account Of his expIora-
tons among the barren and sterile Hills |!
of the Prairie" He is the only geographer
who has ever given an account Ut these
"Hills." Indeed. We think hr is entitled to |
the sole credit of discovery, and history
of his discoveries and Investigations there |
will doubtless be entertaining and instruc.
tive.
81. The other measure Of estate policy"
with which Gen. Dedg- il nipntifi-l Is the
Act of Congress. Of August lssh. ie46. by !;
which lands We're granted to the State for |
the Improvement IF the navigation Of thu
Dcs Mon~s river. Iii, frirnis claim b It he |
was the author of this IN assure, and We sup !
pose he was. Instead Of securing u grant !
oil land tn aid IN the construction Of q Rail /
road, he labored 10 curr 4 grant I" slack ,
wat"r the D-s Mones, Kind of mpran
ment that is 1T least half century /, hi !.
the ng". And then, to ren1"r "c"i fa--,r
worse cvnfounded," he m,l", II IA Il. f. /,
ing the aes some Of hi. .,on :: English m /
de6led," so that tn iawycr have he-n
quarrellng for the la-r thir,urn v-at. about |
what the law really IN ans. SIM. th.nk |
that under the wording Of the act the grnns
extend. to tn" sources If the river. OF ri" =
opinion ar Eeverdv Johnson aud En', I }. .
Walker. OTHERS III nH tha, II "xtei.is ~ v
TO hr City Of DE. Ma.nr-. ani Of s..is, ~ y /
ION are John j. Crittendrn. Caleb Cu-h'ug, /
a. ii. Ii. Stewart Jacob Thompson sd j.
5. Black. Gen badge has certaIn; con ,
founded the lawyers, and if that l. any cred ;
it to HIN he is enttled to il. hut we hnve
never hehrd that the Stnt- has been other
wise benefited by his action.
Tn" great achievements of Gen. Dodge,
40 far this State is concerned, 10 the
estate policy" line. may be summed up,
therefore. As follows.
LIST. The attempt to curtail the limits of
the State,
%. The discovery Of the "barren and ster-
lie Hills Of the Prairie.''
3. Tn" Introduction into the Des Moines
River bill If phraseologv. a la Dodge, that
nobody can cnnSirup or understand