The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-02-22
ESTABLISHED.
For Buriingscn "Hawk.Eye." !"
q Cam paaw ua~nAe

Tor Burlington "HAWk.kye."
Lee Coumty Domde.
EDiroR "HAwK. .EYE:"
In your paper Of the 9th inst, very unjust
assault Is made on the credit Of Lee County
bonds. The article is evidently based ON mis-
approximation, and not only reflects on the
character Of the people Of the County, but may
do much unintentioual injury to the holders Of
these securities.
The interest on these bonds, falling due last
January. was amply provided for, and every
coupon presented has been promptly paid
There is every assurance. that the interest ma
turing next June, will also be punctually met.
II may be proper to assail the credit Of this
Connty, when default is made, but until then.
ve are certainly entitled to forbsarance.
| The Officers not only in this County, but
throughout the State, find the collection Of taxes
Of any kind. whether for Rail Road, or other
purposes, a pretty difficult task during the
present season, but oil are aware, that this
arises from the pecuniary condition Of this
Country rather than from an ndisposition on
the part of the people to pay.
The effort now making by the City Of Keo-
kuk to adjust her liabilities with the creditors
is seized on by many. who are locally hostile to
that place, to attack the credit of this Whole
County. This is unfair and gratuitous. Moth
ing has been done or intimated by the people
Of that City, indicating an intention to decline
the payment Of taxes, for the interest on Lee
County bonds.
The Treasurer of this County, who is now
there collecting taxes, states, that in no instance
has any taxpayer refused to pay the levy made
on his property for interest on County bonds.
The interest on the Lee County bonds will
and must be paid. Their issue was directed by
majority Of 900 Of the people Of this County
So far as the bonds have been negotiated, it
hands Of innocent purchasers, the proceeds of
the sales have been expended, or will be, in Lee
County,-the District and Supreme Courts have
sustained their validity, and the people are able
and willing to pay all necessary taxes to meet
the interest upon them. These taxes have been
legally levied, there is no escape from their pay
ac,t, and with a few exceptions, no desire TO
do So
Will you do justice to the Credit Of Lee Conp-
ty by inserting this article.
One word more.-lt is certain, that they
wholly mistake the character of the "Denmark
people," who imagine, that they will either re-
pudiatc legal levy OF taxes or "resst its col
lection by force" Several gentlemen from that
Toupchip ;,j;, tlr all
imputations OF that character
Feb. 10th, 1859. LEE COUNTY.
REMARKs.-Our correspondent is mistaken in
saying that we have assailed the credit of Lee
county. We have not for one moment formed
or entertained any such desire or wish. in say
ing, as We did, that the township Of Denmark,
having voted unanimously against the issuance
OF $450,o0o of Railroad bonds by the county
of Lee, and being in no manner benefited by the
Roads built, now repudiates and refuses to pay
taxes to meet interest, we said just what we had
been within few days told by intelligent citi-
zess of that township, and said it with the sin
gle purpose of showing the injustice and vital
error OF building railroads upon county and
city bonds. If We are not correctly informed
in regard to this matter, we can only plead, in
extenuaon, the fact that We derived our in
formation from leading citizens of Denmark,
who declared in the mos, emphatic manner that
they would never pay one cent OF this railroad
tax, and said this the general feeling in that
part of Lee county. Ii our correspondent is
right in this matter and We misintormed, We
shall certainly aud cheerfully make the correc-
ton asked But until We hear further from
Denmark We shall leave this matter in statu
quo.
The original issue Of bonds was of $l50,000
each to the Fl. Des Moines, the h. and Mt
Pleasant and the Ft. Madison roads. The two
former companies have doubtless sold their
bonds, while our Ft. Madison friends, who have
not ye, built their road have their $3.50, 600 yet
on hand. in whole or part. That they should
desire to keep up the credit of the county until
their bonds are sold is quite natural. That
they have any other intention after these bonds
shall have been sold We do not intend to assert.
Lee county is large--contains q large popula-
ton and large amount Of taxable property
The levy of tax amounting, as vii! be neces
sary to pay interest and exchange upon this
amount of Indebtedness, Of nearly $4,000, II
the bonds draw ten per cent interest, or S4o,-
0oo if only eight per cent, will be an exceed
insly heavy burden. but that it will bring the
people OF the county, lise those Of keokuk, to
repu lia,ion we do not assert.
-. a
cities and counties meet their obligations
promptly. But for the benefit OF those which
have not yet felt these heavy burdens, but are
foosing in thJ same path and are ready to in-
eur ike burdens in the most blind and needless
manner, as we'll as for the benefit OF those
already deeply in debt, we have attempted 10
show the suicidal policy Of thus burdeDing our
young State. II this policy is persisted in
if our people persist in this reckless manner OF
going n debt for the benefit Of Railroad cor
pora,ions, it must in the end most seriously
impede the growth and very injuriously afiect
the prosperity of Iowa What we have saio
and what We may hereafter say Is oicta-
ted not by any desire to sffect injuriously tne
any desire to medde in other folks affairs, but
solely for the considerations above named.
ADMISSION OF OREGoN.-Oregon was admitted
as a State Of the American Union on Saturday
the bill having passed the House OF hepresen-
tstiyes by q vote ofll4 to l03. The same bill
passed the Senate At the previous session OF
Congress. The President viii of course sign it
imme diately, and Messrs. 10. Lane and De'azon
(aiias Delusion) Smith will be entitled to seats
! in the Senate Of the United States. The Re
publicans generally opposed the admission, not
knowing any valid reason why Territory IN
| the Pacific should be entitled to come into the
Union With forty thousand inhabitants, while
anothes on the Missouri is ruled out till she can
show 10000 or 100000.
| .H- The Board OF Curators OF the Iowa HIS
| ;orical Society, At their late meeting 1t Iowa