The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-11-26
RuI,TRy LAW FoR IOWA.

/ A RaIsTRY LAW FOR IOWA.
The legal electors of this State have just
passed the annual hazard OF having the
result Of their franchise overslaughed py
fraudulent votes. That they passed the
peril successfully, and had margin OF a
few hundred votes on the right SIDE, no
thanks are due to the protection OF the
Laws. Whatever was done towards guard
ing the ballot box from fraud, was accom-
plished by the voluntary vigilance of private
citizens. 1t was understood that oesper-
ate attempt would be made along the border
counties to effect the importation and
colonization of voters; and the precautions
taken to guard against the measures were
as nearly equal as possible to the emer'
gency.
But it is the duty of the State itself to
furnish these precautionary measures; and
inasmuch as the Republicans have MAORI
ty in either branch of the Legislature, the
responsi ity r,st upon them for providing
some adequate protection at the earliest
nossible day. Of course the most tangible
measures of this sort which could be effected
would be n Registry Law. The thing ought
not to be left until the meeting of the Leg
islature, but some competent member should
|
bill, bs led upon the New England, the
New York, or the Michigan Registry Acts,
| embracing the excellence OF all OF them,
and such improvements as experience may
have suggested, and the bill should be
among the first introduced in either House,
that out of it, before the close of the ses-
sion, may grow well-matured Registry
Law.
Most of ike interior counties, where, in
each precinct, the voters are nearly all well
known, could probably get on few years
longer without a Registry Law; but along
the eastern border, and especially in Clayton,
Dubuque, Scott, Muscatine, Dcs MONIES
and Lee counties, probably two thousand
illegal votes are in the aggregate annually
polled, to prevent which the people OF these
several counties are at present powerless,
and for which they have no measure OF
redress. They have some right to demand
that the next General Assembly shall pro-
Vide for Registration of the legal voters
of the State, that this wholesale corruption
of the ballot-box may be stayed: and they
will be lily satisfied if such provision shall
not be madc.-Dubuque Times.
COME TO IOWA.
There never before has been time when
Iowa offered so great inducements to the
emi grant who is seeking home in the West,
as she now affords. Our crop, the presnt
year, it is true. has not been large one;
bat the yield has been enoug to materially
relieve US from debt, and to afford an abun-
dance for cur uses u2Eil another years pro-
duct shall have been gathered. We have
emerged from the disastrous crisis OF 1881,
with prospects as bright and promising as
those of any other STATEN tn" Union. we
have got rid of former fabulous and un-
healthy prices in lands and town and city
property, and these are now held at such
prices as bring them within the reach of all
who are frugal aud industrious. Our Kali
roads are steadily progress ing, and IN
comparatively short time will reach from
the Mississippi to the Missouri, and from the
Northern to the the Southern extremes of
our State, thus furnishing US an outlet and
market for the surplus products of the coun-
try. Our soil is not surpassed, If equalled,
by that of any of our sister States, and we
posse all those natural advantages which
are necessary to make great, prosperous
and wealthy State. Here can be raised any
product adapted to Il northern climate, with
less labor than is required IN any OF the
Eastern States. In point Of health, we, as
n State, stand second 10 Tut one or two
States in the Union, as the statistics upon
this subject abundantly prove. We have
plenty of coal, timber, rock, etc., for al!
practical purposes, and only require intelll-
gent industrious and enterprlslng citizens to
become model State.
| Wcnced not say to those who contemplate
cmigrating to the West, that they will con-
suit their own interest by securing farms or
town property immediately. These arc
cheaper now than they probably will be
again. The fair crops and splrudld weather
/ of the present year have done much towards
satisfying those who were dispensed with
Iowa, and as times grow better, there will
be less disposition and necessity Tor selling,
. the result Of which will be that prices will
advance.
/ We say, then to the men Of the Eastern
and Middle States. who desire to better their
conditions in life. if you possess small
capital, energy and industry. you can, here
in Iowa, in few years provide for your
selves and families comfortable home, and
| lay the foundation Cor an Independent and
prosperous futurc.-M. Pleasant Home
Journal.