Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-01-19

Ralph j. Lowe, late Governor OF To-
wa, is certainly an amiablc man, but
beyond all question the weakest one
that ever occupied the Executive chair Of
Iowa. And no more conclusive proof
Of his weakness need be adduced than
his wrctchedIy nonsensical attempt to
prove that Trustee may appropriate
absolutely to his own use all the funds
with which no is entrusted, bccalso
technical rule of law gives him the legal
title to the trust estate. The Constitu-
ton of the State forbils the mourning
of a State debt, exceeding the amount of
two hundred and fifty thousand dollars,
and Governor Lowe is compelled to ad-
NIT that the State debt 10, at the least
calculation, three hundred and tfty tuo
thousand four Hundred aid ninety taco
dollars and thirty seuen cents, upwards
OF ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
Here is palpabc violation of the Con-
stitution, and Governor Lowe is called
upon to explain and account for it. I'm
fortunately, his attempted apology proves
beyond all controversy, that explanation
is impossible, and that Republican e1-
travagancc has sunk the State in debt,
and trampled upon its Constitution
Let rs look at Governor loves apollo
gy. lie says that a portion Of this
debt 1.-THE sum Of 22,295, ISIS part
of 1.-The school fund, held by the State
IN trust for educational purposes" but
that the fund is only the proceeds of
lands granted to the State, for which
reason, the fund is as much the proper
ty OF the State as were the lands by
which it was produced.
First, let us inquire into the Govern
ors facts, or rather his statement of
facts. He says that the school fund is the
absolute property Of the state in its own
right. That is not true. The act of
Congress, approved March Sd, ls45,
conveys section lG Of every township
"to the state for tie use of schools" and
of the fund raised by the sale of that
land, the state is mere trustee. Here,
then, the Governor, to help out his case,
deliberately falsities history, and asserts
that the state has the absolute owner
ship of land, which was conveyed to it
for an especial purpose and Tor no other.
Again, he asserts that the five per cent.
fund and the proceeds of the 100000
aero grant are the absolute property of
the state, to be disposed of IA. the state
authorities see fit. Section Sd, chapter
End of article nine Of the constitution of
the state, declares that such lands and
proceeds, 'shaIl remain perpctuoitund
and De incioiaJiy appropriated to tile
support Of common schools throughout
the state" When the people Of the |
state have absolutely granted, aliened |
and given away all their interest in the |
school lands, can it be pretended that
the state is now the absolute owner
OF them. The grant has been made.the |
property has passed to the school fund. |
the state has surrendered all it's interest.
and how can it still claim to be the OWL
or OF the rights it has relinquishcd. But
says the Governor, the people NAV |
change the constitution. That propo.
sition does not help him. II the state
authorities have used the school fona
for any other than school purposes, thew |
have violated the constitution, which do.
clares that the fund shall be 1NyIoIApx
appropriated to the support of common
schools, and as the Governor admit. that
that the school fund has been 90 used. he
is convicted by his own confession, of
violating the constitution of the state
Whether he has violated the clause of
the constitution which prohibits state
debt exceeding $25o,O0O or not, there il
no doubt but be has violated that other
elause, which soasseFatss the school