The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-12-11
WHOLE NO. 269.


last wrote from. The powers that be-, in
their sapiency have seen fit to give US, after
long asking, regularly organized territo
rial government and we are now enjoying
its benefits. Our mountain solons have
met, imnortalised themselves and on the
publishing Of the result of their labors, in
the shape of general and good many
special laws, your correspondent is now en-
gagged. The usual amount Of people are
satisfied with the advantages gained in the
shape of road aud other charters whereby
with The outlay of little they expect to
gain great deal. An unmitigatcd hatred
OF bank charters developed itself in all the
members at an early stage in the session,
and the hopes of the people that no wild
cats would lie let loose upon us were raised
to the highest degree, only to be blasted on
the last day or two, 10y the passage Of one
grand monopolizing, shinplastering institu
ton to be located in this city. or course
it was inexplicable this change that had
come over the spirit of their salonic dreams,
and one could not help thinking that per-
haps something was rotten in Denmark, but
only thoughts could be allowed-of course
nothing could be said against the purity Of
motives which governed our first legisla.
tors 1t may be it was given to Denver in
order to appease the wrath of our burghcrs
at the loss Of the capital. which has been
removed to Colorado City, village about
70 miles south of this, and consequently
that much nearer the centre of the Terri.
tory.
Not the least Of the difficulty the Legis.
lature had to contend with was the settle
mcnt Of VIII" should be public printer. The
majority of the assembly being Union Dem
ocrats demanded that the printing should
b" q iven to the Ne,es the ostensible organ of
that party, ''or any other man." while tn
Secretary of the Territory contended tina,
he had the power to give the printing to
whomsoever he chose. This, in my opn-
ion, was right, for the same difficulty had
arisen in Kansas and Nebraska, and had
been settled in favor Of the Secretary. Our
Legislature asked the opinion of the Atty
General, which was given, sustaining the
Secretary; but these wise men of the West
probably from long association with the
long. cared emigrantS from the South had
'mbibed the spirit of push. back. a-tive- ness,
commonly called mulsh, and to demon
>trate this elected Bliss, Of the Neus, prn-
ter, and ordered their clerks to furnish him
each day with the journal of each house,
which was done; but when the laws were
sent to the Secretary's Office to be approved
by the Governor, they were sent to Gibson,
of the Republican, who is thus placed in
the only official copies, and is now engaged
in their publication. So you see the qurs-
ton "recurs on the original notion" Who
is the Public Printer?
The war feeling of which you see so
much is manifesting itself among U.s. The
Governor has called for regiment of vol
untecrs, which is fast being raised. Wheth.
er We need this body Of men or no, is
question not settled to the satisfaction Of
every calm thinking man. To ,ne it seems
to be considerably on the farcical. What
earthly utility there can be in supporting u
thousand idle men at the expense OF the
tax payers, in country so overwhelmingly
loyal as this, is more than can see. To
US the valor manifested hy them, their
marshaling in battle array at every pop.gun
report in our vicinity, is truly ludicIous to
the locker on. We have those among us.
without doubt, who strongly sympatiize
with the rebels, but have not the most
remote idea they would dare manifest their
fe lings by actions, had we no military -
Some have been arrested, and are now con-
fined, for reasonable expressions or actions,
and are guarded day and night, by com
pany Of soldiers. This constitutes the sum
total Of the duties of the infantry, other
than the ordinary amount Of camp guard.
The cavalry companies, of which there are
three or four IN the Territory, do some.
thing more, in the way OF train, guarding,
scouting, &c. Part OF two companies,
(Jasper Benton, formerly of McGregor,
was among them) have just arrived from,
Fort Wise, between this and New Mexico,
with about 80 prisoners, who have been
down there stopping trains, stealing stock,
and other similar s. >ccsh tricks. Jas. Ben
ton belongs to the cavalry and Ez Reddins
to tn. infantry. These are all the repre-
sentatves Of the Republic Of McGregor
who have as yet felt the moyings Of the
spirit Of patriotism. ..s...rz4 ....t .r
News from the mining districts is rather
scarce. In consequences of the periodical
stampede peculiar to this country, there are
but few people left in these ''diegins," and
what few are left are working mines al
ready proven to be good. The snow which
has already covered the ranges has blocked
up the roads so prospecting parties cannot
travel, and 'big strikes" will not ba heard
Of until next Spring. Washington Gulcb,
about $50 miles southwest Of this, and
about 100 miles FROM California Gulch, bids
fair to be tn. principal theater for mining
action next Spring. 1t Was discovered late
this fall, and "prospected big" but the
carly approach Of the ice-king admonshed
the lucky discoverer, that a healthier loca-
ton for a few months, for them, would be
somewhere near the valley, and consc-
quently that region is about deserted. The
old lodes about Gregory's, the cause Of the