The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-01-27

W The contract for supplying the Post
Office Department with Scales has bSeu
awarded to tho Messrs. Fairbanks. Tne
Scales are also very extensively used in
the Army, and in the Navy Yards, Gus
tom Houses, Arsenals, Public Works, &c ;
throughout the country.
Gov. stones Inugural.
Before r. ceivering the Inaugural Of Gov:
Stone we had handed out the copy of Gov:
Seymour's Message to the Legislature Of
New York, and hence our space was pref.
ty well pre- occupied when, by favor Of
Legislative friends, Gov Stones stump
speech arrived. We give the essential
portions Of it with this criticism and no
more: 1t is vigorously written; comes up
to the standard Of Abolition theory; ad-
vocates war till slavery is rubbed out, no
matter what the cost of blood and treasure
to the whites praises everything yet done
or to be done by the President; misrepre.
sents those who think the Administration
policy wrong, and advises universal sub;
merging of all private opinion, a suspen;
sion Of civil authority and s|avish vassa.
lage to those who hold office. The love Of
money is so great and the pride Of man:
hood so little about these days that we look
for a general laudation Of Gov Stones no.
tice of the death of individual liberty.
From various sources, my attention has
been earnestly invited to what, in the opin!
ion OF many, are cogent reasons for chang.
ing our present form Of county govern
ment. The Supervisor system, created by
an act of the Eighth General Assembly has
| failed to command that general satisfaction
which its advocates predicted and desired:
| The objections urged against it are quite
numelo Gus. and apparently substantial in
their character Those who desire change;
express their preference for the Commits
sioner system, which has prevailed so long,
and operated successfully, in many of the
older States, and if, after due investigation,
| any change may be- deemed advisable,
would recommend this system to yeur
consideration as being the most practical
Of any that could he adopted. cannot
assume the responsibility of recommending
chnpoef tor the reaso4 lnat my onservl.
ton Of the present system has been mucn
too limited to justify me in entertaining .,
satisfactory opinion as to the soundness Of
the objections urged against it, and there
fore commend the entire subject to youf
earnest and considerate attention.
| Your attention is invited to the expedi.
ency of abolishing the Board of Education,
created by Article 9, Of the new Copstitu-
ton. This Board, in the sessions already
held, has accomplished much valuable labor,
and to it are we mainly indebted for the
frame. work of our present admirable sys!
tenn Of Common Schools, which needs but
little additional legislation to render il suf-
ficiently comprehensive to meet the de.
mands of our educational interests for ma
! ny years to come. 1t is now thought the
longer required, and that it can be abolish
ed without detriment to the public service:
The trainers Of the Constitution evidently
contemplated that after its labor in matur-
ing permanent and satisfactory system Of
a separate department would terminate
In view Of this contingency, the 18th sec-
ton Of said article confers upon the Gen
1868, to abolish or re organize the Board,
and to provide for the educational interests
Of the State in any other manner that to-
|
you concur in the eXpedicncy Of this meas
ure, it will become necessary to create the
office of Superintendent Of Public Instruc-
ton, in order that the important duties
now devolving upon the Secretary of the
Board may BE- transferred to and performed
by an appropriate officer.
desire to invoke the earnest attention
Of the General Assembly to the necessity
| Ofy inr al
ing the families Of the deserving men Who
are absent in the public service. Many Of
these men, in limited circumstances when
they volunteered, have no means of sup.
porting their families, except the scanty
wages received from the Government, OBJ
viously inadequate, under the present high
rates of living, to properly maintain . SOL
dier and meet the legitimate wants Of his
family.
am aware that at the Special Session
of the General Assembly, in 1851, an, Act
was passed empowering tho Boards Of
Supervisors to appropriate money out Of
the County Treasures for the support Of
soldiers families with their respective coun.
tives. l regret the necessity which compels
and patriotic enactment has signally failed
| " ASSoAikpiSu thO opJSSt 1utSuOCO. Au
counties where majority of the supervi.
sors are friendly to tho Union and tho pros.
ecution of the war, this relief has been
furnished to liberal extent; but in many
others, where that majority is with the op-
positc party, they have persistently refused
to appropriate a single dollar to this hu-
name and christian purpose.
In considering the question, wo should
not confine ourselves to the theory adopted
by some, that this mere County matter,
and, there fore, not the appropriate subject
of State action. From whatever county
the man enters the service, he becomes
soldier Of the state, fighting for one coun,y
as well as another, and has an equal claim
upon the generosity and gratitude Of all
our pile. Ia the absence Of an adequate
| law providing relief for these meritorious
families out of the public revenue, these
| bnrdens necessarily fal! upon few liberal
and patriotic individuals in each conmunis
ty. This is clearly wrong and should not
| be permitted None should be allowed to