Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-12-07

future millions and worthy Of the
sons and it may be daughters who
shall enact her future laws and con
troll her future des,inics.
GRAFTON OF GOV. MERRILL.
Ladies' and Ge.tlemen:-At the end
of the first third Of century of the
political existence of Iowa, for the
first time from known resources. the
State undertakes the erection OF a
Capitol building. Thirty three years
ago the first Legislature convened at
Burlington, and commenced the work
Of law-making for the settlements
along the mississippi, then called the
Territory of Iowa. One year before,
the Assembly OF Wisconsin had held
1 its annual session in the same town.
Far ba-k in history, this land bad
lEeen taken possession Of by In Sale
for his master, Louis XIV OF France.
Eight years before, the first white
men, Joliet and Marquette, had trod
the soil OF Iowa. near the mouth Of
its great river. that flows here at our
feot In 1867, all Europe acknowl-
edged the clam of France TO the
Mississippi Valley The vastness Of
this Calm of France may be judged
from the fact that every spring whose
waters coursed through the Missis-
sippi and Missouri to the Gulf of
Mexico, was SAID to be within the
possession OF the French, and this
claim was followed up by settlement.
But France made slow work, as in
France to-day, the people expected
too much OF the government I'm
der the royal management monopoly
succeeded monopoly. and gigantic
schemes Of colonization infamed the
people OF France. Soon followed
tie collapse of the South Sea bubble.
This made the name OF Louisiana q
stencil in the nostrils of the people
SO that in 1863 they readily Yielded
to Spain, this western dominion.
Then indeed was Spain the most op-
ulent nation OF which history tells us.
Her empire Aere was more extensive
than the entire dominions Of any 9th
er nation, ancient or modern. 1t was
not, however, until 1869 that Spain
took possession OF her new acquisi.
ton. By the treaties of St. ldleton-
SO in 1900, and of Madrid in 1901.
Spain retroceded LOUISIANA to
France. which country on the 30th
of March, 1903. negotiated treaty,
ceding the whole domain TO the
American Republic. Though the
possession of upper Louisiana was
not taken by France until the 9th of
March, 1904, and the very next day
the French flag gave place to the
American. Durin. the long rule OF
France and Spain, over the territory,
/ find no attempt TO colonize III what
is now Iowa, and now there remains
with us no relic of their rule and we
inherit no vestige Of their jnrisprud-
cnce. BY an act Of Congress. the
Louisiana purchase was divided into
tie Territory of Orleans, and Dis
trict of Louisiana. This District,
comprising Iowa, was placed under
the jurisdiction Of Indiana. In 1912
the Territory of Louisiana became
the Territory of Missouri. In 1921,
the State of Missouri was admitted
into the Union. From this time
Iowa remained without any local
government until Jnne %, 1884,
when it was attached to the Terrific.
ry of Michigan. 1T was during this
interregnum that the first settlement
was made in Iowa. This was in Lee
county about the year 1882. Earlier
attempts had heen made, but all had
failed. In 1884 there were two
counties IN Iowa, Des MONIES and Du-
buque. the Iowa river hcing the di-
viding line. A census in 1886 show
ed population Of 1851. In 1896
the Territory Of Wisconsin was form
cd. including all Michigan Territory,
not included in the State OF Michigan
Under this organization the Legisla-
tive session was begun in Burlington
IN two story frame house bnilt for
the purpose by Jeremiah Smith. Jr.,
a member of the Council. The Leg
.islaturc further divided the two coun-
ties into sixteen. Thus tho Terrific
ry within the limits OF the State Of
Iowa has been a part of the posses.
SONS successively of two kingdoms
and two republics, and under the
jurisdiction of no less than FIVE ter
ritorial governments. On the Sd day
o. July, 1888, these sixteen counties
became the territory OF Iowa. In tour
months the Legislature began its ses-
sion in the Old Zion Church at Burl-
ington, also the ID and Sd Asscn.b.
lies were held here. Congress, in the
organic act, appropriated $4,000 for
public buildings for the territory. In
January, 1889, three Commissioners,
CLANCY Swan, Robert Ralston aud
John Ronalds were appointed to Sc
lect site for q permanent seat of
government to be called Iowa City.
The selection was made, the town
laid out, and the first sale of lots
took place on the 10th day Of August, |
1889. The Legislature at its next |
session passed an act requiring that |
the aggregate cost of the building |
should not exceed $4,000. On the |
5th day of Decamber, 1912, the new
cap,tel was sufficiently completed for |
the Legislature to convene in the |
building. It was then estimated that
it would cost $S9,143 to finish the
house. The work seems to have been,
under the circumstances, prosecuted
with prudence and all the expedition
possible.
Iowa was admitted into the Union
December %, 1916, with q counties
and nearly 100000 population.
At the meeting Of the first General
Assembly $4,000 more was appro-
priated for the completion Of the