The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-01-18

pected to exist, have added largely 10 her
wealth. Railroads, then scarcely west of
Ohio, now stretch their 5000 miles of iron
in network yer the State: and the tele-
graph goes with them. Her political rec
ord has been equally honorable. The first
Tree daughter of tho Missouri Compro-
mise, she has been true to her heritage of
freedom. Among the first to rush to the
support OF an endangered Union, to lay
her best blood on the altar of her coun-
try, she was also first to strike from her
constitution the odious discrimination be-
tween her citizens on account of COLOR
The past career of Town, both as territory
and State, has been honorable, progress
sive, substantial, May her future be even
more so!
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
In national affairs, we find a heathful
h contamination of the final triumph
of the war. in the adoption of manhood
suffrage; ans we now see all men equal
sovereigns before the law. Every citizen
now stands the peer CT his fellows. The
true principles of constitutional liberty
have become fixed in the fundamental
law, and enthroned in the hearts Of the
people, never to be obhterated from eth
er. The national administration success
fully feels it's way along, annually paying
one hundred millions of dollars of the
public debt, reducing the yearly interest
more than sixteen millions of dollars, and
at the same time lessening the burden OF
taxation. The strong arm of the federal
power has been welded for the protection
of the rights of citizens. and cladestine or
CARNATIONS, gotten up for the persecution
Of those whose only crime Is that thew
advocate principles just such as are held
by vast majority in our own State, have
been broken up, and their members ar.
rested or dispersed. The mode OF enter
ing the civil service has been reformed so
far as the President can effect 1t, and ap.
pointment and promotion therein are
hereafter to be by merit-so long at least
as the present incumbent Of the presiden-
tial chair shall remain therein. And
among the triumphs OF the administration
not the least is the settlement of our
threatening difficulties with Great Britain
by nm adjustment highly honorable to all
parties.
l nave noticed with much pleasure the
recommendations and suggestion Of the
chief magistrate of the United States In
MS late message, relative to reduction 81
tariff on articles of necessity not produced
IN this country, to the postal telegraph,
to reform in civil service, DC. The adop.
ton or the last named measure especially
Will tend greatly to correct the many
abuses which for nearly half q centui :
nave been creeping into the administra,
ton of b national Government. VIVA,
the people want and demand 10 an homes,
OF the public affairs. Such q policy vii
help us materially to return to specie pay
ment, and to steer safely through al
financial difficulties; any other will endan
ger credit, and cover us with disgrace
" HmME" y &Lft@EA "a EHE A u
cannot close this my last message
without expressing to the people of low,
my grateful Acknowledgements for the gen
erous confidence they have reposed in me
During he four years of my service Il
the State, l have received from them
support, q sympathy. and an encourage
! discharge of my Official duties.
While administering the office of chic
magistrate, | have been filled with in
creasing respect Tor the institutions or tn,
state. No one, SO we'll as he who upol
this post of observation, has been cailet
to keep constant watch of the whole field
can grasp in thought and feeling the his
tory and growth Of oar commonwealth
Wh:ie discharging my duty, to be diiigen
in aiding the development of our State, Il
labor for the success of u schools an,
charities, n to temper mercy with jus
tice, it has been my privilege TO realiz
the intelligence, Justice. and humanity Q
our people.
In severing my connection with tn
state government, / cannot close this com
municatioa without hearing my willin,
testimony to the fidelity, zeal, and indus
try of the various officers of the State, an,
those associated with me in the differen
agencies Of the government during M,
administration of its affairs. shall eve
carry with me in my retirement a CRATE
ml remembrance Of the friendship an,
courtesy which have always marked on
official relations.
To have served tue State at this time q
its greatest prosperity, and to have bee
pexm1tted % aid, In an official station, i
laying the foundations OF her future Qrea,
ness, may justly be regarded as an honor
But there is an honor. too, in being
private citizen of such a state and as
pass from the n station to the other, pei
NIT me to unite with yoo in dedicatin
ourselves, our commonwealth, and GU
country anew to freedom and to God.
SAMUEL MERRILL.