Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-06
VA GR1EvEs WITH NEBRASKA.

Les MONIES sIteSiSttF.I
The death of Ex-Gov. Alvin Saun-
ders, Of Nebraska. recalls the fact that
ne aided in establishing the broad and
solid foundations upon which Iowa
statehood has progressed until it has
gained the leadership of all state gov
lernments, for he came to Iowa before
iii was name L." and he was one of the
strong and sturdy fathers who had the
courage to stand for the right and the
physical and 4lentai strength to estab-
4 llsh their convictions in the consttu-
/ ton and laws OF the state. The consti-
tuition adopted by the first Iowa consti-
/ tutional cony was defeated by the
people by a vote Of 5,235 for To 7.65G
4 against the constitution. That defeat
i necessitated another constitutional con-.
/ vention and the second Iowa consutu-
tional convention, assembled May 4
1855, adopted constitution which was
| adopted BY the people Of the state by
4 vote of 9.is2 votes for to 9,036 votes
against the constitutions.
Alvin Saunders was one of the Henry
4 county members of that second consti-
/ tutional convention Of the state, and be-
Icame 50 prominent Therein and in other
affairs that he was elected senator from
il Henry county IN 1854. and reelected IN
lS5S and was member of the Fifth,
sixth Seventh and Eighth general as
senblies of Iowa. An examination of
the proceedings of those legislatures
,ynl disclose that he was among the
i fmost active and useful members, and
"A that his earnest and determined work
is engrafted in many of the laws OF the
l5state II was one of the most jealous
l.af the fathers of the republican party,
= and ii was his zeal for the nomination
: Eof Lincoln in the national republican
: convention of 1860 that resulted IN ms
o. being appointed territorial governor OF
Nebraska and his removal from Iowa
He removed TO Nebraska at the begin
! ming Of the civil war and his death re-
. moved the last of the great war GOV
ernors'' whose memories will be forever
treasured BY the people of the nation
for the firm and uneonquerable man
: ner in which they sustained the govern
ment during that war.
: Iowa's loss was Nebraska's gain o.
r Alvin Saunders, and he made Nebraska
" as loyal as Iowa during that war. H.
3 retained his interest in and his friend
+ ship for Iowa to the last. as Indicate
:, by his letters In response to invitation
to be present at the meetings OF the II
oneer Law Makers Association Q
= iowa. He was invited to all the meet
u ings of that association. In iespons'
10 the first invitation ne wrote II as
sure you that it would be great trea
Re ITO me to meet so many of my old pc
d ETHICAL friends, as l would hope To Sc
there. Some good ard true friend
with whom mingled at the capital II
N the earlier days have passed over tn
river have fallen asleep, and the re
:, Election that / would not meet then
: would sadden the occasion goo
! deal His response to the invitaio
II to be present at the last meeting OF IN
e. Pioneer Law Makers, was written ate
he was so years old, and as 1t contain
A. some interesting references to his III
as in iowa before 1t was named" the let
m ter is presented here:
- "Omaha, Neb., Feb %. 1S9s.-Messr
Hoyt Sherman and H. f. Cue, De
- Moines, Ia With sincere feelings {
y thankfulness / acknowledge the receil
an of your joint favor as president an
he secretary of the Pioneer Law-Maker
lis Association of Iowa. When l reiie'
r. that it is now more than forty yea
o. since our acquaintance began, a
doubly battered when / receive FRO
YOU the high compliments you a.
pleased to bestow on the services
!, rendered your great state, at what
~ might call the beginning. l am ava
ia that our work, Oh earth are soon 10
ca gotten by most people. / never sha
o. while reason holds her throne, forg
iii tie kindness received from the pi
neer settlers CT Iowa. I went into
borders before it was named, rvIr d
lie just off OF the farm, ana took n
chance to work out living for myse
Without friends this Is a difficult Ia
to perform, but with friends 1t ID pos'
81 BILE to most of the youths of the cou
Ia try. who strive in the proper dtrectic
he soon found friends, and to them o'