Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-12-26

from October to November 1, 1874,
adopted a constitution which was sub
mittcd to congress in 1915. There was
IA strong fight in congress to admit
Iowa to the union. 1t was argued that
Iowa could be of great influence in
national affairs. Florida was at that
time applying for admission as a slave
Estate: and it was felt that another
free state was needed to keep the bal
ance between the slave and free states
in the union.
The ambitious denizens Of the in
choate state wanted an area that would
include the mouth Of the st. Peters
river and take in the present Winona,
st. Paul and perhaps Minneapolis.
Would Have Had st. Paul.
The line that the settlers wanted
while including all Of the present Iowa
as far west as the Mississippi river,
would have DETECTED therefrOm at
about where Sioux City is now seated,
aud going in a nOrtheasterly direction.
would have reached the Mississippi
river about where is now the city of
st. Paul.
Congress, dissatisfied with so much
territory being embraced in the new
province, and wanting room to make a
state to the westward Of Iowa. and
yet in part at least to the eastward of
the Missouri. proposed new lines.
which would have left the state with
cut the missouri slope"
For the first time in the history of
the country the people were asked to
vote on the proposed boundary. Al
ways prior to that time. when congress
fixed the boundary of state that
boundary was adhered to. the wishes
of the people not being directly con-
suited in respect thereof. The settlers
refused to ratify the constitution with
the reduced boundaries. The vote was
1885 for and 1856 against.
On January 10. 1S4G, the legislature
again called for delegates for consti'
tutional convention. The election took
place April g. On May 4 the convel-
ton met and fifteen days were occupied
in framing the constitution. Thirty
three countries were present as against
|twenty.four in the first convention.
On August 3 the constitution was
stified by vote Of the people-9,492
fayoring the constitution out of 1S,12S
votes cast. On October 26th an cleo
ton was held and Ansel Briggs was
chosen first governor of the state OF
Iowa.
A.. c. Dodge, territorial delegate
from Iowa, presented the new consti-
tuition to the house Of representatives
on December 10, 1876. 1t was referred
to the committee on territories, and on
December II, stephen a. Douglas. OF
Illinois. from that committee. reported
r. bill for the admission Of Iowa into
the union.
On December "a, it was taken UP III
the. senate. having been approved by
the judiciary committee. After an ut
tempt to amend it had failed. the bill
passed.
On December 2S. .1S4G, President
James n. Polk, signed the bill which
made Iowa territory state and all
mitted her to the union.
The next day Shepherd LETTER ana
serranus c. Hastings, who were IN
washington, took their oaths of Office
and their seats as the first representa-
tives from the state of Iowa.
Shortly after the first meeting OF
the legislature of the territory OF Iowa
the struggle for the state capitol De-
gan. 1t seemed for Il while to be be-
tween Burlington and Mt. Pleasant
but finally Il tract mile square was
marked off and called Iowa City. On
July /. 1910 the cornerstone of the new
capitol at Iowa City, now the old capl-
toll and administration building OF the
University Of Iowa. was laid.
The change Of the capitol to Des
Moines on October 10. 1857 was made
after a fight. The archieves and safes
of state papers were hauled to Des
Moines by sledgc.