USA > Iowa > An illustrated history of the state of Iowa, being a complete civil, political, and military history of the state, from its first exploration down to 1875; > Part 25
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The twelfth regular session of the general assembly convened at Des Moines on the 13th of January, 1868, and was perma- nently organized in the senate by the president of that body, Lieut. Gov. Gue, and the election of Hon. James M. Weart as secretary ; and in the assembly by the election of Hon. John Russell, of Jones county, as speaker, and M. C. Woodruff, of Harden county, as chief clerk.
On the 14th, agreeably to a vote of both houses, the general assembly met in joint convention for the purpose of receiving the biennial message of Hon. W. M. Stone, governor.
The message was lengthy and gave a full statistical report of the various interests of the state.
CHAPTER XL.
GOV. MERRILL'S ADMINISTRATION.
Inauguration - Message of Gov. Merrill - Legislation - Amendment of the Constitution - United States Electors for Grant - Merrill's Second Term - Wright Elected Senator-Sketch of Legislation during Gov. Merrill's Second Term -Election in 1870- Election of 1871.
ON THE 15th of January the general assembly met in joint convention for the purpose of canvassing the vote of governor and lieutnant governor. The tellers reported that the whole number of votes cast at the last election was 151,838, of which Samuel Merrill received 89,144; Charles Mason received 62,657, and 37 votes scattering ; and the whole number of votes cast for lieutenant governor was 152,358, of which John Scott received 89,251 ; D. M. Harris received 62,746, and 361 scattering. Whereupon the president of the joint convention announced Samuel Merrill duly elected governor of the state for the term of two years from the se- cond Monday in January, 1868, and John Scott lieutenant governor for the same time. The joint convention then adjourned to meet on the 16th, on which day the governor appeared and delivered his inaugural address. After the senate had returned to their room, Lieut. Gov. B. F. Gue, after making a few remarks to the senate, introduced his successor, Lieut. Gov. Scott, and presenting him with the gavel, retired as president of the senate. The fol- lowing are some of the important acts passed at this session : Granting to the United States government the right of way for a ship canal around the Des Moines or Lower Rapids in the Mis- sissippi ; appropriating $20,000 for making necessary repairs on the buildings of the state university ; resuming certain rights con- ferred upon the Dubuque and Pacific (now Dubuqe and Sioux City) Railroad Company ; allowing aliens to possess and dispose of property ; to establish and organize a state reform school for (344)
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. MERRILL.
juvenile offenders, and to lease White's Manual Labor Institute for that purpose; to provide for the submission of certain amend- ments to the constitution of the state; to authorize the census board to procure plans and specifications for a state house, and making appropriations for repairs on the capitol building ; to permanently locate and provide for the erection of an additional institution for the insane (at Independence); for the enlargement of the state penitentiary ; making appropriations to the various state institutions; for the erection of buildings for a deaf and dumb institution (at Council Bluffs) ; for the registry of electors and to prevent fraudulent voting ; to regulate life insurance com- panies ; to provide for the further prosecution and completion of the state geological survey ; to apportion the state into senate and assembly districts. Among the laws enacted, with a view to promote the material interests of the state, was one prohibiting the importation of infected cattle ; an act " to encourage the grow- ing of timber, fruit trees, shade trees and hedges," and numerous laws passed in the interest of railroads and other internal improve- ments.
The growing of timber is to be encouraged by exempting from taxation one hundred dollars worth of real or personal property for ten years, for each acre of forest trees planted and cultivated, the trees not to be more than eighty feet apart. Property to the amount of fifty dollars is to be exempted from taxation five years for each acre on which fruit trees are cultivated, placed at inter- vals not exceeding thirty feet. The aid to railroads, aside from the granting of franchises for the construction of new roads, con- sists in liberal grants of land for the benefit of these important enterprises. A great work, connected with this system of rail- ways, is a bridge over the Missouri river at Council Bluffs, the plan of which has already been prepared by G. M. Dodge, chief engineer of the Union Pacific railroad, while a contract has been made with L. B. Bloomer, of Chicago. The bridge is to be built of iron and will rest on iron columns, eight and one- half feet in diameter, sunk seventy feet into the sand at the bot- tom of the river. The bridge will cross the stream, with ten spans each, of two hundred and fifty feet extent. Besides the 2,500 feet of iron work, forming these arches, the trestles will have
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
about the same length, and the approaches to the structure will be about three miles long. The weight of the superstructure of this bridge will be about 2,000 pounds for each lineal foot.
Another of the laws, to which reference has been made by its title, was one to abolish the distinction between foreigners and citizens, as to the acquisition, enjoyment and transfer of property, whereby all distinctions of the kind indicated both as to real and personal property were done away.
A provision was made by the previous legislature for an amendment of the constitution of the state, by striking out the word " white " from that instrument, and removing all political distinctions founded on difference of color. No election for state officers occurred in 1868, but this amendment was submitted to a vote of the people for their ratification at the election in Novem- ber, 1868, for members of congress, and presidential electors, at which time the whole vote was 186,503, of which 105,384 were for the amendment and 81,119 against it. The constitution was accordingly amended by a majority of 24,265 votes.
At the session of the legislature of January, 1868, resolutions in favor of impeaching the president of the United States were adopted in the senate, by a vote of 35 to 10, and a similar one in the house of representative by a strict party vote.
The political conventions were held in the early part of the year, and were three in number. About the first of February, the colored people held a convention and published an address "to every true, honest and liberty-loving citizen of Iowa ;" calling upon such worthy citizens for " sympathy and aid in learning those rights and privileges which belong to us as free men." The address is simply an appeal for the right of suffrage, which has hitherto been denied the colored people of the state by the constitution. The democratic state convention met at Des Moines on the 26th of February, and the republican state conven- tion shortly after ; both parties adopted resolutions embodying the principles heretofore expressed.
The election in the fall resulted in the choice of electors pledged to vote for Gen. U. S. Grant for president, by a majority of 46,359 ; the whole vote being 194,439 ; of which Gen. Grant's electors received 120,399, and Horatio Seymour's, 70,040 ; for
CROSSCUP & WEST-SC
John Haney.
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
secretary of state, Ed. Wright, republican, received 120,265 votes and D. Hammer, democrat, 74,461. Six republican members of congress were elected, representing the state as a unit on political questions.
There was no session of the general assembly in the year 1869.
The proposition to amend the constitution of Iowa was submit- ted to the people, pursuant to chapter 84 of laws of 12th general assembly, and voted on at the election held November 3, 1868. There were five amendments, viz., to strike out the word "white," from section 1 of article 2, which defines the right of suffrage; from section 33, article 3, providing for taking the census ; from sections 34 and 35, providing for the apportionment of members of the general assembly ; and from section 1, relative to the mili- tia ; all these amendments were adopted by over 20,000 majority.
A convention was held at Dubuque on the 11th of November, 1869, composed of the leading men of the west, including the governors of Iowa and Wisconsin and several members of con- gress, to take into consideration the feasibility of improving the water communication between the Mississippi river and the lakes (a distance of about 280 miles), and also the most judicious course to be pursued in order to obtain an appropriation from congress to carry out the work. Resolutions were adopted rec- ommending and urging upon all senators and representatives of the new states in congress to use their influence in procuring the passage of a bill for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers and the Michigan ship-canal.
The election contest of 1869 was conducted in a spirited man- ner. The democratic state convention put in nomination the fol- lowing state ticket: For governor, George Gillaspy ; for lieuten- ant governor, A. P. Richardson ; for supreme judge, W. F. Bran- nan ; for superintendent, Edmonds Jaerger. The republican state convention nominated for governor, Samuel Merrill; for lieuten- ant governor, Madison M. Walden ; for judge of supreme court, John F. Dillon; for superintendent of public instruction, Abra- ham J. Kessell. The result of the election in October was as follows : Merrill, republican, 96,579 ; Gillaspy, democrat, 57,434. Merrill's majority, 39,145. The legislature of 1870 contained, in
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. MERRILL.
the senate, forty-three republicans, and seven democrats. £ In the lower house, eighty-six republicans, and fourteen democrats.
The thirteenth general assembly of the state assembled at Des Moines on the 10th day of January, 1870. The senate was or- ganized by the election of Hon. G. G. Bennett, president pro tem. and Jas. M. Weart as secretary, and in the house by the election of Hon. A. R. Cotton as speaker, and Charles Aldrich as chief clerk. The annual message of the governor was received in each house, and was read by the secretary and chief clerk, from which document the following abstract of the financial affairs is taken, and the governor's recommendations on matters of public policy.
During the fiscal year, ending October 31, 1869, the period cov- ered by the reports, there was received into the treasury on ac- count of the general revenue, inclusive, $82,114.48; on hand November 1, 1867, the sum of $1,839,668.12; the expenditures amounting to $1,553,507.96; leaving a balance in the treasury of $386,160.16. This large amount was partly due to the payment by the general government of the sum of $229,827.39, on account of claims for expenditures by the state during the war, and the further sum of $18,117 to reimburse the outlay for the defense of the northern border of the state, subsequent to the massacre at Spirit Lake in 1857.
The bonds issued by the state in 1858 of $200,000 had all been paid, and the only indebtedness of the state consisted of the war and defense bonds of May, 1861, amounting to $300,000, and drawing seven per cent. interest. These bonds would not be due till 1881, and a recommendation was made to authorize the treas- urer of the state to purchase and cancel these bonds out of the surplus funds whenever in the opinion of that officer and of the auditor of state, the condition of the finances would allow it.
By the census of 1869 (being the eleventh enumeration made by state authority), the total population of the state was 1,042,- 807, an increase during the two years since the last previous enumeration of 140,767, or 15.60 per cent .- an average of 7.80 per cent. per annum, and the population to the square mile 18.9. The returns of agricultural labor continued to show steady and vigorous development. There were produced during the year
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
1866, 14,635,529 bushels of wheat; 56,928,938 of corn, and 17,- 552,064 of all other grain ; and in 1868, 17,963,555 bushels of wheat; 70,507,577 of corn, and 20,237,426 of all other grains.
On the 12th of January, 1870, the two houses met in joint con- vention for the purpose of canvassing the votes for governor and lieutenant governor. Senator Bennett, president pro tem, of the senate presiding. After the canvass was concluded, it was an- nounced that the whole number of votes cast for governor was 154,507, of which Samuel Merrill received 97,243, and Geo. Gillaspy received 57,257; scattering 7; and the whole number of votes cast for lieutenant governor, was 154,270, of which Madi- son M. Walden received 96,736; A. P. Richardson received 56,878, and scattering 657, whereupon the president announced Samuel Merrill, duly elected governor for the term of two years from the second Monday in January, 1870, and M. M. Walden, duly elected lieutenant governor of the state, for the term of two years, they having recived a majority of all the votes cast at the election in October last, 1869.
On the 13th, the general assembly again met in joint conven- tion for the purpose of the inauguration of the governor and lieutenant governor elect, and the oath of office having been duly administered, Gov. Merrill delivered his inaugural address.
On the 18th of the same month, the house elected George G. Wright United States senator for the term of six years, from the fourth day of March, A. D. 1871; and J. B. Howell, United States senator, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Hon. James W. Grimes. On the same day the senate, by vote, elected the two named persons senators of the United States. The two houses met in joint convention on the 20th, and the ac- tion of each house in reference to the election of United States senators was read by the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the house, and it was announced by the president that the gentlemen referred to were duly elected United States sen- ators.
The general assembly adjourned on the 13th of April. One hundred and eighty acts were passed, and twenty-seven joint reso- lutions were adopted. Among the more important acts, was one making careful and thorough provision for the management of
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. MERRILL.
the two insane asylums of the state, which are located, the one at Mount Pleasant and the other at Independence; providing for the government of the state university at Iowa City ; authorizing the several counties to establish and maintain high schools ; and : one creating a commission to revise the statutes of the state. Pro- vision was also made for the establishment of an industrial home for the blind, and for the erection of a new capitol building. Appropriations were made for the benefit of the state institutions, amounting in the aggregate to $586,500, of which amount $165,- 000 was for the hospital for the insane at Independence ; $150.000 towards the new capitol building; $68,500 for the ag- ricultural college, and sums varying from $15,000 to $44,000 each for other institutions.
Resolutions were adopted on several matters of interest. One rati fied the fifteenth amendment to the national constitution ; another favored a system of postal telegraphy, and a third recommended the removal of the national capital to the Mississippi valley. The question of granting the right of suffrage to women was brought before the legislature by a large number of petitions on the sub- ject, and an amendment to the constitution, making the conces- sion asked for, was proposed, but, after some discussion, it was laid upon the table. The question of the propriety of prohibit- ing the sale of intoxicating liquors was discussed. A prohibitory law already existed in the state, and the question of its modifica- tion was considered. The result was the passage of an act allow- ing the several counties to determine whether the sale of ale, wine and beer should be prohibited or not within their own lim- its, by submitting the question to a vote of the people. An act was passed providing for a submission to the people, at the elec- tion of 1870, of the question of holding a convention for the re- vision of the constitution, the result to be reported to the general assembly at its next session.
Railroad legislation also demanded a large share of attention. A bill was proposed "to prescribe rules and regulations for rail- roads, and to establish uniform and reasonable rates of tariff for the transportation of certain freights thereon." This led to an extended debate, involving the question of the expediency of the interference by the government in the management or control of
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
railroads, the dangerous power and influence which these corpo- rations are attaining, and other kindred questions. The bill was finally defeated in the senate by a vote of 20 in its favor to 21 against it.
An act for the taxation of railroad property also occasioned much debate, and was finally passed. Also, “an act to enable townships, incorporated towns and cities to aid in the construc- tion of railroads." In several instances, the right to levy and collect taxes for this purpose was questioned, and an injunction asked to prevent it. The district judge, however, refused to is- sue the injunction, and his action was sustained by the supreme court, which thereby affirmed the constitutionality of the law. Opposition to the payment of interest on bonds issued by coun- ties to aid in the construction of railroads at one time threatened to result in an open defiance of the authority of the federal courts, which had decided in favor of the validity of the law pro- viding for its payment; but the energetic action of Gen. Dix pre- vented any violent outbreak.
At this session a memorial to congress was passed on the sub- ject of a water communication between the Mississippi Valley and the Atlantic Ocean, and the improvement to the Fox and Wisconsin rivers.
The election in 1870 was for members of congress, judges of the supreme court, and the state executive officers with the ex- ception of governor, who held over till January, 1872.
The democratic convention took place at Des Moines on the 10th of August and nominated the following ticket: for secre- tary of state, Charles Dorr, of Polk county; for auditor, W. N. Garner, of Louisa county ; for treasurer, W. C. James, of Potta- wattomie county ; for attorney general, H. M. Martin, of Scott county.
The republican convention assembled on the 17th of August at Des Moines. The ticket put in nomination was as follows: judges of the supreme court, Chester C. Cole, William E. Miller and James G. Day ; secretary of state, Edward Wright; auditor, John Russell; treasurer, Samuel E. Rankin; register of state land office, Aaron Brown ; attorney general, Henry O'Connor.
The election took place on the 11th of October, and resulted in
CROSSCUP & WEST-SC.PHIL.A.
PHOTO- ENG/
1. Varga
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TUTTLE'S HISTORY OF IOWA.
the choice of the republican candidates by large majorities. The total vote for secretary of state was 164,265, of which E. Wright received 103,377 and C. Dorr, 60,888, making the majority of the former, 42,489. The proposition for a convention to revise the state constitution was voted down, 82,039 to 24.846. The follow- ing members of congress, all republicans, were elected : Geo. W. McCrary, Aylett R. Cotton, Wm. P. Wolf, Wm. G. Donnan, Madison M. Walden, Francis W. Palmer and Jackson Orr.
In the year 1871 the political canvass was attended with very little excitement, there being no special question at issue, and it being certain that the republicans would carry the state elections. The democratic convention was held at Des Moines on the 14th of June, when the following nominations were made: for gov- ernor, J. C. Knapp, of Van Buren county ; for lieutenant gov- ernor, M. M. Hamm, of Dubuque; for superintendent of public instruction, E. M. Mumm, of Lee ; for judge of the supreme court, John F. Duncombe, of Webster.
The republican convention met at the same place just one week later, on the 21st of June, and made nominations as follows: for governor, Cyrus C. Carpenter, of Webster; for lieutenant gov- ernor, H. C. Bullis, of Winnishiek; for superintendent of public instruction, Col. Alonzo Abernethy, of Crawford ; for judge of the supreme court, J. G. Day, of Fremont. The last was a renomina- tion and was unanimous.
The election resulted in the choice of the republican ticket by large majorities. The total vote for judge of the supreme court was 176,348, of which Day received 108,881, and Duncombe 67,547, which gave the former a majority of 41,348. The legis- lature of 1872 consisted of 42 republicans and 8 democrats in the senate, and 78 republicans and 30 democrats in the house, or 120 republicans and 30 democrats on joint ballot. Three amend- ments to the constitution, proposed by the preceding legislature, came before this body for approval or rejection before being sub- mitted to a vote of the people for final ratification ; one of these proposed to remove the restriction to the right of suffrage to male citizens only : and the other two would, if adopted, remove all dis- qualifications for holding seats in the general assembly on account of either sex or color.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. MERRILL.
The census of Iowa as taken by the government in 1870 gave the population of the state at 1,191,792, of which number 5,762 were colored, and 204,057 of foreign birth. The assessed value of property, $302,515,418. Included in the census are 3 Chinese and 48 Indians. The tribal Indians were officially estimated at 300. The true value of property was $717,644,750. The public debt, county, town, city, etc., amounted to $7,508,635. The aggregate value of farm products, including betterments and ad- ditions to stock, was $114,386,441 ; 2,967,543 pounds of wool were raised ; 45,669 persons ten years old and over could not write, of whom 20,965 were males and 24,704 were females.
CHAPTER XLI.
GOV. CARPENTER'S ADMINISTRATION.
Last Message of Gov Merrill-Statistics from the Governor's Message- Carpenter's Election - Legislation - Presidential Election -Events of 1872-3- General Assembly of 1873 - Election of Judges.
THE FOURTEENTH general assembly of the state convened at Des Moines on the 8th day of January, 1872. The senate was called to order by Lieut. Gov. H. C. Bullis. J. A. T. Hull was elected secretary. In the house of representatives, James Wilson was elected speaker, and J. J. Safely, chief clerk.
The annual message of the governor (Samuel Merrill) was re- ceived in each house, and read by the secretary of the senate, and the chief clerk of the house. From this document, liberal extracts are taken, showing the legislative history of the state for the pre- vious two years, and the suggestions and recommendations of the governor to the general assembly :
" The report of the auditor of state, and that of the treasurer of state, for the fiscal term ending November 4, 1871, show a con- tinued increase in the resources of the state. Upon comparison with the financial reports presented at the last general assembly, it will be seen that there is a large increase in the amount yielded by the ordinary sources of revenue. Direct taxation, for instance, produced $184,244.11 more than in the previous term, although the levy in the later term was twenty per cent. less than in the earlier.
" The revenue from railroads shows an increase of $19,364.71, notwithstanding a reduction for the last year, in the proportionate amount of revenue from this source coming into the state treasury, of sixty per cent. ; and the taxes collected from insurance compa- nies indicate a gain of $28,627.87. The heavy payments by the general government during the two years ending November 1, (356)
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOV. CARPENTER.
1869, amounting to much the greater part of our remaining claim on account of expenses incurred by the state because of the war, reduced very materially the revenue to be expected from that source; hence the receipts therefrom during the last two years were nearly $300,000 less than during 1868 and 1869. The gross receipts of the revenue during the term were $1,769,522.91, which, with the balance in the treasury November 1, 1869, made the amount of available means during the term, $2,055,683.07. The expenditures were $1,973,942.23. Balance of general revenue in the treasury November 6, 1871, $81,840.84. The warrants issued during the period amounted to $1,972,930.78, of which $666,615.74 were issued for the use and support of the various public institutions of the state; $626,031.29 were drawn for the erection, enlargement, and improvement of public buildings ; and $58,264.24 went to objects of a special or extraordinary character, for which the legislature has, at various times, made appropria- tions -such as the geological survey and report, the encourage- ment of immigration, the reunion of Iowa soldiers, republication of supreme court reports, etc. The balance of the warrants issued amounting to $622,019.51, very nearly represents the regular and ordinary expenses of the state government. These, it will be seen, constitute only a little more than one-third of the entire ex- penditures of the state.
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