USA > Iowa > Ringgold County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 13
USA > Iowa > Union County > Biographical and historical record of Ringgold and Union counties, Iowa, vol. 1 > Part 13
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The Constitution, as thus prepared, fixed the boundaries of the State very differently from what were finally agreed upon.
May 4, 1846, a second convention met at Jowa City, and on the ISth of the same month another Constitution, prescribing the boundaries as they now are, was adopted. This was accepted by the people, August 3, by a vote of 9,492 to 9.036. The new Constitution was approved by Congress, and Iowa was admitted as a sovereign State in the American Union, December 28, 1846. The people of the State, antici- pating favorable action by Congress, beld an election for State officers October 26 which resulted in Ansel Briggs being de- clared Governor; Elisha Cutler, Ji., Secre- tary of State; Joseph T. Fales, Auditor; Morgan Reno, Treasurer: and members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
The act of Congress which admitted Iowa gave her the 16th section of every township of land in the State, or its equiv- alent, for the support of schools; also seventy-two sections of land for the pur- pose of a university; alex five sections of land for the completion of het public Imi'. ings: alo the salt springs within her lis its. not exceeding twelve in salaber, with - c tions of land adjoining quot; also, in cup. sideration that her poidie lan as should ! exempt from taxation by the State. S. gave to the Site five per cont. of the est proceeds of the sale of public lands with. the State. The provided for as a la
1. Hoa. Shepherd Lene the Pressed of this convention. I with bet minite . porion, Inte
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
mienced " housekeeping " upon her own account.
A majority of the Constitutional Conven- tion of 1846 were of the Democratic party; and the instrument contains some of the peculiar tenets of the party at that day. All banks of issue were prohibited within the State. The State was prohibited from becoming a stockholder in any corporation for pecuniary profit, and the General Is- sembly could only provide for private cor- porations by general statutes. The Consti- tution also limited the State's indebtedness 10 $100.000. It required the General As- sembly to provide public schools through- out the State for at least three months in the year. Six months' previous residence of any white male citizen of the United States constituted him an elector.
At the time of organization as a State, lowa had a population of 116,651, asappears by the census of 1847. There were twenty- seven organized counties in the State, and the settlements were rapidly pushing to- ward the Missouri River.
The first General Assembly was com- posed of nineteen Senators and forty Rep- resentatives. It assembled at lowa City, November 30,1816, about a month before the State was admitted into the Union.
The most important business transacted was the passage of a bill authorizin ; a loan of 850.000 for means to rmn the State Goy- ernment and pay the expense of the Con- istituti mal conventions. The great of ie ment of the session, however. W. the attempt to choose United States Setters. The White had a majority of tespit du House and the Dan crap & miguelty of one in the Scente. After requested a w pt; to control the majorities f - cours wood- ins - an ! frequent session of a joint con vention for pages of an diecin, the . V
of public schools in the State.
At the first session also arose the ques- tion of the re-location of the capital. The western boundary of the State, as now determined, kft lowa City too far toward the castern and southern boundary of the State; this was conceded. Congress had appropriated five sections of land for the erection of public buildings, and toward the close of the session a bill was introduced providing for the re-location of the seat of Government, involving to some extent the location of the State University, which had already been discussed. This bill gave rise to much discussion and parliamentary ma- neuvering, almost purely sectional in its character. It provided for the appointment of three commissioners, who were author- ized to make a location as near the geo- graphical center of the State as a healthy and eligible site could be obtained; to select the five sections of land donated by Con- gress; to survey and plat into town lots not exceeding one section of the land so se- lected, etc. Soon after. by " An act to locate and establish a State University," approved February 25. 1847, the unfinished public buildings at lowa City, together with ten acres of land on which they were situated, were granted for the use of the University, reserving their use, however, by the General Assembly and the State officers, until other provisions were made by law.
When the report of the commissioners. Serving their financial operations, hai been read in the House of Represents- tives at the next sussim, and while it was under consideration, at indignant member. afterward known as the cocentric jade Mc farlane. moved to under the report to a select committee of five. with instructions to report " how naticivet said city of Mon- roe was tyder water an! how much was burned." The report was referred wi's out the in surethat de Mentor Civil ver became the set of Government. B; an
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act approved January 15, 1849, the law by which the location had been made was re. pealed and the new town was vacated. the ' money paid by purchasers of lots being re- funded to them. This, of course, retained the seat of Government at lowa City, and precluded for the time the occupation of the building and grounds by the University.
After the adjournment of the first Gen- cral Assembly, the Governor appointed Joseph Williams, Chief Justice, and George Green and John F. Kinney, Judges of the Supreme Court. They were afterward elected by the second General Assembly, and constituted the Supreine Court until IS55, with the exception that Kinney re- signed in January, 1854, and J. C. Hall, of Burlington, was appointed in his place.
At this session Charles Mason, William G. Woodward and Stephen Hempstead were appointed commissioners to prepare a code of laws for the State. Their work was finished in 1850 and was adopted by the General Assembly. This " code " con- tained among other provisions a code of civil practice, superseding the old common- law forms of actions and writs, and it was admirable for its simplicity and method. It remained in force until 1863, when it was superseded by the more complicated and metaphysical system of the revision of that year.
The first Representatives in Congress were S. Clinton Hastings, of Muscatine, and Shepherd Leffler, of Des Moines County. The second General Assembly elected to the United States Semaine An- gustus Casar Dodge and George W. Jones. The State government, after the first sus. sion, was under the control of Democratic administrations till 1855. The electoral vote of the State was east for Lewis Cousin ISAS. and for Franklin Pierce in 1852. The popu- lar vote shows that the Free-Soll element of the State during this period very nearly held the balance of power, and that up to
1851 it acted in the State elections to some extent with the Democratic party. In 1858 Ixwis Cass received 12,0003 votes, Zachary Taylor 11,034, and Martin Van Buren, the Tree-Soil candi late, 1,220 votes, being 167 less than a majority for Cass. In 1852 Pierce received 17.762 votes, Scott 15,855, and ITale, Free-Soil, 1,60%, being for Pierce 351 votes more than a majority.
The question of the permanent location of the seat of government was not settled, and in 1851 bills were introduced for the removal of the capital to Pella and to Fort Des Moines. The latter appeared to have the support of the majority, but was finally lo t in the House on the question of order- ing it to its third reading.
At the next session, in 1853, a bill was introduced in the Senate for the removal of the seat of government to Fort Des Moines, and on first vote was just barely defeated. At the next session, however, the effort was more successful, and January 15, 1855, a bill re-locating the capital within two miles of the Raccoon Fork of the Des Moines, and for the appointment of commissioners, was approved by Governor Grimes. The site was selected in 1856, in accordance with the provisions of this act, the land being donated to the State by citizens an ! property-holders of Des Moines. An asso- ciation of citizens erected a building for a temporary capitol, and leased it to the State at a nominal rent.
The passage by Congress of the act or- gerizing the Territories of Kansas and Ne- braska, and the provision it contained aby getting; that portion of the Missourt billda prohibited slavery and involuntary servi- tude north of 36 30' was the beginning of a political revolution in the Northern Saines, and in none was it more thanked than in the State of Iowa. Jowa was the "first fre. child born of the Missouri Compromise." and has always resented the destruction of ber farter portent.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
The year 1856 marked a new era in the his. tory of Iowa. In is5 ; the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad had been completed to the east bank of the Mississippi River. opposite Davenport. In the same year the corner- stone of a railroad bridge that was to be the first to span the " Father of Waters." was laid with appropriate ceremonies at this point. St. Louis had resolved that the enterprise was unconstitutional, and by writs of injunction made an unsuccessful effort to prevent its completion. Twenty years later in her history, St. Louis re- pented her folly, and made atonement for her sin by imitating Iowa's example. Jan- uary 1, 1856, this railroad was completed to Iowa City. In the meantime, two other railroads had reached the east bank of the Mississippi-one opposite Burlington, and one opposite Dubuque-and these were be- ing extended into the interior of the State. Indeed, four other lines of railroads had been projected across the State from the Mississippi to the Missouri, having castern connections.
May 15, 1856, Congress passed an act granting to the State, to aid in the con- struction of railroads, the public lands in alternate sections, six miles on either side of the proposed lines. An extra session of the General Assembly was called in July of this year, that disposed of the grant to the several companies that proposed to com- plete these enterprises. The population of Iowa was now 500.000. Public attention had been called to the necessity of a mail- road across the continent. The po fion of lowa, in the very best and water of il .. republic, on the route of this great high- way of the continent, began to attract atten- tion. Cities and towns sprang up the ang hi the State a if by me ic. Capital began to pour into the State, and had it b.ca em- ployed in developing the vast coal met sures and establishing manufactorit , or if it lev! been expended in improving th logly, and
in building houses and barns, it would have been well. But all were in haste to get rich, and the spirit of speculation ruled the hour.
In the meantime, every effort was made to help the speedy completion of the rail- road. Nearly every county and city on the Mississippi, and many in the interior, voted large corporate subscriptions to the stock of the railroad companies, and issued their negotiable bonds for the amount. Thus enormous county and city debts were incurred, the payment of which these mu- nicipalities tried to avoid, upon the plea that they had exceeded the constitutional limitation of their powers. The Supreme Court of the United States held these bonds to be valid, and the courts by mandamus compelled the city and county authorities to levy taxes to pay the judgments re- covered upon them. These debts are not all paid, even to this day ; but the worst is over, and the incubus is in the course of ultimate extinction. The most valuable lessons are those learned in the school of experience, and accordingly the corpora- tions of Iowa have ever since been noted for economy.
In 1856 the popular vote was as follows: Fremont, 43.954: Buchanan, 36,170, and Fillmore, 9, 180. This was 1,296 less than a majority for Fremont. The following year an election was held, after an exciting cam- paigu, for State officers, resulting in a ma- jority of 1, 2 6 for Ralph I'. Lowe, the Re- publican nominer. The Legislature was Wirgely Republican in both branches.
One of the most injurist. results to the State, arising from the spirit of speculation prevalent in 1856, was the purchase and within the S'ade by noure deals. Thi
yours. From t Boller one cons. har low.
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HISTORY O. 108 4.
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prever of the Federal Government in & Hin, lands within her borders. The money thus obtained by the Federal Government Als been comparatively inconsiderable. The value of this magnificent public do- main to the United States was not in the few thousands of dollars she might exact from the hardy settlers, or that she might obtain from the speculator who hoped to profit by the settlers' labors in improving the country. Statesmen should have taken a broader and more comprehensive view of national economy, and a view more in har- mony with the divine economy that had prepared these vast fertile plains of the West for the " homes of men and the seats of empire." It was here that new States were to be builded up, that should be the future strength of the nation against foreign invasion or home revolt. A single regi- ment of Iowa soldiers during the dark days of the Rebellion was worth more to the nation than all the money she ever exacted from the toil and sweat of Iowa's early settlers. Could the statesmen of forty years ago have looked forward to this day, when Iowa pays her $1,000,000 annually into the treasury of the nation for the ex- tinction of the national debt, they would have realized that the founding of now States was a greater enterprise than the re- tailing of public lands.
In Janwroy, 1857, another Constitutional Convention assembled at lowa City, which framed the present State Constitution. One 6. the most pressing demvan Is for this (it- Verton grew out of the prohibition ( Laks unky the old Constitution. 1.0 practical result of this prodalation was to i the State with every species of " wild- cat " currenes.
The new Con Titution wade tank 1 10 visite for nome hade wyler the inter- an Hela corporate jude's curso de '
and counties are also iwaited to 5 per cent. upon the valuation of their taxable property. The judges of the Supreme Court were to be electe 1 by the popular vote. The per- manent seat of government was fixed at Des Moines, and the State University lo- cated at Iowa City. The qualifications of electors remained the same as under the old Constitution, bat the schedule provided for a vote of the people upon a separate propo- sition to strike the word " white" out of the suffrage clause, which, had it prevailed, would have resulted in conferring the right of suffrage without distinction of color. Since the early organization of Iowa there had been upon the statute book a law pro- viding that no negro, mulatto nor Indian should be a competent witness in any suit or proceeding to which a white man was a party. The General Assembly of 1856-7 repealed this law, and the new Constitution contained a clause forbidding such disquali- fication in the future. It also provided for the education of "all youth of the State" through a system of common schools. This Constitution was adopted at the ensuing election by a vote of 40,311 to 38.631.
October 19, 1857. Governor Grimesissued a proclamation declaring the city of Des Moines to be the capital of the State of lowa. The removal of the archives and offices was commenced at once and continued through the fall. It was an undertaking of no small magnitude; there was not a mile of railroad to facilitate the work, and the Reason was umistaily disagreegofe. R .. in, show and muller accompaniment. incre .. od brihet tie into the centre of the State Tramme. I. RS ca Uto Love " bobsled. " drawn by the policy of oxen, not imprudent nost renk that dering
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ment- contained large sums of money. hatred or ill will toward the people of any State or section of the Union. There was. however, on the part of the majority, a cool determination to consider and decide mostly individual funds, however Thus lowa City ceased to be the capital of the State, after four Territorial Le isistures. six State Legislatures and three Constitu. " upon eur national relations to this institu- tional Conventions had held their sessions . tim of slavery, uninfluenced by any threat there. By the exchange, the old capitol at of violence or civil war. The popular vote of Iowa gave Mr. Lincoln 70.jog; Stephen A. Douglas, 55,011: Breckenridge, 1.048. Iowa City became the seat of the university, and, except the rooms occupied by the United States District Court, passed under The General Assembly of the State of Iowa, as early as IS;r, had by joint resolui- tion declared that the State of Iows was " bound to maintain the union of these States by all the means in her power." The same year the State furnished a block of marble for the Washington monument at the national capital, and by or ler of the Gen- cral Assembly there was inscribed upon its enduring surface the following: "Iowa: Her affections, like the rivers of her borders, flow to an inseparable Union." The time was now approaching in her history when these declarations of attachment and fidelity to the nation were to be put to a practical test. the immediate and direct control of the trustees of that institution. Des Moines was now the permanent seat of govern- ment, made so by the fundamental law of the State, and January 11, 1858, the Sev- enth General Assembly convened at the new capitol. The citizens' association, which built this temporary building, bor- rowed the money of James D. Eads, Super- intendent of Public Instruction, and leased it to the State. In 1864 the State pur- chased the building. At the session of the General Assembly in 1858, James W. Grimes was elected United States Senator as successor to George W. Jones.
During the years 1858-60. the Sioux Indians became troublesome in the north- western part of the State. They made fre- quent raids for the purpose of plunder, and on several occasions murdered whole fami- lies of settlers. In 1861 several companies of militia were ordered to that portion of the State, to hunt down and espel the thieves. No battles were fought. The Indians fled as soon as they ascer dined that systematic measures had been adopted for their punishment.
PATRIOTISM.
The Presidential campaign of ilfo was the mas remarkable and exciting of all in the history of lowa. The fact that civil war might be inaugurated and we torent- ened, in c. " Mr. Lincoln wat di chal, was well un lerstool and duly con il ral. I've people of lowe indulged hon, ho Mur of
The declaration of Mr. Buchanan's last annual message, that the nation possessed no constitutional power to coerce a seced- ing State, was received by a great majority of our citizens with humiliation and dis- trust. Anxiously they awaitel the expiring hours of his adini istration, and looked to the incoming President as to the expected deliverer that should rescue the minion from the hands of traitors, and the control of those whose auf-resistance invited ber destruction. The Aring upon the national flag ou Sumter abused a luining inter- tion throughout the leval States of there. public, and nowhar . was it more intense than in lowa; auf when the proclamation thor, calling for 25. 5 citizen soloje - 1) the existence of ri national Union, and the perpetuity of popale gove tale"
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
the good people of Iowa were more than willing to respond to the call. Party lines gave way, and for a while, at least. party spirit was hushed, and the cause of our common country was supreme in the affections of the people. Peculiarly fort- unate were the citizens of Iowa at this crisis, in having a truly representative man, Samuel J. Kirkwood, as executive of the State.
Within thirty days after the date of the President's call for troops, the first Iowa regiment was mustered into the service of the United States, a second regiment was in camp ready for the service, and the General Assembly of the State was con- vened in special session, and had by joint resolution solemnly pledged every resource of men and money to the national cause.
The Constitution of Iowa limited the State debt to $250,000, except debts con- tracted to "repel invasion, suppress insur- rection, or defend the State in war." The General Assembly authorized a loan of $Soo,000 for a war and defense fund, to be expended in organizing, arming, equipping and subsisting the militia of the State to meet the present and future requisitions of the President. Those in power looked to the spirit rather than to the letter of the At the fall election of 1861, party spirit had revived; and the contest for the control of the State administration was warm and carnest. Dissensions arose in both parties but the election resulted in a majority of 16.655 votes for Kirk wood, who was thus retained as Governor of Iowa. In 1863 the Republicans clected their candidate for Governor, William M. Stone, by a ma- jority of 29,000. Constitution, and acted upon the theory that to preserve the nation was to pre- serve the State, and that to prevent in- vasion was the most effectual means of repelling it. A few, however, in both branches of the General Assembly were more careful of the letter of the Constitu- tion. Three votes in the Senate and see enteen in the Hone were cast against the loan bill. These bonds were at 7 per Meanwhile the General Assembly had passed a law authorizing the " soldiers' vote" that is, citizens of the State in the volunteer military service of the United States, whether within or without the limits of the State, wer authorized to open a poll cent. interest. Only Sto0,000 were ever issned, and they were purchased and held chiefly by our own citizens. At this crisis James W. Grimes and James Harlay wore in the United States Senate, and General Samuel R. Curtis and General Vandeveria i on the day of the election, and to make re-
the House of Representatives. During the first year of the war, Iowa furnished sixteen regiments of infantry, six of cavalry and three batteries, -in all, 22,000 soldiers. lowa had no refuse population to enlist as " food for powder." Her cities contained none of that element found about the pur- lieus of vice in the great centers of popu- lation. Her contribution to the armies of the republic was a genuine offering of manhood and patriotism. From her fields, her workshops, her counting-houses, her offices, and the halls of her schools and colleges, she contributed the best muscle, sinew and brain of an industrious. enter- prising and educated people. The first regiment of Iowa soldiers fought the bat- tle of Wilson's Creek after their term of enlistment had expired, and after they were entitled to a discharge. They were citi- zen soldiers, each of whom had a personal interest in the struggle. It was to them no question of enlistment, of bounty or oi pay. When the gallant General Lyon placed himself at their head, and told them that the honor of Iowa and of the nation was in their hands, he addressed men who knew what the appeal meant, and to whom such an appeal was never made in vain.
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HISTORY OF IOWA.
turn of their votes to the proper civil au- thorities. In the Presidental contest of 1864 the popular vote at home was as follows: Lincoln, 73, 122; Mcclellan, 47,- 703. The soldier vote returned was: Lin- coln, 16,841: McClellan, 1,883.
The General Assembly did all in its power to encourage enlistment and to pro- tect the soldiers in the field and their fami- lies at home. Statutes were enacted sus- pending all suits against soldiers in the service, and all writs of execution or attach- ment against their property; and county boards of supervisors were authorized to vote bounties for enlistments, and pecuni- ary aid to the families of those in the serv- ice. The spirits of our people rose and fell, according to the success of the Union armies. One day the bells rung out with joy for the surrender of Vicksburg, and again the air seemed full of heaviness be- cause of our defeats on the Peninsula; but through all these dark and trying days, the faith of the great majority never wavered.
The Emancipation Proclamation of the President was to them an inspiration of a new hope.
In the Adjutant's department at Des Moines are preserved the shot-riddled col- ors and standards of lowa's regiments. Upon them, by special authority, were inscribed from time to time during the war the names of the battle-fields upon which these regiments gained distinction. These names constitute the geographical nomey- clature of two-thirds of the territory lately in rebellion. From the Des Moines River to the Gulf, from the Misisippi on the Atlantic, in the Mountains of West Virginia and in the valley of the Shenandoah, the Jawa soldier made his presence known and felt, and maintained the honor of the State. and the curse of the nation They were with Lyon at Wil in's Creed will. 1:1 !! " Donclon. They fought with sindland with Curtis at Por Ridge; with Cache
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