USA > Iowa > Scott County > Davenport > History of Davenport and Scott County Iowa, Volume I > Part 37
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The Hon. Robert Lucas (twice governor of the state of Ohio and president of the national convention which nominated Martin Van Buren for the presi- dency), appointed governor of the new territory, had not yet arrived and Mr. Conway's new Davenport friends persuaded him into the belief that he was "acting governor" of the territory. The organic act provided that "in the ab- sence or death of the governor" the secretary of the territory should act as gov- ernor. In this belief the young secretary of the territory issued his three proclamations, naming Davenport as the territorial capital, ordering an election of the members of the legislature and providing for three judicial districts.
A few weeks later Governor Lucas, who had been detained by reason of low water in the Ohio, arrived at Burlington and was confronted with these proclama- tions. He became very indignant, declaring that all the acts of the secretary as "acting governor" were null and void inasmuch as no vacancy had been created either by his death or absence, as he had not yet entered upon the discharge of his official duties. He, however, confirmed the action of the secretary in relation to dividing the territory into three judicial districts and the assignment of the judges -Mason to the first district, a resident of Burlington; Wilson to the third, a resi- dent of Dubuque and Judge Joseph Williams, of Pennsylvania, to the second dis- trict. Upon Governor Lucas' arrival in October following, however, he selected Bloomington, now Muscatine, as his residence.
UNKINDLY FEELINGS NEVER HEALED.
These acts of Governor Lucas created in the breast of Secretary Conway unkindly feelings, which were never wholly healed. But Governor Lucas, being a man of great experience in public life and familiar with the administration of public affairs, looked upon the acts of his younger associate, ignorant in these matters, as an offensive usurpation of authority. It was in issuing the above mentioned proclamation that the secretary signed himself "acting governor." Later
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the secretary again came into collision with the governor in relation to the administration of the affairs of his office and upon the convening of the legis- lative assembly by his indiscreet acts he met with opposition from that body from which he was extricated only through the good offices of his friend and fellow statesman, Judge Joseph Williams.
T. S. Parvin, LL. D., at that time editor of Annals of Iowa, had in the July, 1865, issue an article concerning the Iowa territorial legislature. At the time the events written of occurred he was private secretary to the governor :
The legislature had before this gotten into a controversy which if not exciting was at least ridiculous, with the secretary of the territory and finding themselves hard pushed by his excellency and in need of allies made their peace with the sec- retary, and very adroitly enlisted him in their cause.
Inasmuch as the communications and proceedings in relation thereto were withdrawn (in legislative language) or rather "expunged" I have drawn them forth from my portfolio of old documents and give them to our readers as a mat- ter of serious history of early times.
On Friday morning (an unlucky day), Nov. 23, 1838,
On motion of Mr. Hughes :
Resolved, that the secretary of the territory be requested to furnish the mem- bers of the council with penknives, stamps, half-a-dozen inkstands and a tin pan for each stove in the council chamber.
CONWAY'S REMARKABLE LETTER.
In reply to this resolution the Hon. Secretary addresses to the Hon. Council the communication following, upon receipt of which the following proceedings were had.
The president laid before the council a communication from the secretary of the territory.
On motion of Mr. Hempstead :
Ordered, that said communication do not appear in the journal, and that it be referred to the committee upon expenditures.
SECRETARY'S OFFICE, Nov. 24, 1838.
To the Honorable, the President of the Council :
SIR-A resolution in relation to knives, tin pans, etc. was duly transmitted to this department of the territorial government, where it received that attentive consideration which the magnitude of the subject appeared to demand.
To prevent an interruption of that perfect harmony which has heretofore existed, still exists and should continue to exist between the honorable, the legis- lative assembly and the department of state it becomes necessary to offer in a very respectful manner a few explanatory observations, and especially in relation to the knives. The secretary would therefore beg leave to explain.
In the latter part of last summer a young man of rather interesting personal appearance and associated as then alleged, with the executive department, called on the secretary and stated that he (the young man) was then on his way to Cin-
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cinnati in the state of Ohio, on business connected with the territorial library and then and there delivered an executive opinion that it would doubtless be better to purchase the stationery at Cincinnati and politely offered the use and exercise of his own talents in procuring the same, if authorized so to do. The matter was then held under advisement and in the meantime a letter was received from the executive department directing the attention of the secretary to the facili- ties afforded by the visit of the young man to Cincinnati, where, it was believed, that stationery could be procured on better terms than at any other place. In reply the secretary proposed a conference with the executive which resulted in a letter of instruction to the young man, then at or on his way to Cincinnati, authorizing him to make the purchases which it is alleged he did make with his usual ability and on advantageous terms. A bill of articles has been returned and the young man has returned, but he found it inconvenient, or to use his own language, impossible, to bring on the stationery. This young man was vested with certain discretionary powers and for reasons which satisfied his discretion after much mental exertion and consultation he omitted the purchase of knives.
The navigation of the Ohio was entirely suspended. This was the act of God whose holy name is pronounced with deep reverence and to whose holy will it is our duty to submit. Human power cannot resist the dispensation of his providence nor can human wisdom counteract his unfathomable designs. His excellency, the governor, in pursuance of law named a day on which the legis- lature should convene; and the secretary to meet the difficulties of a very diffi- cult case proceeded to St. Louis to make preparations for the approaching session, and returned in despite of every peril to provide for the comfort of the honor- able, the legislative assembly ; in which dutiful design-always excepting knives.
Much exertion has been made to procure knives in Burlington but knives of a suitable finish and quality cannot be procured; nor can knives in a sufficient quantity of any quality be obtained, and the secretary can't make knives. If he could do so, he would do so with expedition and pleasure, but if it should comport with his own wishes and the wishes of all those whom it may concern, that he should occupy his present station until the next session, he will take especial care to supersede the necessity of any further legislation on the subject of knives ;-- for it is the earnest and anixous wish of the secretary that all the members should have knives and stamps and folders ; and all and singular, such thing or things, de- vice or devices whatsoever, as may facilitate the operations of the hands in yielding assistance to the deliberations of the head.
The part of the resolution which relates to extra ink-stands and tin pattypans, can, and will be promptly complied with; as well as the separate resolution thus acknowledged which requires increased accommodations for spectators in the lobby and in conclusion the secretary renders to the honorable members of the council, individually and collectively, the fullest assurance of that high consideration which they cannot be more anxious to receive than he is to bestow; and whilst he has no reason to invoke their indulgence, he would make every proper exertion to conciliate their respect, remaining most entirely their obed't serv't,
W. B. CONWAY, Secretary of the Territory.
A few days later the committee presented the following:
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REPORT.
The committee on expenditures to whom was referred the communication of the Hon. William B. Conway, secretary of the territory of Iowa, dated Nov. 24, 1838, beg leave to make the following report :
That in the discharge of the duty assigned them they find with much regret the report of the honorable secretary of our territory to the council, dated Nov. 24th, is of such a nature as to call forth a severe animadversion upon its tone and spirit. The evident intention of that communication was not only to treat the resolution offered by Mr. Hughes and adopted by the council with irony and contempt but at the same time to convey the idea that articles asked for by the resolution were unnecessary and unimportant.
The reason of the adoption of the resolution offered by Mr. Hughes is obvious to every member of the council but it may not be known to the community at large, that great pains were taken to prevent the merchants and citizens of Burlington from crediting the officers of the council and house of representatives of this terri- tory for small articles necessary for their use, and the honorable secretary of the territory was understood to intimate that accounts made by the officers of the legislature would not be paid by him. It therefore became necessary to ask by resolution the furnishing of small articles.
On the arrival of the members of the legislature, in accordance with the proc- lamation of the governor, they found the house which they were to occupy (not- withstanding the great "peril" which the honorable experienced in returning from St. Louis "to provide for the comfort and convenience, the ease, elegance and dignity of the honorable legislative assembly") unfurnished and unprepared for their reception and the reason assigned by the honorable secretary for this delay is that it "was the act of God, etc." Your committee would not pretend to impute blame to the honorable secretary for the frustration of his great design by the Creator of the universe, whose powerful arm can arrest the progress of governors, secretaries and legislatures ; yet your committee do think it somewhat surprising that the acts of God so far intervened as to prevent the officers of the council and house of representatives from getting upon the credit of the legis- lature a few tin cups and a bucket to drink out of, which articles as well as many others the honorable secretary on account of peril or some other cause unknown to your committee neglected to furnish.
As the legislature was not supplied with many necessary articles of stationery and furniture they were left with no other alternative than to inform the hon- orable secretary of the territory of their wants, presuming that so far as he was able, he would comply with their request; nor do your committee believe that any resolution has passed the council during the present session in any disrespect to the honorable secretary or his office ; nor could the council possibly imagine from their friendly intercourse with him heretofore that he would ever reply to a resolu- tion of their body with such a communication as the committee now have under their consideration, and it is a source of much regret that the honorable secretary should have so far forgotten the dignity which he owed to himself, his officers and the representatives of the people as to attempt to ridicule their proceedings and make their acts the subject of merriment and derision. The honorable secretary
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may rest assured that the present legislature will not tamely submit to the insults and derision of any officer of this territory and they at all times defend to the last their honest rights and the liberty of the people whom they have the honor to represent.
ROBERT RALSTON, STEPH. HEMPSTEAD, JEM. D. PAYNE.
This report was adopted by the council and the affair known as the "penknife and tin-pan controversy," occasioned no small talk until the 27th of December, when it was ended as the following printed proceedings show :
The president submitted the following communication from the secretary of the territory :
SECRETARY'S OFFICE, TERRITORY OF IOWA, DEC. 27, 1838. To the Honorable the Legislative Council :
GENTLEMEN : In compliance with the friendly suggestions of his honor, Judge Wilson, who kindly consents to be the bearer of this note, I hereby inform the honorable body that I am willing to withdraw my communication to that body of the 24th of last November provided the report of the committee on expenditures together with the subsequent proceedings of the council in reference to said com- munication be consequently withdrawn, which I have been informally advised, the council are disposed to do. And if so, I am prepared to renew my relations with the council, official and personal, as they existed prior to the 24th of last No- vember.
If, however, there be any misapprehension as regard the disposition of the council toward the secretary of the territory this note will be immediately re- turned to me by the honorable gentleman to whom it has been intrusted.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM B. CONWAY, Secretary of the Territory.
Whereupon Mr. Payne offered the following:
Resolved, that the secretary be allowed to withdraw his communication of the 24th of November, and that the proceedings of the council in relation thereto be also withdrawn.
These controversies growing out of a conflict of jurisdiction between co- ordinate branches of the government were never thoroughly healed.
The legislature attempted to override the functions of the governor and secre- tary and did many foolish things and we present the following as one of them:
Resolved, by the council and house of representatives of the territory of Iowa that the postmaster of Davenport, Scott county, Iowa, be and he is hereby authorized to have the mail from Davenport to Dubuque conveyed in two-horse post coaches during the present session of the legislative assembly.
Here is the doctrine of "state (or territorial) sovereignty" first asserted for young Iowa, it having before been supposed that congress regulated the mails.
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T. S. PARVIN GOVERNOR'S SECRETARY.
The young man whom Conway refers to in his letter to the territorial council was T. S. Parvin, who had come from Ohio to serve as governor's clerk. Governor Lucas sent his young fellow Ohioan to Cincinnati after books and suggested that he purchase stationery there. Congress had appropriated $5,000 for a territorial library and Mr. Parvin was appointed librarian. Mr. Parvin came to Davenport to consult Secretary Conway and was joined by him on the boat, and the two made the trip to Galena together arranging the prospective purchases. Conway was disbursing officer for all funds appropriated by congress and held all to the letter of instructions, thus becoming involved in trouble with both the governor and legislature. In the Bloomington Herald of Dec. 25, 1840, for which paper Mr. Parvin was acting as legislative correspondent, Mr. Parvin writes, "The 'Iowa Minstrel' was one of Nature's poets, and had he lived would have left more numerous proofs of his claims to the proud title which has so justly been awarded him. Should your distant readers ask to whom I refer, tell them the late Secre- tary Conway, the scholar and the poet whose untimely death deprived his adopted land of one of its brightest ornaments, and the literary world of a devoted son and an aspirant after all that is noble and worthy of emulous fame."
In penning these lines the great man who in after years was one of the most honored citizens of Iowa showed his magnanimity toward an associate who for a long portion of their acquaintance delighted in belittling him and systematically spelled Parvin with a small p in all communications referring to him by name.
CONWAY'S DEATH.
William B. Conway died at Burlington in the prime of life, November 6, 1838, some four months after his arrival in the territory and after a brief illness of typhoid fever. He was succeeded in office by James Clark, at that time editor of the Burlington Gazette, who became the last of the three territorial governors of Iowa. The young secretary was regarded as one of the most gifted men in the territory and had endeared himself to everyone in Davenport for his many traits of character, brilliant, eccentric and otherwise, and also on account of his stanch support of everything that tended to the upbuilding and progress of the city. His body was received in Davenport on the 9th of November by a committee appointed for the purpose and was taken to St. Anthony's church where solemn services for the dead were performed by Rev. Father Pelamourgues. On the morning of the 9th a public meeting, whose proceedings were solemn and impres- sive, was held by the citizens of Davenport, which convened at the Davenport hotel. The object of this meeting was for the purpose of the citizens to testify their respect to the memory of William B. Conway. T. S. Hoge was called to the chair and Judge G. C. R. Mitchell was appointed secretary.
On motion it was ordered that John H. Thorington, Thomas S. Hoge, Duncan C. Eldridge, Ira Cook, G. C. R. Mitchell, Richard Pearce, 'Antoine LeClaire and John Owens be appointed a committee to make the necessary arrangements for the funeral of the deceased, and also to draft and report resolutions expressive of the
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sense of this meeting. The committee having retired for a short time reported the following resolutions which were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That this meeting has heard with the most profound regret of the death of William B. Conway, Esq., late secretary of the territory of Iowa. Posses- sing a mind richly cultivated and improved, a disposition amiable and kind, he was generous and hospitable; of manners the most bland and courteous; respected, honored and beloved by all who knew him. We feel that in his death this neigh- borhood has lost its brightest ornament, and the territory one of its ablest and most worthy officers and highly valued citizens.
Resolved, That this meeting sincerely condole with the family of the deceased in their severe and deep affliction, and pray that He who tempers the blast to the shorn lamb may support and protect them.
Resolved, That as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, we will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the chairman and secretary, and the Iowa Sun and other papers throughout the territory be re- quested to publish the same.
Resolved, That Antoine LeClaire and G. C. R. Mitchell be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to deliver a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to the respected widow of the deceased.
TH. S. HOGE, Chairman,
G. C. R. MITCHELL, Secretary.
During Secretary Conway's Davenport residence he used his influence in con- gress to bring to Rock island a government arsenal and armory.
THE FERRY "DAVENPORT"
DAVENPORT WATERWORKS AND SETTLING BASIN
CHAPTER XIV.
THE GREAT RIVER.
THE GLORY AND MAJESTY OF THE FATHER OF WATERS-DESCRIPTION OF THE KEEL- BOAT-AN EARLY TRIP FROM CAIRO TO GALENA-A LIST OF THE EARLY STEAM CRAFT THAT BREASTED THE CURRENTS OF THE UPPER RIVER-BRINGING DOWN THE LOGS-THE FERRIES WHICH HAVE BROUGHT PEOPLE INTO SCOTT COUNTY- THE LONG-AWAITED HENNEPIN CANAL.
In April, 1823, Daniel Smith Harris, a lad of fifteen, left Cincinnati on the keel-boat Colonel Bumford for the LeFevre lead mines, now Galena, where he arrived June 20th, following, after a laborious voyage down the Ohio and up the Mississippi. It came about in the evolution of things required for specific pur- poses that the keel-boat was constructed. This boat was built to go up stream as well as down. It was a well modeled craft, sixty to eighty feet long and fifteen to eighteen feet wide, sharp at both ends and often with fine lines, clipper built for passengers or traffic. It had usually about four feet depth of hold. Its cargo box, as it was called, was about four feet higher, sometimes covered with a light curved deck, sometimes open, with a "gallows frame" running the length of the hold, over which tarpaulins were drawn and fastened to the sides of the boat for the protection of the freight and passengers in stormy weather. At either end of the craft was a deck eight or ten feet in length, the forward or forecastle deck having a windlass or capstan for pulling the boat off bars or warping through swift water or over rapids. Along each side of the cargo box ran a narrow walk about eighteen inches in width, with cleats nailed to the deck twenty-eight or thirty inches apart to prevent the crew from slipping when poling up stream. 'About the time the keel-boat Colonel Bumford was passing St. Louis the steamer Virginia departed for the upper river with a load of supplies for the United States military post at Fort Snelling. She arrived at Fort Snelling May 10, 1823, the first boat propelled by steam to breast the water of the upper Mississippi. She was received by a salute of cannon from the fort and carried fear and consterna- tion to the Indians, who watched the smoke rolling from her chimneys and the exhaust steam from her escape pipe with a noise that simply terrified them. The
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Virginia was scarcely longer than the largest keel-boat, being about one hundred and twenty feet long and twenty-two feet beam. She had no upper cabin, the ac- commodations for the passengers being in the hold in the stern of the boat, with the cargo box covering so common to the keel-boat of which she herself was but an evolution.
AN EARLY RIVER PANORAMA.
What did the young steamboat man see in his voyage from Cairo to Galena in 1823? In his later years, in speaking of this trip he said that where Cairo now stands there was but one log building, a warehouse for the accommodation of keel-boat navigators of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Cape Girardeau, St. Genevieve and Herculaneum were small settlements averaging a dozen families each. St. Louis was built almost entirely of frame structures and had a popu- lation of about 5,000. The levee was a ledge of rocks with scarcely a fit landing place on the whole frontage. Alton, Clarksville and Louisiana were minor settlements. What is now Quincy consisted of one log cabin only, which was built and occupied by John Woods, who afterwards became lieutenant gov- ernor of the state of Illinois and acting governor. This intrepid pioneer was "baching it," being industriously engaged in clearing a piece of land for farming purposes. The only settler at Hannibal was one John S. Miller, a blacksmith, who removed to Galena in the autumn of 1823. In later years Hannibal was to claim the honor of being the birthplace of Mark Twain, the humorist historian of the lower Mississippi pilot clans. The last farm house between St. Genevieve and Galena was located at Cottonwood Prairie, (now Canton) and was occupied by one Captain White, who was prominently identified with the early develop- ment of the northwest. There was a government garrison at Keokuk which was then known as Fort Edwards, and another at Fort Armstrong on Rock Island. The settlement at Galena consisted of but a dozen log cabins, a few frame shan- ties and a smelting furnace. If Mr. Harris was looking only for the signs of an advancing civilization, the above probably covers about all he saw on his trip. Other things came to his notice, however-the great river flowing in its pristine glory unvexed to the sea ; islands set like emeralds in the tawny flood; the trees and bushes taking on their summer dress of green in the warm May sunshine; prairies spreading away in boundless beauty, limited only by his powers of vision. Later, as his craft stemmed the flood and advanced up the river, he saw the hills beginning to encroach upon the valley of the river, narrowing his view; and later the crags and bastions of the bluffs of the upper river beetling over the very channel itself and lending an added grandeur to the simple beauty of the banks already passed. His unaccustomed eyes saw the wickyups and tepees of the Indians scattered among the islands and on the lowlands, the hunters of the tribes changing the firelock for the spear and net as they sought to reap the water of its harvest of returning fish. It was all new to the young traveler who was later to become the best known steamboat man of the upper river, the commander of a greater number of steamboats than any of his compeers and who was to know the river in all its meanderings and in all its curves better than any other who ever sailed-Daniel Smith Harris, of Galena, Illinois.
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