It gives us pleasure to see that Genl. Jones, our
delegate in congress, has introduced into the house
of representatives a resolution, "to inquire into the
expediency of establishing a seperate [sic] territorial
government for that section of the present territory of
Wisconsin which lies west of the Mississippi river," and
the same resolution has been introduced into the senate of
the United States by Dr. Linn of Missouri.
We sincerely hope that these resolutions will be acted
upon, and sanctioned by congress--if sanctioned, they will
have a most important bearing upon the future interest and
prosperity of the people on this side of the Mississippi.
Yes, we would rejoice that the 'Father of Waters' should
be the boundary to a new territory. The present territory
of Wisconsin, is much too large, and embraces too many
conflicting interests--the people on the east side of
the Mississippi are jealous of those on the west side,
and the west, of those on the east. Why not, under these
circumstances, give to the people on each side of the
Mississippi separate territorial governments? We believe
that such a measure would be highly satisfactory to the
people throughout the whole of Wisconsin territory.
The reasons for dividing the present territory of Wisconsin
are, in our opinion, well founded, for unless the people
governed can be united--unless their representatives
legislate for the good of the whole territory, there will
not be satisfaction--there will not be harmony, & the
government instituted to protect the rights of the people,
will become an engine in the hands of one part to oppress
the other.
It is, or should be, the policy of the United States,
in the establishment of temporary governments over her
territories, to adopt the best and most judicious means of
guarding the happiness, liberty, and property of her foster
children, so that when they enter the great family of the
Union, that they may be worthy of that exalted station.
[Illustration: (Newspaper ads)]
From later in 1837 the Library possesses _Iowa News_, which replaced
the _Du Buque Visitor_ after its expiration in May, in an imperfect
file extending from June 17 (the third number) to December 23. The
Library also has the _Wisconsin Territorial Gazette and Burlington
Advertiser_, printed at Burlington, in another incomplete file from
July 10 to December 2. The Library's three files of very early Iowa
newspapers have a common provenance, as most issues of each file
are addressed in manuscript to the Department of State, which was
in charge of Territorial affairs until 1873. These newspapers were
transferred to the Library of Congress sometime before the end of the
19th century.[102]
[Footnote 100: The full contract is quoted in Alexander Moffit's
article, "Iowa Imprints Before 1861," in _The Iowa Journal of History
and Politics_, vol. 36, 1938, p. 152-205. For a biography of Jones,
see William Coyle, ed. _Ohio Authors and Their Books_ (Cleveland,
1962, p. 346).]
[Footnote 101: Vol. 1, nos. 37-52; no. 47 wanting. The May 10 and May
17 issues are both numbered 52.]
[Footnote 102: They are recorded in _A Check List of American
Newspapers in the Library of Congress_ (1901).
In the Library's Broadside Collection (portfolio 19, no. 34) is a
printed notice of the Des Moines Land Company, with text dated from
Des Moines, September 4, 1837. This item cannot have been printed at
Des Moines, since printing did not reach there until 1849. It is not
listed in Alexander Moffit's "A Checklist of Iowa Imprints 1837-1860,"
in _The Iowa Journal of History and Politics_, vol. 36 1938, p. 3-95.]