about to form a government for themselves -no negro is represented in this convention, and no one proposes to become a member of the compact. 'Tis the white population of this Territory who petition for the admission of the negro. They necessarily believe that the introduction of such a population as citizens would not interfere with the enjoyments of the white citizens, or they place this admission on the ground that the negro has the arbitrary claim, based on a natural right. The proposition would stand thus:

miserate with the degraded condition of the negroes, and feel for his fate, yet they can never consent to open the doors of our beautiful State and invite him to settle our lands. The policy of other States would drive the whole black population of the Union upon us. The ballot box would fall into their hands and a train of evils would follow that in the opinion of your committee would be incalculable. The rights of persons would be less secure, and private property materially impaired. The injustice to the white population would be beyond computation.

"First. That the negroes are a desirable or at least a harmless population.

"Second. That the negro has a natural right to be admitted as an equal citizen.

"The former proposition begs, the latter commands.

"Can he negro be admitted to those privileges and not impair the rights of the whites? Your committee think not. The government then would be unjust to admit them. The negro, not being a party to the government, has no right to partake of its privileges.

"However, your committee may com

There are strong reasons to induce the behief that the two races could not exist in the same government upon an equality without discord and violence, that might eventuate in insurrection, bloodshed and final extermination of one of the two races. No one can doubt that a degraded prostitution of moral feeling would ensue, a tendency to emalgamate the two races would be superinduced, a degraded and reckless population would follow; idleness, crime and misery would come in their train, and government itself fall into anarchy or despotism. Having these views of the subject your commit

SECOND CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.

The constitution of 1844 had been rejected; but by an exceedingly small majority. The sentiment in favor of state government was still strong throughout the Territory; and on the 17th day of January, 1846, an act of the Legislative Assembly was approved providing for the election of delegates to a convention to form a constitution and state government. In pursuance of this act thirty-two delegates were elected at the township elections held in April.

On the 4th day of May, 1846, the second constitutional convention convened at Iowa City in the halls of the Capitol. Enos Lowe was elected President of the convention. As in 1844 there was a business-like disposal of the work in hand. There was no loafing, no waste of public funds. In the course of two weeks the labors of the convention were completed, and final adjournment was made on May 19th. The constitution adopted by this convention was subsequently accepted by the people of the Territory on the 3rd day of August, 1846, by a vote of 9,492 to 9.036.

The two important questions discussed in the convention of 1846 related, the one to state boundaries, and the other to corporations (especially banking corporations). After much debate the question of state boundaries was settled by the adoption of those lines which to this day obtain for the State. The discussion on corporations was more intense and resulted in the total prohibition, for a time, of all banking corporations within the limits of Iowa.

THE ABOLITION OF BANKS.

The hostility toward banking corporations, which was so effectually incorporated in the constitution of 1846, was as old as the Territory. It first manifested itself in repeated attacks on the Miners' Bank of Dubuque. Inherited from the Territory of Wisconsin, the Miners' Bank never was cherished by the people of Iowa. Indeed it was looked upon by them with a feeling of jealousy and suspicion. Intensified by the

this feeling began to call for the repeal of the bank's charter. At the same time a general movement against banking corporations was inaugurated throughout the Territory.

The strength of this sentiment in 1844 may be gauged by suction 3 of article IX of the State constitution drafted in that year, which section reads:

"The Legislature shall create no bank or banking institution, or corporation with banking privileges in this State, unless the charter with all its provisions, shall be submitted to a vote of the people at a general election for State officers, and receive a majority of the votes of the qualified electors of this State, cast for and against it."

In 1845 the Legislative Assembly repealed the charter of the Miners' Bank of Dubuque and provided for "winding up the affairs of the same." This action of the Assembly was based upon the charge that the charter had been abused or misused. On the other hand, the Miners' Bank maintained that there had been no such abuse or misuse, and resisted the enforcement of the act. The matter was then taken to the courts, and a decision rendered against the bank by the Supreme Court. Whether the Assembly was justified in abolishing the Miners' Bank, I do not know. But in repealing the charter without at the same time making satisfactory arrangements for the payment of certain just debts due the bank from the Territory, the Legislative Assembly certainly committed a disgraceful breach of faith.

The movement against banking corporations did not end with the repeal of the charter of the Miners' Bank. In 1846 it reached the point where the total abolition of all banks and banking corporations was demanded. And to satisfy this demand the following provision was incorporated in the constitution under which Iowa became a State:

"No corporate body shall hereafter be created, renewed or extended, with the privilege of making, issuing, or putting in circulation, any bill, check, ticket, certificate, promissory note, or other paper, or the paper of any bank, to circulate as money. The General Assembly of this State shall prohibit, by law, any person or persons, asso

ciation, company or corporation, from exercising the privileges of banking, or creating paper to circulate as money.

Iowa remained without banks until 1857, or for about twelve years. By the new State constitution drafted in 1857, banking business was again legalized. In 1858, "an act to incorporate the State Bank of Iowa" and "an act authorizing General Banking in the State of Iowa" were passed by the General Assembly.

AN ERA OF PROGRESS.

It has already been observed that the growth and development of Iowa City during the first two years of its existence was phenomenal. But as early as 1842 a reaction had set in. There was a general decrease in real estate values; business congested, and the ambitious attempts in education failed completely. However, with the admission of Iowa into the Union in 1846, with all the privileges and powers of a sovereign State, the tide of fortune again turned in favor of the capitol city.

The constitutional conventions of '44 and '46 had added much to the reputation of Iowa City abroad. For throughout the Territory the constitutions were discussed and incidentally Iowa City would receive mention in the same breath. Then besides there was the added dignity of being the State Capitol. With the increase of population there had been a corresponding increase of public business. The Assembly expanded, and new public offices were created. And all this helped to intensify the activities at the capitol.

The re-invigoration was soon perceptible. In May, 1847, the Standard records that: "At no time within two or three years past has there been such a show of active business operations in our city as at present. The merchants have fine stocks of goods and seem to be driving a profitable trade in their respective lines; the mechanics are busily employed; the citizens enjoy good health; and in every part of the town there is a general righting up of houses, dooryards, gardens and enclosures, indicating a reaction of public spirit. The country having taken a healthy start, we may now look forward to a steady improvement."

And this was the glorious period in the history of Iowa City, the era of progressfrom the meeting of the first two constitutional conventions in 1844 and 1846 to the meeting of the third convention in 1857. Just beginning to realize the vast possibilities of her resources, Iowa felt strong in the vigor of youth; and as the capitol, Iowa City partook of this robust and exuberant feeling. Furthermore, the town was now influenced by the touch of such highminded men as Robert Lucas, John Chambers, James Harlan, W. Penn Clarke and Samuel J. Kirkwood.

Iowa City was the seat of high courts of justice. The Supreme Court of Iowa met in the northeast room on the lower floor of the Capitol. And from time to time the United States District Court met in the same room.

During this period Iowa City became historic as the birthplace of the fundamental principles of Iowa law and jurisprudence. The three state constitutions, as well as the code of 1851, were all drafted in Iowa City.

EARLY RAILROAD PROJECTS.

Iowa City was just beginning to feel the impulse of a renewed life, when by the entice of railroads into the city of Chicago, there was aroused throughout the West a general interest in railroad construction. In Iowa this interest was most active in and around Dubuque, where on the 11th of March, 1848, a large public meeting was held for the purpose of taking steps in reference to a railroad that would connect Lake Michigan with the Mississippi and extend into Iowa. At the same time the people of Bloomington (Muscatine), Iowa Iowa City, Keokuk, Davenport and Burlington were not asleep to the advantages of railroads. Moreover, Iowa City, being the capitol of the State, was naturally the objective point of all the early railroads projected within the limits of Iowa.

The first railroad proposed within the limits of Iowa was to run from Dubuque to Keokuk via Iowa City through the counties of Dubuque, Jones, Linn, Johnson, Washington, Henry and Lee. And so considerable was the interest taken in this scheme that in January, 1848, the General

Assembly memorialized Congress for lands to be appropriated in the construction of a railroad from Dubuque to Keokuk.

In December, 1848, the board of directors for the Dubuque & Keokuk Railroad met at Iowa City and elected Maj. L. H. Langworthy, of Dubuque, President; P. R. Skinner, of Anamosa, Secretary, and J. H. Fisher, of Iowa City, Treasurer. At this meeting the directors listened to a report of the engineer appointed to make a reconnoisance of the proposed route. According to this report the length of the route was estimated

of lands to aid in the construction of the proposed road. In 1851 the company was granted a right-of-way; but the Dubuque & Kecku Railroad was never constructed.

Besides the Dubuque and Keokuk project the other proposed roads were: The Davenport & Council Bluffs Railroad, to run "from Davenport via Bloomington (Muscatine), Iowa City and Fort Des Moines to some suitable point near Council Bluffs on the Missouri River;" the Camanche & Council Bluffs Railroad, to run "from Camanche in Clinton County via Dewitt, Tip

was organized by a few of the citizens of Iowa City, who on that day met at the office of George S. Hampton. James P. Carleton was elected President: LeGrand Byington, Treasurer, and Henry W. Lathrop, Secretary. Five thousand dollars had already been subscribed to the capital stock of the company.

The people of Davenport had already expressed their willingness to concur with the citizens of Iowa City in this new enterprise, when, on the 21st of October, 1850, at a special meeting of the board of directors held at Iowa City, LeGrand Byington was authorized to proceed to Davenport and Rock Island for the purpose of procuring the services of an engineer to make a survey of the proposed route. Soon afterwards the necessary surveys were made by one, Richard P. Morgan. The notes of the survey, along with an estimate of the cost of constructing a road and the probable amount of business, were then published in pamphlet form and distributed throughout the East, the object being to get eastern capitalists interested in the proposed railroad.

At a regular meeting of the board of directors held at Iowa City on the 2nd of November, it was resolved to send a memorial to Congress praying for a grant of lands. In January, 1851, the use of “Center Market" in Iowa City was granted to the company by the General Assembly, as well as a right-of-way through the State.

It was, however, not so much the sincere object of the Davenport & Iowa City Railroad Company to build a railroad as it was their purpose to survey a route, obtain a right-of-way, show up the feasibility of building railroads in Iowa, and, when the opportunity should present itself, to transfer their rights and property to the first railroad company that proposed to enter the State, provided Iowa City be made a point in the construction and operation of the road. The · desired opportunity came with the organization of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company at Chicago in 1853.

MISSISSIPPI & MISSOURI RAILROAD COMPANY

At the meeting of the Mississippi & Missouri Railroad Company in Chicago in May, 1853, LeGrand Byington represented the in

terests of the Davenport & Iowa City Railroad Company, and W. Penn Clarke, assisted by LeGrand Byington, was delegate on behalf of the people of Iowa City. After the Chicago meeting, the leading men at the M. & M. R. R. Co. appeared in Iowa City, and at a public meeting unfolded their plans as follows:

1. They assumed to build the first division of the main line to Iowa City in two years.

2. To extend a branch from Iowa City to the Minnesota line, through Cedar Rapids.

3. To construct and operate another branch from Iowa City through Washington to the Missouri at St. Joseph.

4. To pay all interest on county and city bonds issued until the road paid divi dends at the rate of 10 per cent.

In consideration whereof they required local stock subscriptions to the amount of about $140,000.

About $30,000 was immediately subscribed by the citizens. Soon afterwards bonds were voted by Johnson County to the amount of $50,000 and by Iowa City to the same amount. And the Davenport & Iowa City Railroad Company transferred to the M. & M. R. R. Co. all their rights, franchises, property and stock on the conditions heretofore named.

The work on the main division of the road from Davenport to Iowa City, which was begun at once, was to be completed by the 1st day of January, 1856. As the eventful day approached there was great excitement and stir in Iowa City. The citizens resolved to hold a grand railroad festival on the 3rd of January, and donated $2,600 to meet expenses. Invitations were sent out to prominent citizens of Chicago, Rock Island, Dubuque, Burlington and other Iowa towns.

On the last day of December it was feared that the road would not be finished that day. Whereupon a number of the citizens of Iowa City laid hold of the work with their own hands. Their labors were continued far into the night and in the light of large wood fires and burning tar barrels presented a dramatic scene.

At two o'clock January 3rd the booming of guns announced the arrival of seven cars filled with guests, who were received by the