The people of Iowa look with alarm upon the constant aggressions of the slavery propagandists, but I confess that I look with equal alarm upon the manifest tendency of our government to consolidation.

The events of the few past years would seem to indicate that the predictions of some of the men who achieved our liberties for us, are being fulfilled. Our government is fast becoming an elective monarchy. The States are gradually losing their consequence and will soon be reduced to the condition of mere municipal appendages to the central power. The influence of the federal government is prostituted to interference in State affairs, even to that of municipal elections. The doctrine inherited from our ancestors that standing armies are dangerous to the liberties of the people, is repudiated by constant and strenuous efforts to increase the national army. The federal government now asks to control all the banking institutions in the States by virtue of some law of Congress. Sinecure offices are created for the purpose of influencing public opinion. The army of office holders scattered through the States, uttering the sentiments, disbursing the money, and obeying the commands of the Central Authority, govern in a great degree the sentiment of the country. Thus, the federal government, instead of being as it was designed to be, the mere creature and under the control of the States, is fast becoming their master.

This centralizing influence of the government-the immense increase of our national expenses-the history of slavery propagandism in Kansas, and the complicity of the federal government therewith; the attempt to overthrow the

clearest right of self-government for the purpose of extending the institutions of slavery, and the efforts to destroy the rights of the States by political decisions of the Supreme Court, should remind the freemen of Iowa that their polit ical rights are in danger.

The liberties of the people can only be preserved by maintaining the integrity of the State governments against the corrupting influences of federal patronage and power.

Closing with this communication my official connection with the government, I may be permitted to avail myself of the occasion to return to my fellow citizens my heartfelt thanks for the honor and confidence they have bestowed on me, and to assure them of my continued aspirations for the advancement of our beloved State in virtue, prosperity and happiness.

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, DES MOINES,

JANUARY 12, 1858.

JAMES W. GRIMES.

VETO MESSAGES

TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 23, 1855

From the Journal of the House of Representatives, p. 422

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, January 23d, 1855.

To the Speaker of the House of Representatives:

I am reluctantly compelled to return the bill which originated in your House, entitled "An Act to amend An Act to incorporate the Mount Pleasant Collegiate Institute," approved February 15th, 1844; without my approval.

I cannot look upon the contemplated Act otherwise than as an attempt to create a special corporation, or at least to convert an old corporation into a new one.

The second section of the Act, declares that the incorporation mentioned in the original Act of February 15, 1844, together with certain other persons, naming them, "are hereby declared a body corporate, by the name of the Iowa Wesleyan University, with power of perpetual succession, to sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded in any of the courts of this State; and to do all acts necessary to carry out the objects of this Incorporation."

More unequivocal and positive language could not be used. It purports upon its very face to be an Act of Incorporation. It adds nine new corporators to the original five;

and it repeals all former acts that come in conflict with its

provisions.

The second section of the 8th article of the Constitution of Iowa, declares that "corporations shall not be created by special laws, except for political or municipal purposes." I cannot conceive that under this express constitutional prohibition the General Assembly has the power to extend or change the whole character of a former act of incorporation, and change it into a new one. I do not doubt their power to confer upon existing corporations created by laws. enacted before the Constitution was adopted, or under the General laws of the State, new and special franchises.

But such is not the case. This act does not so much seek to confer new powers upon an existing corporation, as to tear down an old one and build anew upon its ruins.

The objects sought by the Incorporators are commended to my judgment. I sympathize in their efforts to establish an Institution of sound learning. I applaud their motive, I desire their success, but I cannot resist the performance of what I believe to be an imperative constitutional duty.

It is however a consolation to know that the object sought, can be as easily attained under the General Laws of the State as by a special act of Incorporation, and that the interests of education will not suffer by the exercise of the executive veto.

JAMES W. GRIMES.

TO THE SENATE

JANUARY 24, 1855

From the Journal of the Senate, p. 310

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, January 24, 1855.

To the President of the Senate:

I herewith return to the Senate, where it originated, a bill, entitled "an act in reference to an ordinance passed by the city council of Dubuque, Jan. 15th, A. D. 1855," without my approval.

The bill declares "That said persons mentioned in said ordinance, be and they are hereby declared an incorporate company, with perpetual succession, and that they are hereby conferred with all the rights and privileges given to them by said ordinance of the city of Dubuque, and that they have such other rights, as they can acquire, by incorporating under the general act of incorporation of the State of Iowa." The bill does not seek to confer upon a corporation already in legal existence, the right to supply the city of Dubuque with water. To the grant of such a franchise, there could be no constitutional objection.

The whole design of this bill seems to be, and the whole effect of it would be, if it could be properly enacted, to create the persons named in the ordinance of the city of Dubuque, a perpetual corporation, with power to take such additional right, as they might hereafter acquire under the general laws of the State.

I think this bill is in manifest conflict with the second section of the eighth article of the Constitution of the State, which declares, that "corporations shall not be created in