Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/294



He recommended the Legislature to request Congress to pass an act providing for the admission of Iowa as a state at an early day. He advised the passage of an act providing for calling a convention to form a state constitution. He recommended an act providing for the election by the people of all territorial and county officers not prohibited by the organic act. He urged the Legislature to memorialize Congress to make a grant of public lands for the support of schools equal in amount to the grant made to Wisconsin.

Soon after the Legislature assembled, William B. Conway, Secretary of the Territory, died, leaving a vacancy, and there was no provision of law authorizing any person to discharge the duties of the office until the vacancy was filled. As the Secretary was the custodian of the funds for payment of expenses of the Legislature, that body by joint resolution appointed Charles Weston fiscal agent until the vacancy should be filled. James Clarke editor of the Territorial Gazette, at Burlington, was soon after appointed by the President to fill the vacancy. In November, 1845, he was appointed Governor of the Territory, holding the office until Iowa became a state. The Legislature created the offices of Auditor and Treasurer. Thornton Bayless was appointed Treasurer, and Jesse Williams Auditor. An act was passed requiring the Capitol commissioners to adopt a plan for a building to be erected at a cost not exceeding $51,000. Chauncey Swan was selected to superintend the work. The corner-stone was laid with impressive ceremonies on the 4th of July, 1840, Governor Lucas making the principal address.

There were four candidates in the field for Delegate in Congress for the new Territory at the first election, held in September, 1838, viz.: William W. Chapman and David Rorer, of Des Moines County; P. H. Engle, of Dubuque County; and B. F. Wallace, of Henry County. Wallace was a Whig, the others were Democrats, but politics had little influence in the election; local and personal