Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/376



The first homestead law, providing for the exemption of the home of the head of a family from sale for debt, was enacted by the Second General Assembly. The author of the bill was Lemuel B. Patterson, a young man then living at Iowa City, who had served two terms as Librarian of the Territory. At that time, when nearly all of the young men of the new State were poor and straggling to secure homes, the common rate of interest exacted by professional money lenders was forty per cent. Hundreds of men had given mortgages on their homes at this ruinous rate of interest, had found themselves unable to meet their obligations and had seen their families left homeless. Mr. Patterson was deeply impressed with the destitution and misfortunes of so many industrious families and determined to secure legislation for the protection of the home. He drafted a bill embracing the principle of the homestead exemption laws now so generally prevailing and secured its enactment into law against strong opposition. This law has been amended and improved from time to time but the important features devised by its author in 1849, remain as the settled policy of our State.

When the new Senators from Iowa took their seats in Congress, General A. C. Dodge drew the short term which expired March 4,1849. The Legislature being in session, reëlected him for a full term of six years. The Whig votes were given to Francis Springer. Upon the accession of General Zachary Taylor as President, he appointed Fitz Henry Warren, of Iowa, First Assistant Postmaster General, much to the gratification of the Whigs of the State, of which he was one of the ablest leaders.

The Democratic State Convention met at Iowa City on the 29th of June, 1849, and nominated for President of the Board of Public Works, W. M. Patterson; Secretary, Jesse Williams; Treasurer, George Gillaspy. The resolutions denounced the removal of Democrats from Federal offices. A low tariff was favored, and gold and silver as the money of the country; the Wilmot Proviso was