NUMBER 5.

SUPREME COURT REPORTS.

JOINT RESOLUTION to distribute Supreme Court Reports.

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That the Secretary of State be instructed to furnish the members of the present General Assembly, the President, Secretary and Clerks of the Senate, and Clerks of the House of Representatives, and the Reporters, Postmasters, Sergeat-at-Arms and Doorkeepers of both branches of this General Assembly, with a copy of all Reports of the Supreme Court of this State now on hand, or which shall be published during the session of this General Assembly. Approved February 12th, 1864.

NUMBER 6.

COLONELS OF IOWA REGIMENTS.

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That the Colonels of Iowa Regiments engaged in the service of their country, be respectfully requested to furnish the Adjutant General of the State, at their earliest convenience, with a brief history of their respective regiments, showing what they have accomplished and endured, not only on the battle-field, but upon the march and in camp, with a view that the information thus obtained may hereafter be embodied into a permanent history and monument of the patriotism, the heroism and the achievements of the soldiers of Iowa.

Resolved, That the Adjutant General be requested to communicate the above resolution to the Colonels of all Iowa Regiments. Approved February 23d, 1864.

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NUMBER 7.

AGRICULTURAL REPORTS.

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring,

That the Secretary of State place in the hands of the Secretary of the Agricultural College so many of the Reports of the State Agricultural Society as may be necessary to make up setts of said Reports for the use of those members and officers of the Legislature who have not received setts; and that the Secretary of State disribute the remaining copies of said Report to the members of the Legislature equally, for the use of Agricultural Societies, reserving not less than one hundred copies of each year.

Approved February 25th, 1864.

NUMBER 8.

REPORT OF HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE.

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That one thousand additional copies of the Report of the Iowa Hospital for the Insane be printed for the use of the Institution. Approved February 26th, 1864.

NUMBER 9.

DISCHARGED SOLDIERS.

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That we earnestly recommend that discharged soldiers who have been disabled by wounds or disease in the service of their country, should have the preference, as far as they are competent, in being employed in all positions within the gift of the Federal Govern

ment.

Resolved, That the Secretary of State furnish each member of Congress from this State with a copy of this Resolution, and that he also send a copy to each of the heads of Departments at Washington.

Approved February 27th, 1864.

NUMBER 10.

AFRICAN SOLDIERS.

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That we heartily endorse the policy of paying soldiers and seamen

of African descent, in the service of the United States, the same pay as is paid to other soldiers and seamen of the same grade.

Resolved, That we recognize the right of soldiers and seamen of African descent, in the service of the United States, the same protection that other soldiers and seamen are entitled to by the laws of War.

Resolved, That the Secretary of State be instructed to forward to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress a copy of the above resolutions.

Approved February 27th, 1864.

NUMBER 11.

PACIFIC RAILROAD.

A JOINT RESOLUTION recommending certain changes in the Act of Congress approved July 1st, 1862, establishing a Pacific Railroad and branches.

WHEREAS, In the Act of Congress approved July 1st, 1862, entitled, "An Act to aid in the construction of a Railroad and Telegraph line from the Missouri River to the Pacific Ocean, and for other purposes," provision is made in Sec. 14, for the construction of a branch road from Sioux City to unite with the main trunk not further West than the One Hundredth Meridian of Longitude West from Greenwich. And by another provision of this Act, Sec. 8, the main trunk of the Road (at its standing point) cannot be located North of the Valley of the Platte River; and as the topography of the country will require the road to cross the main chain of the Rocky Mountains at or in the vicinity of the "South Pass," this North or Sioux City branch will thus be compelled to run South-west at least one hundred and fifty miles out of its most direct, natural and legitimate course to unite with the main trunk; and will also be required to run at right angles with all the tributaries of the Platte, including the Elk Horn and Loup Fork, and their numerous tributaries, and all other streams across which it will run. These streams cut deep, narrow and abrupt channels in the light alluvial soil of their beds through their entire course. The country is also rough, broken and hilly, without timber or other material for building a Railroad or supporting more than a sparse population. These unfavorable characteristics of the country will compel the employment of a very large amount of extra and unnecessary capital in its construction. And

WHEREAS, In consequence of the increased distance, the unfortunate and unnatural direction of the road to unite with the main

trunk and the impracticable character of the country through which it must now run in obedience to the present requirements of the law, there is no probability that that branch can or will ever be constructed unless the law be so modified as to avoid these ob stacles, and to allow it to run on the nearest and most practicable route. And

WHEREAS, Should said law be so modified as to allow said Sioux City branch to run westwardly from Sioux City by the nearest and most practicable route to unite with the main trunk, and also to allow an Independent Company to build that Branch, it will enable the road to run up the streams coming down from the Mountains, along which alone are found timber, coal and other material necessary in the construction of a Railroad, it will immediately call in the work an adequate amount of talent, enterprise and capital, which could not otherwise be enlisted, thereby insuring the early completion of said branch; also all the roads running in that direction through the State of Iowa and Minnesota. It will not only materially shorten the distance on that route between the Missouri River and the Mountains, but will lessen the expense of construction nearly if not quite one-half, and it will also place on an equal footing roads which are equally necessary to the full development of the whole country. Therefore,

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives requested to use their best endeavors to secure a modification of the said Pacific Railroad Law in the following particulars to-wit: 1st, so as to allow said branch to run from Sioux City westwardly, to unite with the main trunk by the nearest and most practicable route-the point of intersection to be approved by the President of the United States. 2d, the said branch to be constructed to the point of intersection with the main trunk by some independent company, incorporated or to be incorporated by the Legislature of Nebraska-said Company to be also approved by the President. 3d, that all the obligations, rights and privileges contained in said law and amendments thereto, shall apply to and be enjoyed by the company constructing said Sioux City branch equally, and to the same extent as they are enjoyed and exercised by the companies constructing other portions of said road and branches.

Resolved, That a copy of these Resolutions, duly authenticated, be transmitted by the Secretary of State to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Approved March 2d, 1864.

NUMBER 12.

MEMORIAL FOR A GRANT OF LANDS.

MEMORIAL AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS asking Congress for a grant of lands to aid in the construction of a Railroad from McGregor, on the Mississippi River, to a point in the Western bounds of the State of Iowa, between Sergeant's Bluffs and the North boundary of the State.

To the Senate and House of Representatives

of the United States of America in Congress assembled :

Your memorialists, the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, would respectfully represent that, by an Act of Congress approved May 15th, 1856, in answer to a memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, a grant of lands was made to said State to aid in the construction of three of the four Railroads named in said memorial. That one of the Railroads, to-wit: that from McGregor westward, named in said memorial of the General Assembly of Iowa, was omitted from, or left out of the said grant. That the route of said Railroad from McGregor westward, would follow very nearly the forty-third parallel of north latitude, and would commence from a point at least eighty miles north of Dubuque, by the course of the Mississippi River, and in its entire length would traverse a line about forty miles north of that of the Dubuque and Sioux City Railroad.

That, in our opinion, a great portion of the northwestern part of the State of Iowa, and the southwestern portion of the State of Minnesota, must remain for a long time unsettled, unless encouraged by Railroad facilities. That it is believed that the granting of alternate sections of land to this State, under proper restrictions, for the purpose of aiding in the construction of the Railroad above mentioned, will have a direct tendency to promote, not only the best interests of the States of Iowa and Minnesota, but of the General Government; therefore,

Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa, That our Senators in Congress are hereby instructed, and our Representatives requested, to use their best endeavors to procure the passage of a law granting to the State of Iowa alternate sections of land along the line of the proposed Railroad, to an equal extent and under like privileges and restrictions with the grants made to the said other Railroads of Iowa, by said Act of May 15, 1856, exempting and excepting all lands heretofore granted by Congress to the State of Iowa, or claimed by actual settlers, to-wit: Commencing at McGregor, on the west bank of the Mississippi River, thence running westward by the most practicable route, on or near the forty-third parallel of north latitude, to a point in the western bounds of Iowa, between Sergeant's Bluffs and the north boundary