at the
opposing party has been timely notified, shall then proceed to
investigate and try the case in dispute, receive evidence, and give
their decision according to justice and equity, which decision shall
be final: Provided, always, That either party considering injustice
has been done, shall have a right to appeal to the Grand Committee,
together with the President, who shall investigate the same, and shall
give their decision in writing, from which there shall be no appeal.
All appeals shall be made within ten days, or forever excluded.

Art. 12. There shall be held an annual meeting on the 1st Monday of
November for the election of officers and committees.

Art. 13. The fees of each committee man with the President, shall not
exceed one dollar per day.

Art. 14. This constitution may be altered and amended by a vote
of two thirds of the members.

Art. 15. All committees made under this constitution shall be the
judges of its meaning and spirit, and the resolutions of its meeting
shall be governed according to their decisions.

Art. 16. All persons not settlers, having claims not settled before
the 1st of May, 1838, shall be forfeited."

A hundred pages could easily be devoted to this interesting phase of our
political history, but the details already given will suffice to
indicate the nature, scope, and purpose of the Squatter Constitutions of
Iowa. Their influence is clearly seen in a fourfold direction.

First, they made it possible and practicable for the settlers to go
upon the public domain (surveyed or unsurveyed) and establish homes
without the immediate inconvenience of paying for the land.

Secondly, they secured to the bona fide settlers the right to make
improvements on the public lands and to dispose of the same for a
reasonable consideration, or to purchase their improved land from the
Government at the minimum price of $1.25 an acre.

Thirdly, they afforded bona fide settlers adequate protection in the
peaceable possession and enjoyment of their homes without fear of being
molested or ousted, either by the Government, or the newcomer, or the
land speculator, until the land was offered for sale, or opened for
entry, or until they were able to enter or purchase the same for
themselves and their families.

Fourthly, they fostered natural Justice, Equality, and Democracy on
the frontier (_a_) by establishing order under a Government founded
upon the wi