The Iowa patriot. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1839-1839, 1839-06-20

by it to break US down, had lost its po-
tency. We could very easily give our
views of slavery at large were it necessa-
ry, but as we have determined never to
discuss that exciting subject in the Patriot,
all we consider necessary to say at the
present time is, that there are some OF the
principles avowed by Abolitionists, and
which may be held by every patriot, that
we cannot do otherwise than approve.
The chief of these is the right of freedom
of opinion and freedom of speech. Take
away this right and liberty is mere I'M.
meaning term--a rope Of sand. Born and
nurtured along side of the cold Cradle of
T, Liberty and in sight of Bunker Hill, on
which we in our boyhood frequently
gambolled, and amid whose soil mingled
our grandsire's blood, it is no more than
natural, having drank in this principle of
liberty from such source, that it would
be difficult to wrest it from us. With the
possession of this right, we hope we
shall ever have so sound and correct a
Judgment as to make such use of it as will
never agitate or distract any community
in which we may reside. We never
have done it thus far.
In regard to Slavery itself we wish it
was away-far away from usage, out
of the land;-but for us to say it shall be
abolished, and abolished now, under all
the circumstances, we do not believe that
can be done. Are we to be branded as
an Abolitionist, then, and our name cast
out as evil, because we, in common with
thousands who do not rank themselves
with abolitionists, think that the present
system Of slavery is an evil? AS it res.
poets amalgamation, we unhesitatingly say
that we abhorit, wherever it's found, whe-
ther in the family of the Vice President
or elsewhere. The very idea has al
ways been obnoxious, and it almost
makes us sick to think Of it.
As we before intimated it was our set
tied determination never to discuss the
subject of slavery in our columns; and as
the above remarks have been drawn forth
by seeming necessity, we trust we shall
never again be compelled to rebut the
charge of Abolitionism.
We thank Capt. Mckinney for the op-
portunity he has afforded us to make |
statement in relation to the printing Of the
Wisconsion Laws. In speaking of our
self, he says:
'sThe. same individual who came to Burlihg-
ton, in June, 1888, at the commencement of
the extra session of the Wisconsin Legislature,
and plead poverty and starvation to the men,
bers of the Legislature, and finally succeeded
in exciting the warm sy1npathies of the men,
bers to such degree, that he actually wrested
from the hands Of worthy citizen, Job of
printing which was half finished, and was
thrown upon his hands Il total loss. And did
ne fulfil his contract and complete the work?
Never! 1t is yet unfinished, and his bonds for
|eited."
Let us see how much truth there is in
these serious charges. The .sworthy cit
zen" of which he speaks, we presume is
his partner, Mr.. Clarke, who obtained
The contract for printing the Laws, which
according to the stipulations were to have
been completed by the first of May, 1888.
At the June Session of 1898, nothing had
been heard from Mr. Clarke from the time
ne started in February, and it was sup
posed by some that he might have been
blown up on the Moselle. The Legisla-
ure had received no intimation that the
Laws had been printed-the time had ex-
oired in which they were to have been
contract was therefore of
course annulled, and in this state of things
'ome friends advised me to come to Bur
ington and secure the new contract. I
'ame, and by no other than manly and ,
course, as the members will
estify, secured the Job. Hearing short |
y after that Mr. Clarke had obtained the ,
printing Of a part Of the work in Pennsyl-
'ania, saw him on his return in July,
nd expressed q willingness to take that
art of the work off his hands at cost, pro- /
ided it arrived in season. It never did
rive in Iowa; the boat in which it was !
hipPed having been snagged and sunk $
ast fall. The books were not recovered
ntil early this spring, when we saw them !
dyertised in the St. Louis papers to be !
old for the benefit Of the underwriters. .
his certainly indicated that an ins,,,.roo !