The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-11-26

To the Editor of the Hackeye and Patriot
Sir, did not till this morning read the in
sulting communication Of John f. Lines found
in the columns of your last number. ! wish
to correct mistake contained in your. prefa.
tory remarks. You seem therein to suppose
that had all along been aware OF Mr. Lines
holding the Office of Recorder, since the organ
ization of the Territory. This is not the case.
Ny attention has never been called to that
matter, until within few weeks past. If
ever knew of his being the Recorder previous
to his recent election, l have forgotten it. At
all events, no objection ever before having
been made to him on that account, the in
compatibility Of the Offices had never occurred
to me.
From the time was appointed to my pre-
sent Office strong dissatisfaction has been man.
ifested with Mr. Lines clerk, by many Of the
citizens of Lee county. This has not been
party measure. Quite as strenuous efforts have
from first to last been made by wings as by
democrats to obtain his removal. To all their
representations l have uniformly replied that
Mr. Lines should be removed whenever clear
and decided change could be made for the
better. never had the least idea that he
would ever make suitable clerk. His con-
stitutional awkwardness-his habitual blum
ders-the want of method and the inextrica-
BILE confusion that existed among the papers of
his office-the lack of ability to make up and
enter the most simple orders without instruc-
ton and assistance have long been complain
ed Of by the members Of the bar and must
have been perceptible upon the slightest obser-
walton. Still as believed him honest and
attentive TO his business, felt unwilling to
remove him until could feel certain that his
successor would be very considerably his SUI
perior; for change in itself is an evil.
Another motive has / confess operated with
some force upon me. Whenever the subject OF
removal was mentioned Mr. Lines would make
up such a face of woe, as to excite my pity.
He would tell Of his having been appointed to
the office when it was worthless-of the money
he had lost in consequence Of his ignorance
and his plumbers, while in the exercise of its
functions, that could not find it in my heart
to remove him while there was even plausible
excuse for retaining him. What / have reason
most to regret is, that he has been permitted
to remain in the Office till the present time. A
successor has been found who unites, us be.
lieye, all the good qualities which Mr. Lines
possesses, to the still greater number which
he lacks, and who trust is in every respect
highly qualified to make an excellent Clerk Of
the District Court.
One word in relation to Mr. Lines, though not
in answer to his insulting epstle. have ever
enCCaFOIeu " cViuCe tOWdfdS HIN Lhc greatest
degree of kindness and indulgence. In opposi
ton to the strongest efforts, have retained him
in Office for upwards Of two years. When
felt it necessary to remove him, studied to dc
| il in manner least calculated to wound his
feelings. / afterwards had an interview with
him in Burlington, in which again expressed
my regret for the necessity of the step / had
taken, and renewed the expressions Of kindness
which actually felt. Why then this ebuil
ton Of abuse? Why force the matter into the
public prints at all?
can conceive no motive, but that which
aetuates the puppy who bsrks whel there il