The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-05-28
A DISTINCTION.

|
Our opponents would endeavor to hav,
the impression 60 abroad that because WI
delight to record Harrison victories ant
maintain and propagate genuine democra
tic principles, and yet oppose their part,
line measures there is an inconsis
tency between our professions and con
duct. They overlook the distinction tina
is to be made between the steady main
tenance OF certain principles and tn,
means employed to carry them out. w,
have never hesitated to declare our cordia
and heartfelt opposition to the presen
federal administration. This we had ;
right to do, Notwithstanding our fedora
opponents wish to abridge us in the use o
this liberty. We have never denied this
right to them. But we have questioned
the policy, as far as the interests of thi:
Territory are concerned, of practically
drawing party lines, while we remain de-
pendent on National Legislature which
is made up of such materials as will de-
bar us from receiving favors as a Terri
tory on mere party grounds. In order
to show our opposition to any particula,
set OF measures it is not necessary to cal
Convention, and thus commit the Ter.
rltory for or against this or that admins.
tration. While we speak our mind free.
ly and fearlessly-while we tell the PEG.
pie Of the frauds and usurpations of the
present government-the means used by
ofhce-holders to retain office-the plans
they have already put in operation to re.
duce the wages of the laborer and bring
down the price Of produce while we
may tell the people that the extravaganza
of Van Buren's administration laws near.
ly as enormous tax on every man, wo.
man and child in the country, as was en-.
dured during the war, when the popula.
ton was much smaller than it is now
and introduce the whole catalogue OF
wrongs with which the people are afflict.
ed. and plead for redress of grievances
and hold out the cheering prospect, by
simple relation of the movements of the
people, that the day of their deliverance
is at hand--while we may do all this
still our federal opponents are afforded the
opportunity of disproving our statements
if they are untrue, without resorting to
the expedient of drawing the party lines
In the manner they propose. We never
have denied them the right to take such
steps as they contemplate taking to sus.
tain their sinking cause--and it was SIM
ply on the ground of expediency and the
fear that it might operate injuriously to
the interest of this Territory. that we
have ever uttered any thing in opposition
to the holding of the proposed Conven-
ton. If it shall hereafter be found that
the consequences we have predicted do
arise, the responsibility and the blame
will rest on those who have been fore
most in urging the people to array party
against party in this Territory.
They will not of course be SO simple
as to suppose that their party, when once
formed, will not be met and opposed by
another party, who will be prepared to
resist executive usurpation in all its
forms-a party, flushed with victory up
on victory--made up of the yeomanry-
the log cabin boys Of the land-deter-
mined to expose and put down the mock
democracy Of the office-holders party,
who are constantly gaining accessions to
their ranks. and who will easily succeed
in placing one at the head Of the govern
ment whose patriotism and bravery have
been tried, and whose Democracy was
never doubted by the Fathers of Demo-
cracy themselves. This is the party
they will wake up and array against them,
and although that portion Of it which
may be found in this Territory will have
no voice in the approaching Presidential
election, still they may be encouraged by
the shouts Of those who enjoy this priv
'lege to press forward in the good work
of reform.
The following sketch of Iowa city is
from the pen of our townsman. Mr. John
b. Newhall, who is travelling over the
Territory for the purpose of attending per.
sonally to the collection of materials for
his /" Iowa Directory which we learn
Will be completed Immediately after his
contemplated trip to the Falls of St An
'hony. The Directory will doubtless
contain much valuable information in re-