The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-12-03
For the Hawkeyc.
To the People of Lee County.

For the Hawkeyc.
To the People of Lee County.
FelloW Citieens-Knowing with what
just contempt the editor Of the Gazette
and his assistant scribblers are regarded
by honorable men, and knowing by past
experience the impotence of their abusive
and scurrilous attacks to injure me at
home; SO far as they are concerned. it is
of little concern to me, and | shall for the
future treat them, as have for the past,
as the man did the iackass that kicked
a! him-consider the source from whence
it came.
Had pursued course the reverse OF
what l did at the organization of the
House Of Representatives, l presume
should have escaped the vituperalon of
the Gazette and its solutions at this time.
But l acted then as thought was right,
and as l now, after due consideration,
think | ought to have acted. My col.
leagues and l were not elected strictly on
party grounds; and, if my memory serves
me right, every candidate for the Council
and House Of Representatives openly and
frequently pied ged themselves on the
stump and elsewhere, that, if elected, they
would vote for men and things on their
intrinsic merits, and not on party grounds.
Seadfast to what believed was hon
orable and right under the circumstances,
in the organization of the House and the
hiring of the public printing, even my
political opponents here, who were eye.
witnesses of my conduct, were compelled
to admit the consistency of my course
And it was only when I saw such base
deception and savage persecution of wings
merely on party grounds, tina: l was in
duced to make those remarks, the sub.
stance Of which were published in the
Hawkeye three weeks since.
Some few days after the organization
of the House, | understood, from some
source which do not now recollect, tina,
the editor of the Gazette was coaxing
with some of his political friends to create
an office in the House for his special ben
eft. So outrageous did the matter look
to me at the time, that | could hardly give
any credit to the report. But to my ut
ter surprise, after few days the secre,
came out. One of his political friends
made motion that the House elect a
Reporter--made a speech in support Of
his proposition, and in the course of his
remarks said tina! the editor of the Gazette
would repor, for Five Dollars a dag!
immediately arose and spoke against such
was,eful extravaganza of the public funds
What did the House Of Representatives
of the Territory of Iowa want with Re-
porter at all! Congress has never had 8
public reporter, nor do l know that the
Legislature of any of the States have one
And is the Legislature of Iowa, indeed
composed of such great intellectual worth
that any thing and every thing any mem
Der might say in his place, should be re-
ported and published at the public charge
The matter | looked upon as superlative.
ly ridiculous in itself; and further con
sidered that if the government were Sc
flush with funds, ii were better to expent
| it on roads and bridges and other work.
Of public utility. Finally, the editor o
the Gazette was foiled in this attempt a
additional pl,mder; and | suppose TIL:
is another iteo, of their political hatret
towards me, and the efforts they are ma
| king to harm me here and at home.
Fellow citizens !: In concluding thi:
communication, will embrace the op
por,unity TO express my sincere thanks
for the many friendly letters | have re
ceivcd from home, from gentlemen o
both political parties, expressive Of tht
approval Of my course here. To continue
to merit the esteem and friendship of al
! by all honorable course, and strict at
tention to my duties here, as it has been
so it shall continue to be my constan
aim.
In the next or some subsequent mum
Der Of the Hawkeye, / will expose sew
eral other matters. among which shall b.
the falsehood and deception contained ii
couple Of reported speeches, fixed VI
and published especially on my accoun
in the Gazette.
| Respectfully. &c.
d. F. MILLER.
I D.,-1:.uxon ~ 1oAn