The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-03-19
From the Pennsylvania TELEGRAPH

SPEAKER HOPKINS CoNFEss1oN.-Al-
though political opponent, we have here
tofore regarded Mr. Hopkins with degree
of respect which it is not always in our
power to accord to members of his party.
Possessed of considerable talent, his own
energy of character elevated him to the
station he now occupies. We find it
impossible to withhold from self-made
men the degree of respect due to their
exertions, unless there be some circum-
stances to lower them in our estimation,
But we can respect Mr. Hopkins nolonger.
The following declaration, made by him
on the floor of the House on Saturday,
will explain our reasons:
'sAs to receding. said Mr. Hopkins, /
may be permitted to say, that l have come
to that pass already. receded in voting
on the resolution relative to the resump.
ton of specie payment I believed the
final passage Of that resolution would
produce a scene O unparalleled RUIN
AND DISASTER FROM THE CEN
IRE TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE
OF THE COMMONWEALTH. But
1 had not the nerUe TO array myself
against the democracy Of the House;
and gave up my opinions Of the measure
and voted for it.
When man becomes member Of the
/ legislature, he takes an oath 10 perform
his duties as a legislator, with fidelity.
Mr. Hopkins tells us he chad not the
nerve" TO array himself g against the
democracy Of the House" What does
he mean by democracy" IF he means
the majority of the House-and we pre-
sumo he does-we would suggest that it
lis a misnomer to call men democrats
! whose votes are calculated to bring gu n
i PARALLELED RUIN AND DISAS-
I TER upon the people. If we understand
1 the term democracy as applied to meas
ure of policy by the overnment-those
measures are only democratic which are
4 calculated to advance the greatest good OF
the greatest number and certainly those
] are not democratic which are calculated
! to produce scene of unparalleled ruin
:. and disaster from the centre to the circum-
I ference of the Commonwealth So thai
! Mr. Hopkins did in fact array himself
I against the democracy of the House; blu
g had not the neroe' TO array himself
against the locofocoism and des.ructivenes:
of that body.
A CONTRACTOR WHICH is THE BEs1
RAT?--Resolution offered by MI
! Van Buren, at meeting in Hudson, New
i York, during the last war.
ID oex>1yoJ b,t a., - ,,,,r -,
disastrous and to employ the Militia in al
+ offensive war, is unconstitutional
I Extract from General Harrison's officia
account of the battle of the Thames.
eve have suffered greatly for the wan
of provisions and the whole army has sub
: sisted, for the last three days, on raw
beef without salt.
Il The Observer of Trieste states that Their
is at present living at Hildgausen, iii Sile
: STA, man named Hans Herr, in his on
: hundred and forty-second year. He ha
/ not gone out of doors for the last twenty
: seven years, but still takes two or tire
!, turns in his chamber every day. Whel
the weather is fine, he opens his window
: and smokes three pipes. He has not bee
able to speak distinctly for six years, Blu
' u,ters few inarticulate sounds, which hi
0 grand children, who attend him GALL hi
!; sons are dead) understand. This man,
VI adds the Observer, shas lived in tire
!; different centuries, thing never witness
t ed, perhaps, since the times Of the patri
s archs. =