The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-01-21

Id sSiloF ONLY infn .,
breasts Of the guilty. 1t appear. ~. J, us
Sir, that man conscious Of havina~ .. ne
properly, mistakes his Interests :; se'sd
throws or seeks to; throw obs,,., : as
the way Of free and full inyes,; ,ss y
OF his affairs. He should cour, !, s' y
and rejoice at an opportunity Of s;ls Il, "
gossip and rumor by subjecting ,bsm
the test of examination. To SHOW r,,s'a !. y
this were not the feeling Of the ..s aa'
commissioners and his friends. T Will, a'aag
evidence little stronger than th;. i :. ssad
graph from the minority report. ia Ra'a'
a communication from Stephen Wb;.s.h
jr., Esq, who was subpened unda. u,'
following circumstances The m;na. We
Of the committee left Burlington 70, Io.!'
city, the day before the majority 'u w
day the majority left, an opportnn;,n ' y
fered to forward note to Mr. Which, y
requesting him to attend before the COW
mittee as a witness, the majority ha rS,
understood that he was in possession s y
some information touching affairs al low :
city. The committee did not know Nv. :,
what moment of time they might w;sh :, =
examine Mr. Whicher, or when il w va u
be convenient for him to attend ~
obeyed the summons promptly and ;,
rived some few days before the comm,
tee were ready to receive his TESTIMONY
Iowa City. Dec. Is, 1870
Hon. F. Springer, Chairman Of Com
My Dear Sir,-I had occasion 10 i,
frequently here last Summer and fall. and
during my visits heard much of the man.
ner in which Mr. Swan conducted bushes,
the purport Of most heard was wan,
of business-doing ability on his mart
About the beginning of Oct. several us,
sons residing in and near this place. SIM
posing that | would probably be elected
to seat in the Council of the terriloU
gave me information of some official Ar, i
of Mr. S. which were thought excepion..
able and requested me, in the event d
an opportunity offering, to institute such
official inquiry as the occasion seems ID
demand. | made written memoranJpm,
of some Of these complaints in order h
facilitate any inquire that might be or
dered. mentioned the substance Of ,be
above to you on my last visit to Louis,
Court which | suppose was the occasion
of your letter to me dated the 18th inst
requesting my attendance here during the
sitting of the committee of which YOU ara
chairman.
Leaving home in some haste | brought
none Of these memorandum with me: in.
deed l am not certain that | preserved
them, not knowing that they would be Of
service. On my arrival here, in order, 10
refresh my memory, I called on some Of
those who had relied on me 10 assist in
the correction Of alleged abuses, to ascer.
tain with certainty where and from whom
requisite information could be obtained.
In this have made no secret of my bus.
mess nor Of my means of obtaining infor.
nation. l have mingled freely and "a.
miliarly with the citizens of the city and
have with few exceptions met with COZ.
responding frankness. But many are re-.
luctant to be called on to give testimony
before the committee because they are in.
debted for lots in the city and are appre-
hensipe ofincurring the displeasure Of the
Superintendent whilst some Others are
contractors for work on the public build.
ing and are apprehensive (as is said tia!
if their contracts are found to be corrupt
they will not enjoy the benefits Of their
fulflment. There are others who, Ihave
reason to believe can explain some OBJ.
scure passages in Mr. Swans late report
to the legislature, have an idea that sup.
preston of facts will not be displeasing to
the acting commissioner and endeavor TO
intimidate by threats such as seek full
investigation. | learn with regret that the
acting commissioner himself encourages
the idea that disclosure of facts would
be equally prejudicial to contractors, him.
self and the prosperity of the City. At
an accidental meeting of some Of the peo-
pie Of this place last night, among whom
was Mr. Swan it was proposed to rid the
city of my presence by appliances Of sun.
dry naval stores, feathers, rails and o,ha
marks of popular disapprobation, while
he by his presence and conduct if not by
speeches gave countenance and encour.
agemeAt to the proposed outrage. | do
not mention this because of any apprehen.
sion of any other than the most respect.
full usage from the citizens of Iowa City.
have received too many marks of their
and confidence to give me .
moments uneasiness for my personal safe.
ty, nor do think any thing Of the kind
was seriously meditated. II was men.
toned | suppose because it was thought
to be acceptable to the commissioner. and
| name it here merely to shew you that
obstacles are in the way Of free, full and
fair investigation of the conduct Of The
present superintendent, and that there are
yet some men in the world who are will.
ing 10 be degraded, nay willing to degrade
themselves for a prospect Of pecuniaryy
gain. .s 81
There is yet another obs tacle !e q free
and full inquiry. A petition was il, CIR.
culation here about month ago at the IN,
stance Of Mr. Swan stating incidentally
that he was every thing superintendent
should be and signed by about hundred