The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1841-02-04
A PASSENGER.
For the Hawk-Ey C and Patriot.

observed an article in the last Gazette
over the name of Hon. James Briefly in
which certain animadversions are had on
my conduct in the Legislature.
| trust my Wing friends will excuse
me for noticing the publication of Mr..
Briefly when they are informed it is the
object of said article not so much to mis-
represent me TO the people Of this County,
as to create local excitement to the harm
Of the Wing cause at the next election.
This plan was developed to me about two
months since when it was remarked to
me by one Of the principal men in the op-
position who has become noted for his
party tricks, "that the next election in this
County so far as members of the House
of Representatives and county officers are
concerned will be conducted solely on To-
cal grounds"
Those who attended the Wing Conven-
ton at Burlington on the 9th inst. will re-
cognize in Hon. James Briefly, the dis
tinguished parsonage who through said
day having guzzled too much hard cider
or hard brandy, it matters not which, be-
came by night fall charged rather high
with steam, and going into said Conven-
ton so misbekayed himself that he was
then publicly recommended to the kind
consideration Of his constituents"
MIR Briefly complains that on some pre-
vous occasion misrepresented him,
though indirectly, in the Hawk Eye to his
constituents. What he alludes to sup
pose is statement made in reference to
the October election that the members of
the House of Representatives from this
county were not elected on party grounds,
and does Mr. Briefly here at home dare
deny that fact. And why under these
circumstances did Mr. Briefly become so
onesided, exclusive, and partizan in his
Legislative duties?
Mr. Briefly aims by his remarks re-.
specting the Territorial road to be laid out
from keokuk to Mount Pleasant, to Gre
ate the impression that had acted mimi
cal to the interests of the south part Of
the county. When the bill for said road
was introduced in the House by Mr. Lash
| opposed it because | was uninslructed
ed by any of my constituents on the sub
ject. The bill was referred TO a select
committee on which | was placed and
in the meantime having written home and
obtained information that the people of
the south part of the county, desired the
road | ct once supported the bill.
In what also would Mr. Briefly intimate
| acted inimical to the rights of other Sec
tons of the county than Fort Madison?
Was it in the bill for Territorial road
from Burlington to Keokuk and the mouth
of the Demoine river! | prepared that
bill myself. Was it in the bills to incor-
porate the town of Nashville. and grant to
one of its citizens a Ferry charter on the
Mississippi? The journal of the House
will show | was active in both these
, things, and yet Nashville is the place of
Mr. Brierly's residence. Was it in the
two laws passed to protect the settlers on
the Half Breed lands in the Just posses
sion of their claims! General Browne
who was ever active in the service OF his
constituents and myself, prepared both of
said bills and were principally instrumen.
tai in having them passed. Indeed very
much doubt whether James Briefly so
much as noticed the passage of those bills.
shall pass over 4 or 5 other laws made
which more Immediately concerns the
people of this county. all of which I sup
ported, and conclude by bringing to Mr..
Brierly's memory certain statement
made by him to the delegation from West
Point that | had persuaded him not to
agree to have certain amendments which
said delegation desired made to the bill 10
locate the county seat, which was alto
gether and in every particular false; and
which Mr.. Briefly after said delegation
had gone home confessed to me to be
wrong, but excused himself by saying he
had misunderstood me, or had done il
through mistake. Mr. Briefly about the
same time also stated that two members
of the Council naming them had on the
morning of that day told him. that if he
had got the bill through the House rela.
tive to the county seat, without amend,
ment they "would have rushed it through
the Council" Both of these gentlemen
deny having used any such language.
This Hon. James Briefly is the same
James Briefly who publicly asserted in
presence of a number of gentlemen while
discoursing on the subject of politics last
spring that he had "heard Gen. Harrison
deliver more than fifty aboitionist lee.
!; lures at Cincinnati"
Believing that in the article to which
his name is signed, Mr. Briefly is merely
=. used as tool by others with no unkinl
feelings towards him hope he may al
ways pass for his full value.
d. f. MILLER.
Fort Madison, Jan. 30 l94l.
The CRoToN DAN.-We mentioned
yesterday, that part of the Croton Aque