Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-01-20

rtXus Wntcn We nave aooefted-a 0an4 ~
bel upon The character sef our people for
intslligencs, to suppose that any argument
is necessaary ID support Of The position
which We occupy. Holding this sisw,
Sir, fully Impressed with : sense q my
obligations to tho people 'of tbs State. the
charter Of whose liberties We have all
swern to defend, and indignant Il the
high handed and glaring attempt It usur-
patton on the part Of the majority, ! should
have much preferred to have remained ST.
lent in my seat. But, Sir. the remark Of
gentlemen on the other aide, demand a res
ply, especially from those whose names
are affixed to that protest. 4s
Il would look well for gentlemen whose
capacity is 50 large, and whose powers Of
perception are 20 quick, when they de-
nounce statements upon the face Of thai
instrument to Be unqualifedly false, to
point them out, and perhaps they might
be satisfactorily explained. II they are
SO glsringly false, it was but the work Of
q moment 10 note them, so tina, we could
reply 10 the accusation. But no they
know too well their truth! My rame,
Sir, appears among the rest TO that pro
test, and hurl the accuaation back to the
scouree from whence il came. as base and
unfounded. challenge defy-.yes, ! dare
them 10 show me statement there, thai is
untrue!
Il is true, the gentleman from Desmoine
{ Mr.. Hsbard) refers to the arrest Of
Marshall ~ appearing in the protest;
but if the gentleman understands US os
protesting against his being legally arres-
Ted, he is mistaken. We protest sgainst
the manner Of his arrest; and now chal.
.lenge gentlemen to produce = precedent
in the annals Of legislation that will sus-
tain them in the course they have pur-
sued. lie was arrested upon the mere
ipse dira Q: man deprived Of his Iib-
erty-and because he had The hardihood
TO protest against being robbed Of his
rights as citizen-because he demanded
to have the charges and specifications
against him reduced to writing and sworn
to, before he would be compelled to an
swer them--because he asked the House
to hear him by his Counsel reques,
which was never before refused and for
the reason that these reasonable requests
were con,einptuously voted down, and re-
fused BY the Kiagly majority Of one in
this House, we protested.
Gentlemen would dictate to Us what
kind Il language we should make use Of
to convey our ideas. They say that it is
disrespectful, and reflects upon the ma
jority of this House, 10 make the state.
msnts embodied in that paper: Be it so,
Sir; it reflects where it should; and il the
gentlemen will take the issue upon the
disrespect paid in this House 10 our laws
Ito the Constitutions the people, and
to hnmanisy--we will make il tell against
and reflect upon them with tenfold great.
er force.
Do gentlemen recollect that par. Of the
protest which refers to the refusal Of this
House to give Marshall nourishment-
aye, even to provide him with bread,
while he was in confinement by their or
der? Yes! and they say that it is cruel
in US to denounce that refusal as an act Of
tyranny. That resolution was introduced
by me, Sir; it simply asked that the Ser
geant alarms should be authorized to fur
nish the prisoner with food, while he
should be detained in duress; and / de-
nounce it as cruel and tyranicaI act.
Gentlemen have insinuated that we ere
trying to offend Marshall. /, Sir, stand
here as the Representative Of the people
not as the defender Of any man.. or set
OF men--not the defender Of any party or
partizans-bu as the friend of humanity
and the defender Of constitutional liberty,
my voice shall ever be against the course
pursued by this House. Search the his
tory Of criminal proceedings, and show me
an instance where the prisoner has been
refused food! repeat, Sir, it was a cru.
city upon the part Of this House cruel
ty which the most hearlless monster, the
most ruthless despot that ever diss raced
humanity, might be proud to initiate.
Hwere cruel 10 illegally deprive man of
his liberty; but Ills dan,nable to sna, Oh the
food from his mouth, that was to sustain
life
1t is said, we were opposed to Mar.
shall's being tried by The Committee--we
were opposed to the course Of the House
in disregarding his affidavit, which stated
that the Chairman Of that Committee
was sworn enemy Of his, and that an
other had conspired to entrap HIM. L
say he was unimpcached, and his oath
ought to have more weight than the mere
assertions Of member Of this House;
yet these same gentlemen stood in their
places, and urged the propriety Of trying
him before them. Their request was
granted, and he was handed over to his
enemies. Because we opposed this
course, we are charged with having tried
to shield Marshall and suppress the inves
LEGATION. It is needless fer me 10 say,
Sir, that is gra,uitous and groundless
assumption. wholly unsustsined by the
facts. as the journals, unless grossly per.
verted. will show. We dare them to the
issue. we'll knowing that they will be en-
gulphed in the whirlpool Of public indig-
nation by an exposition Of the facts.
Again, Sir, they have endeavored to
put US down, to gag US. by springing upon
Us notiGns which were not debsteable.
But in this last attempt they have not sue.
ceeded so well. After having heard
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