Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-05-12

that our course in refusing to permit the State
to be misrepresented in one of the branches of
the national Legislature, will be sustained by the
people; Therefore, l..,..s-a. .. -
Resolved, That we unanimously resign our
seats, as members of the House of Representa-
tives, provided the members of the Senate will
do the same" fsfa5~
The introduction of this preamble and
resolution threw the incongruous mass Of
Possums, Coons and memberships, com.
posing the federal majority, into the utm st
CONSERVATION. Takingthem, as it did, by
surprise, its effect wasilike that of bomb
shell thrown from one Of Gen SCOTS bat
teries into the castle of San Juan d'Ulloa
They fiattered themselves that, having
"btufed" the democrats, they would es-
cape the test of their sincerity, and conse.
quently were quite unprepared for this
direct proposition to resign. They had
reckoned without their host in Judging the
democracy by themselves, and had yet to
learn that the democracy make no profess
sions for Buncombe, nor threats for bravo
do, but always mean what they say. Mr..
Sells, wing, in the hurry and confusion of
the moment, jumped to his feet and made
:ruitless effort to spike the battery by
Offering the following substitute:
"WHEREA., majority of the members Of the
Avs ha,, taav, Ill
to 60 into the election of Y. S. Senators and Su-
preme Sudges; and whereas, the people are de-
feated IN their representation in the Senate Of the
United States, in consequence Of such refusal on
the part Of the Locofoeo members Of the General
Assembly; therefore,
''Be it Resolved, That those members who have
defeated the election be requested to resign, in
order to enable the people to elect such men as
will regard their oath and do their duty"
This proved most unfortunate move
for the disconnected federalists, as they
soon after discovered. Not daring to act
upon either the original resolution offered
BY Mr.. Olmstead, nor their own substitute
offered BY Mr.. Sells, they laid beth on the
table BY strict party vote-every demo-
cEat voting against laying on the table, and
in favor Of coming TO direct vote on the
proposition to resign, and every whig and
possum voting for laying both on the table,
SO as to escape the responsibility of voting
aye or no on that proposition. 81.
They had not the face even TO deny the
main premises Of Mr.. Olmstead's resolu-
ton, which formed the basis of The bold
and manly position occupied by the de-
mocraey, to wit: that ga large majority o,
the people of Iona are democratic, and ap-
prove Of the policy and measures Of the Ma
t'oral administration" They saw that, in
the substitute offered by Mr.. Sells, they
undertook to pass verdict at once upon
their own conduct and that of thei, oppo.
nents-a verdict which the people are
alone competent, through the ballot box,
to render-while, If they voted down the
original resolution, they would say to their
constituents, as distinctly as words could
say it" IRE dGre not submit our conduct 10
you for your approval or condemnation al
the ballot tor;'' and to suppose that they
could be induced 10 make an open and bold
confession of the truth, would be expect.
ing by far too much of their honesty and
consistency.
Thus situated, what could they do
Shrinking aghast from the fiery ordeal be.
fore thsm-frightened at their own hideous
deformity, and terrified at their imminent
peril from the whirlwind Of popular indig.
anton, which, despite all th0ir sub;erfuges
X dexterous sail trimming, must sooner OF
later overtake them, they ran hitler anG
thither in search of some mock to hide
themselves in, but finding none, set
tied down in that logged and sullen indif
ference which marks the coward in de.
spair ; and, rearing their brazen fronts
with all their mex plioable meanness stamp.
ed upon their brows, determined, at al
hazards, to brave public opinion-acll
nowledging to the world that, though tn e,
dare openly falsiiy their professions ant
wear the brand of infamy, yet they dor,
not act, either negatively or alIirmatively
upon a plain proposition to resign theil
seats.
Gentle reader, this is no fancy sketch
Though imperfect, it is, so far as it goes
faithful portraiture Of the universal
wing party" as it now exists in Iowa
Having, by pertinaciously holding on &c
to their ill-gotten power, avoided being
called to an account by the people for dis
regarding and frustrating the popular will,
and knowing that they have prevented the
issue from being tried until 1913, they
are now seeking to, shift from their own
shoulders, on 10 those of their honest CD.
ponents, the responsibility of having de-
prived Iowa Of her just representation in
The Senate Of the United States for the
period OF two years. No intelligent, right,
minded man. whether Wing or Democrat.