Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-06-02


unable to advise lie upon this point,
we car not speak positively as 10 the
day.
A Shameless Breach Of Courtesy.
Mr. .Modley,of Dubuque, guardian rag
baron, and Fund Commissioner elect of
that county, wrote to JOSEPH I. FALEs,
Auditor Of State, as to personal friend,
requesting him TO procure and furnish him,
(Mr. NJ, with copies Of the school laws
passed at the late session.
Mr.. Fsles, having no copies Of the laws
in his possession, and nothing to do with
them ia his official capacity, referred the
letter to the Secretary, at the same time
politely replying to Mr.. Mobley in pri-
vate letter. The Secretary being thus cal
led upon 70 perform an extra official act,
as jaror to person who was stranger
to him, but who was recommended to him
by the Auditor as gentleman } took the
pains also to reply 10 Mr.. Mobley's letter.
The laws were at this time in course
Of publication, and the Secretary had as
much as he could conveniently attend to,
in transcribiDg and experimenting their
publication. He had already done more
than the law required of him, in forward
ing copies Of the school law to each county
in the State, directed to the Commission
er's Clerks" and the "School Fund Com
nissioners." He therefore did not choose
to transcribe all those laws, or hire a
clerk to do it at an expense Of some FIVE
dollars; this, he rightly thought, was re-
quirins almost too liberal favor to stran-
ger, though recommended as gentleman.
But he politely replied to him as Mr. F..
had previously done--both these gentle
men frankly md briefly stating 10 him, as
10 a gentleman who had approached them
with request for favor, their honest
conviction that those laws were not in
force; consequently be could have no ur-
gent necessity for copies of them before
they would be published and distributed
by authority.
They little dreamed of seeing their let
tiers, thus drawn from them-one of them
strictly private, and the other intended as
such, though signed, perhaps. officially =
paraced in the wing Journals Of the state,
accompanied with the most indecent and
unmeasured abuse, the most foul aspersion
OF their motives, and violent denunciations
of their Official (?) cunduct. They had but
an inadequate conception of the inexplica.
BILE meanness and the depth Of infa,ny to
which federalism can descend, in order TO
make political capital out OF serious de-
feet in the school laws, resulting from the
recklessness and inefliciency Of the federal
members Of the General Assembly, who
held mixed species of predominance in
that body, and consequently, a controlling
influence over all its Legislation "a defect
which renders the school system wholly
imperative for a year, at least, and throws
every thing into utter confusion. They
had no idea Of their names being dragged
before the public in political controver-
sy concerning the school laws and the
election, over which they had no more
control than they have over the laws o.
the Modes and Persians.
No further comment is necessary upon
this base and nefarious transaction. The
highway robber is comparatively an hon.
orable and high minded man, contrasted
with these black hearted, sneaking and
dastardly minions Of federal whiggery; and
an enlightened community will STAMP
them with that infamy which is insepera.
bic from such villianous conduct.
The Secretary and Auditor need no de-
fence at our hands. They honestly anc
faithfully perform their duties, without
fear, favor or affection. They have, over
their own signatures, explained the cir
cumstances here alluded to. Nothing bu
the fragrant breach Of courtesy committed
by the man whom they mistook for gen
tleman, could have warranted them in bes
towing upon him the notice which they die
through the public prints.