Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-12-29
VOLUME s.


s,W;EDNESDAY, DECEMBER ~, 'o4l.
u,,uan,s GallOws...-Thc Tories
Guilt and their Doom.
We have had frequent occasion to adj
..,, IN the unwonted virulence and gross
personality Of our political opponents in
mi. state; but, excusing them to some ex-
tent on the score Of soreness from con-
timed defeat, we have not shown our
,elyes over sensi,ive OF capiious on this
account. A reasonable degree Of this spice
in political strife is pardonable, if temper
ed BY regard for truth and honor which,
hoseyer, we cannot say for the federal
pess Of iowa. The malignant manifesta-
lions Of those purblind victims Of their
own hate, writing under the overwhelm-
ing consciousness Of popular eondemna-
tion, can only be compared to the death
aeonles Of the serpent, expiring from the
venom Of his own bite.
The specimen Of this ranking maligni-
~ which We are about 10 record, is from
the Bloomington Herald, in reply to the
first Srief notice taken Of Mr. Clay S speech
in the Reporter Of three weeks since
which our readers will bear ustcstimony,
was remarkable for nothing more than for
its unusual mildness. When it is remem-
bered that the following CHARACTERISTIC ef-
fusion Of ribaldry is from the mouth piece
of,hat party which arrogates to itself all
the public virtue, as well as "alt the de-
cency," and, as natural inference, com.
prising all the "better men, the reeoiling
force Of its unwilling self condemnation
will be duly appreciated. That modern
Haman says:
.The gallows has enjoyed the luxury
Of choak'ng Ten thousand better men than
the calumnlaiors Of Henry Clay"
True, most true, in spirit, II not to the
letter. Al Mexicosc, in presence Of the
assembled army Of American soldiers. and
within sight Of those vile pleading priests
who preach in Mexico the identical doc.
trines disseminated by the federal press in
this coun,ry-the former taking their cue
from the lateral one fell drop 1.-The gal
lows enjoyed the luxury ofchoaking" no
less than fifty such "beiier men," Was it
not "luxury!" Fifty wre,ched beings,
once Americans, and never at heart less
true 10 their country than those political
actionis.s whose insidious precepts they
practiced, at once expiated their crimes
upon the fatal gallows tree.
These were your "betier men than the ca
lumniators Of Henry CIay;' and they CON-
s!itute but moiety Of that heroic train Of
martyrs who thus, in the hour Of rejoicing
for American victories, suffered for their
ardent devotion to the cause Of "poor per-
secuted Mexico" and Of bleeding human
ity," so powerfully vindicated by the elo.
quence Of Henry Clay in his Lexington
speech. Shocked, doubtless, like him and
his sycophan.ic train Of worshippers. at
the "wanton aggressions'' Of our govern
ment, at our Unconstitutional and upright
eous war against humanity" and at the
"murder, rapine and plumber" attributed
to the American army Of 'sbandit,i"
donting the motto Of "JUSTICE TO
MEXICO" as put into their mouths by
the federal orators and press Of this coun
try, they deserted their country. color.
and boldly joined the standard Of the enc
ny; aye, and fought btavely, desperately
in vindication Of the patriotic (?) sen,i
ments promulgated BY Webster, Corwir
and Clay. What an ou.rsge,o hang sucl
practical patriots! They were far "be.te,
men," says the federal press, ethan tn,
calumniators Of Henry Clay" A beau,i
ful sentiment, truly, and worthy Of il.
source! A most commenIable fellow feel
ing!
Whose crime, in moral point Of view
is Of the deeper dye, Of the more damnine
hut! Theirs, who in acting, perhaps up
on their honest convictions Of right, BRAY.
ed an isnominious death? or that Of thei,
pacific tory examplers at home, who con.
'tan;ly preach what they dare not practice
who 81, securely in their easy chairs
and IN plotting to get possession Of the
government, SOW sediiion and instigate
desertion? Which class are the "bette,
mcn!" II any difference, we think our
readers will sgree with the Bloomington
Herald, that the shelter men, have beer
ehoaked BY the eallows.
The moral law takes equal coenizanc.
ofboth these classes; but. while the pripe
Of martial law is on the one, and the col
about their necks, the e,her, having eau.
ti"usIy abslsined from any oueri set, escsp.
'he late. Of the less willy and more homes,
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