Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-29

|ment, and all its weight and trappings
thrown again upon our shoulders. A.
gain, twenty years ago, was an adyo-
cate for the distribution Of the proceeds
of the public lands. | looked upon them
as trust fund which belonged to the
whole United States. But the last Con
|gress has pledged the proceeds of the
public lands to the subscribers for the
public loan; and am in favor Of uphold
ing and supporting the public credit. New,
then, that being the case, cannot 60, any
longer, for the distribution of the pro-
ceeds of the sales of public lands, for, in
touching them, you touch the chords Of
public credit.
Now, briefly, and in word, will
speak respecting the power of the veto.
The wings, in early days, went against
the exercise Of the veto by the President
Of the United States. They also went a.
gainst the power Of the executive to re-
move from office unless on cause assign
ed, and by the sanction of the Senate of
1.-THE United States. These questions have
been thoroughly discussed. / am not go
! ing to dwell upon them now. l only re-
fer to them for the purpose Of showing
] that there is no man in this country ,wheth-
wing or democrat, who practically would
think it necessary those special opinions
or principles should be adopted by aman,
in order to render him fit for being cleo
ted to an important Office. say there is
no man, who SO thinks, unless he is one of
those who are too deeply stepped end bap-
tised in party prejudices, and fettered by
party shackles. We must get rid of these
by taking new men, fresh men, who haze
mot the odiuna Of all those questions upon
them, or who can boldly come out from
them and declare that these questions are
not now the rule of their canduct; that
these are not questions which they would
urge or advocate if they were elevated to
the Presidency Of the United States.
After Mr.. Johnson had finished his
speech, Col. Baker took the stand, but for
tunately the meeting seemed disposed to
make known its own sentiments as well
as to listen to Col. B. The following are
extracts from the Herald's report, and
they give good idea Of the complexion
of the meeting:
The man who reads General Taylor's
history from Palo Alto to Buena Vista,
said Col. Baker, and can't see any differ
ence between Taylor and Tyler-it is i'm
material whom such man votes for.
Voice-If he is like Tyler, he is an
honest man.
Col. Baker-What- ["Put him out!'']
Col. Baker-What's that you say? Put
that down. Well, here is one person who
calls John Tyler an honest man. Laugh
ter from all parts of the house.)
Voice-Tell us why Mr.. Clay can't be
elected. Yes, tell us so.
Col. Baker-Wcll, Mr.. Clay did not
get the vote of, New York at the last cleo
ton. Suppose he could get it now-take
that for granted. l hope, if he could get
New York, he can't get Tennessee.
("Never, never.") There is not MEM
Der of Congress from Tennessee in his
favor. But suppose he could get both
New York and Tennessee, what then?
! Voice-Who is Neil S. Brown?
Col. Baker---He is Governor of Ten
nessee. Since the last election, Florida,
Iowa and Wisconsin, are already states, or
will come into the Union before the next
election. Now, if Mr.. Clay loses any
one of those states, and we know he could
not get one of them, and gets New York
and Tennessee, even SO he could not be
elected.
Voice---He can get New York.
Col. Baker---Well, he can get ONE
New York---he then loses Iowa, Florida,
and Wisconsin, and he would be beaten,
as he was before.
Cries of "no, no, no.
Col. Baker---Some friend asked NE my
reasons why Mr.. Clay can't be elected.
Now these are my reasons.
Avoice---Three cheers for Henry Clay.
(Hurrah. hurrah, hurrah, and some his
ses. .......
A voice---Three cheers for Gen. Tay-
lor. (Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah.)
Col. Baker---But this is not the ques-
tion---the question for us to decide is,
whether there is not something in the
course of public affairs in this country,
which calls for sensible and patriotic men
to make our President available at the bal
lot box. What will the Democratic Con-
vention do in May?
| Voice---What is right ?
| Voice---Nominate Cass.
Col. Baker---What do you say? What
has General Cass done? Twill tell what
the convention will do---they will do just
as they did before; instead Of taking a man
who would be first rate for anything, they
will nominate some man like Mr.. Polk.
unknown and unthought Of, and available
enough to do anything. They will select
such man. a
| Voice---But they can't elect him.
Col. Baker---They say will prove it as
they did with Mr.. Clay, and you will help
to make another little President, such as
James X. Polk. "a ... .#s
! oice---Three cheers for James K
Polk. (Hurrah! hurrah! hurrahD
Voice---Three more. (Hurrah! hur-
rah! hurrah!)
Terrible conrusion--cheering, clappine
hands, kissing, SIC.
Col. Baker---If President Polk were
here he would be highly gratiGed at this
| Al c,,-o,.