The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-06-29

IN April lSi7, and also by the election in
April last. | felt not Il little as,onished
when first advised of this novel assumption.
For was led to infer from his public dec
"rsion and sympathetic appeals to you
Immediately preceding the election--his
great outcry that no barrier should be inter
posed to rctard the speedy organization of
ear common schools, and his determination
70 take the question inrolring his right to
The office from Ike courts. for tic purpose
Of referring ii 10 the tribunal of the people
for decision. that their verdict ut the balo,
box would definitely settle the issue be-
tween us. Unfortunately however YOU
have seen proper 10 decide in nv favor.
and therefore yonr decision is wrong. An
appeal will now be taken. suppose, from
Your tribunal back 10 the courts. His
apology is that some infurmaiiics existed
IN the election, and that some illegal votes
were given in Marion and other counties.
OF this have not the slightest Doubt, and
do not, suppose that nm election will ever
TIC held where such will not he tho casc.
But presume that the people Of Marion
county are ms competent to decide who
among them is entitled TO vote MS Mr.. II.
is. And while nh erpartc examination of
illegal votes and irregularities in the cleo.
ton might reduce INV vote. lit is bu, reason
able 10 conclude that fall investigation
would equally reduce tho vote Of my oppo-
nent
Another complaint is, that the returns
were frandnlcnhy clarasscd by the ENccu-
two and Secretary ct State. This con-
slider most ptiiul suh,crfnsc TO cover the
chagrin Of an unexpected defeat. Those
officers. under bond ind oath, performed
their duty strictly according To law, aud the
Uniform example IF their predecessor.
imagine that the most fraudulent part If
the transaction in the estimation OF my
opinion is. that the" ,ronld not crroyafc TO
Themselves The porcr 10 reject the returns of
certain counties, rhich care majority for
me, for unless they did this. he must still
be left in the minority. This is las re-
marked by ono Of the public Prints but IA
tempest in n teapot" aud | think il NAV
well he ndded that the actors in the scene
nrc admirably adequate in mental proper
,lons 10 figure in So contracted sphere.
| presume TINT tho Executive and Sccrctn-
~, or any of my friends would scorn to sec
me ever attempt 10 avail m, self of anv ad-
vantage 81 my opponen, on the mere pre-
text Of a.isnomer in the returns. would
not hold any Office in tho gift Of the people
by so irail u tenure. Mr.. Harlan is well
come Ia all the votes returned that crcn
commence wiM the letter II, cxcep, those
given to Prof. Howe. al Mt. Pleasant
And even then the misrepresentation md
false issues against mc. and the hue and
cry Of sympathy raised in behalf Of Inv op-
ponen, prior To the election, have clear
majority OF seventeen votes.
! determined in the commencement Of
the contest 10 'bc either man or mouse,
and as the former has been INV choice i'm
every thing ,ouching the election to the
present time, shall not abandon i, now.
II Mr.. Harlan chooses to pcrsonify the lat
ter. am not inclined TO tread in his foot
steps. As he is not satisfied with Your
awnrd, il would afford me infinite satsfac-
ton 10 give him another heat before YOU.
Considering myself fairly and legally
elected. | shall disregard these petty pre-
tcn,ons, and shall continue faithfully and
promptly 10 discharge nv official duties, MS
| promised you | would when soliciting
Your support. Permit inc to assure YOU
that shall do nothing in the matter cal
culaled TO arres, the progress &C education,
or to defeat the immediate and permanent
organization Of our schools throughout the
State. shall net entirely on the defcn-
sire, and whenever il is shown that Your
voice is against me. though it should only
be by ma loritv Of one roie, shall cheer
fully yield tho Office and its cmolnmenis to
the man Of yonr choice You will remcm-
her thu, the principal hobby Of Mr.. Harlan
before tho election was that ..fiere ras no
necessity for inferrnpfing school officers in
the discharge Of their duties. How far his
Professions then will correspond with his
subsequent practice. time will show.
am now preparing with I'll possible dis
patch circular Of instructions 10 the Fund
Commissioners. with the necessary blank
forms for the use Of their respective Offices.
which ] shall forward without delay. |
shall hold myself in readiness promptly to
impart any information in nv possession to
he various school officers, and To aid them
in every manner possible in the discharge
OF their official duties.
Your ohd't serv'f..
TfiOS. n EESTOV. II
Iowa City, May Both, 1918.