Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-02-02


Committee. ELISHA CUTLER, JR.
lows City, Jan. Is, lS4S Chairman.
ExpuDsieu Of Mr.. Kinsman.
Our readers have been informed Of the
FINAL contamination Of this revolving deed
Of federal rsurp.tion, this browning act Of
infamy to which the Inscriptions foes Of
equal rights were driven a. last resort
70 deprive the people Of Iowa Of their true
representation in the Senate Of the United
States. But, thus far, only very general
and superficial account has been given Of
the ssaaaer in which the thing was done.
The people have been furnished with but
apariial glimpse Of the dark doiDgs Of fed.
eyalism in this behalf.
We now purpose to give more full
exposure Of the ridiculous trumped up
charges sgainst Mr.. Kinsman, with the
pretended proof and the proceedings ofhis
mock trial by packed, interested and pre-
determined jury Of political mountebanks.
At FIRST they relied solely upon tho charge
that Mr.. K. had resigned lis seat, Aatter-
ing thensslves that they could sustain this
charge by the testimony Of sucha suborn-
ed political pimp a. Fitz Warren, the no.
toriou. hog driver and strolling agent Of
the wing committee at Washington. They
freely admitted that his removal did not
vacats bis seat, unless he had resigned;
and declared themselves willing to rest the
issue upon the Governors testimony.
But learning, on the arrival Of his Elk.
eellsncy, that he had..reoeived nothing from
Mr.. Kinsman that squinted even remotely
towards a resignation, and fearing the effect
Of IN enlightened public opinion on the
unsustained testimony Of their informed.
ding hog driver, they concluded that, in
order to put face upon the matter, it would
be necessary to add another specification
to the main charge. They therefore charg-
ed him with the crime Of straying beyond
the confines Of his district, and contended
that thereby he had forfeited his rights as
. member Of the House. To this charge
he pleaded guilty; but, a. he was still con-
stitusional member Of the Legislature
the Governor not having ordered an cleo.
ton in his district, because there was no
vacancy to fiIl-and as his constituents de-
msnded Of him to represent their interests
in the Legislature, he claimed his seat as
such, and denied the power Of the House
to exclude him without showing that he
had been guilty Of some crime or misde-
meanor which rendered him liable to ex-
pulsion by two thirds vote.
Though they had signally failed of prov
ing the main charge-his resignation-and
though it was obvious that the o,her-his
removsl-if proved, could not affect his
right to > seat, yet they aattered them.
selves that by putting them both together
and confounding one with the other, SO as
to mistiiy the subject little, they would
answer the purpose about as well as one
COED charge proved against him. In this
way they thought they could make the act
Of his expulsion, or removal from office,
60 down 1t least with the schig portion Of
their constituents. Accordingly, an i'm
posing preamble and resolutions were in
troduced with great flourish of trumpets
by Mr.. Sells, the "Motion Maker Gene.
raj" a the House, a. Chairman Of the In
qu;tisorial Committe in this case, which
read ~ follows:
"WHxlEAs, J. N. Kinsman, former mem
Der Of this House from the district com
posed Of the counties Of Morton, Polk,
Dallas and Jasper, did, on or before the
month Of JAY last, remove from his dis
Lriot to hecounty of Mahaska, took up his
residence in said county and voted in said
county ii the last election; and whereas
the constitution makes residence in any
district On essential requisite 10 become
member Of this House a. Representa-
live Of sid district; and whereas, there is
,v;dence befors this House that the. said
j. n. Kipsman did, on leaving his district,
notify the Governor Of the same, that he
might order new ELECTION, and sisted to
xhsrs that he had resigned his seat 10 this
sody3 and whereas, no mei,'ber has
right, after having resigned, to ye-elect
himself by recalling or reconsiderine his
therefore, !
Rssolued, That ]. N. Kinsmsn has no
right to 81! the seat in this House belong
IN to the district composed ofthe counties
Of Marion, Polk, Dallas and Jasser; and
said seat is hereby declared vacant.
Here we have beautifully jumbled
usss Of incontrosertible sophistry, incon-
,;seency and contradiction. Waving. for
Ihs psessnf, The question Of the power Of
IL Honss to interfere with Mr. Kinsman's
light to seat, or 10 other words, to remove