Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-31
TO TIE PEOPLE or IOWA

TO THE PEOPLE or IOWA.
i Having been elected Superintendent Of
Public instruction on the Sd Of April, 1913
, in accordance with the provisions made by
. our General Assembly for the election Of
that officer, ! have given bond to the Go
vernon as required by law, which was ap-
proved by him on the 18th inst, and have
also taken and subscribed the necessary
oath of Office, which together with the
bond were filed in the Office of the Secre.
tary of State on the 23d inst, upon which
day entered upon the discharge of my
official duties.
! My competitor in the late contest, Mr..
James Harlan, declines yielding his pre-
tensions to the Office, claiming to be the
legal incumbent by virtue of an election
in April l847. and also by the election in
\ April last. / felt not little astonished
when first advised of this novel assump-
ton. For was led to infer from his pub
lie declarations and sympathetic appeals to
you Immediately preceding the election
!, his great QUERY that no barrier should BE-
interposed TO retard the speedy organization
of our common schools, and his ddermina-
tion to take the question inuolving his right
to the office from the courts, for the purpose
. Of referring 1t to the tribunal Of the people
for decision, that their verdict at the bal
lot box would definitely settle the issue
between us. Unfortunately however you
saw proper to decide in my favor, and
therefore your decision is Wrong. An ap-
peal will now be taken, suppose, from
your tribunal back to the courts. His
apology is that some informalities existed
in the election, and that some illegal votes
were given in Marion and other counties.
Of this l have not the slightest doubt, and
do not suppose that an election will ever
be held where such will not be the case.
But presume the people of Marion coun-
/ ty are as competent to decide who among
them is entitled to vote as Mr.. H. is.
And while an erparte examination Of ille-
gal votes and irregularities in the election
might reduce my vote, it is but rea-
sonable to conclude that full investiga-
ton would equally reduce the vote Of
my opponent. ...
Another complaint is, that the returns
were fraudulently canrassedb by the Execu-
tive and Secretary Of State. This ! con-
slider a most pitiful subterfuge to cover
the chagrin of an unexpected defeat
Those officers, under bond and oath, per-
formed their duty strictly according to law,
and the nitorm example oftteir predeces-
sors. l imagine that the most fraudulent
part of the transaction in the estimation of
my opponent is, that they ,roatld not arro-
cute to themselves the pouer to reject the re-
turns Of certain counties, ,rhieh game ma
jority for me, for unless they did this, he
must still be left in the minority. This is
Gas remarked by one of the public prints J
but "a tempest in teapot" and think
it may well be added that the actors in
the scene are admirably adapted in men
tai proportions to figure in SO contracted
a sphere. presume that the Executive
and Secretary, or any of my friends, would
scorn to see me ever attempt to avail my
self of any advantage Of my opponent on
the mere pretext Of misnomer in the re-
turns. l would not hold any office in the
| gift Of the people by so frail tenure
Mr.. Harlan is welcome to all the votes
returned that euen commence Nth the let
ter II, except those given to Prof. Howe,
of Mt. Pleasant. And even then, in spite
of the Misrepresentation and false issues
made against me, and the hue and cry of
sympathy raised in behalf Of my opponent
prior to the election, l have clear major
ity Of seventeen votes.
l determined in the commencement of
the contest to ''be either man or a mouse"
and as the former has been my choice in
every thing touching the election to the
present time, shall not abandon it now.
If Mr.. Harlan chooses to personify the
latter, am not inclined to tread in his
footsteps. As he is not satisfied with
your award, it would afford me infinite
satisfaction to give him another heat be-
fore you.
Considering myself fairly and legally
elected, | shall disregard these petty pre-
tensions, and shall continue faithfully and
punctually to discharge my official duties,
as promised you l would when solicit
ing your support. Permit me to assure you
that | shall do nothing in this matter cal
culated to arrest the progress of education,
or to defeat the immediate and permanent
organization of our schools throughout the
State. | shall act entirely on the deten-
sive, and whenever it is shown that your
voice is against me. though it should only
be by majority of one cote, shall cheer
fully yield the office and its emoluments to
the man of your choice. You will re-
member that the principal hobby of Mr..
Harlan before the election was that "there
'0as no necessity for interrupting school off,
GERS in the discharge of their duties" How
far his professions then will correspond
with his subsequent practice, time will
show.
l am now preparing with all possible
dispatch circular of instructions to the
Fund Commissioners, with the necessary
blank forms for the use of their respective
offices, which shall forward without de-
lay. | shall hold myself in readiness
promptly to impart any information in my
possession to the various school officers,
apd 70 old tho,o - o,..~. ~...x.. ,>..z:lt