Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-02-23
some Dust Flying.

" luH ptOCCSusussS VI 81 ~ Jo"'A -se~'
ing Of the Catholic citizens of Dubuque,
held On the 18th inst, to take into consid-
Grafton the subject Of the offensive re-
marks made by Mr.. Smith with reference
to the Catholic clergy in Mexico, in his
speech at the democratic meeting held in
this city on the 9Th Of January. The in
formation contained in the following edi-
torial remarks Of tie Express, predatory
to those proceedings, will be matter Of
surprise to such Of our friends as are
familiar with the uniform course of our pa
per in al, matters concerning the Catho-
lies, and particularly upon that now un-
der consideration: ,
sIn the proceedings which we publish
below, we find a resolution reproving the
course Of our cotemporary ofthe ''Repor.
ter" in his controversy with DR.. E. J..
Mcdonnell, as tan.amount to declaration
in support of all that D. Smith said at the
Democratic mass meeting, held at the Cap.
itol on the 9Th Of January. However tu-
rious the warfare between the editor Of
the Reporter and DR.. Mcdonnell, may
have been, we have too much confidence
in he canAor aud discretion of our neigh
Dor, to Justify an inference, that be adopts
andapproves the sentiments uttered by Mr..
Smith, with regard 10 the character Of the
clergy in Mexico.
He certainly would not do it merely to
CRAFTY the whim or prejudice Of Smith;
Tor this would be divesting him at once Of
honesty and good sense. We cannot but
believe, that a proper regard for justice
will exonerate him from any intention
or desire TO be viewed in this light before
the public"
We have perused The proceedings in
question, and calmly reflected upon the
novelty Of the case which they present. :.
We say we have canvassed the matter
calmly; for, after the first establishment,
not unmipg -, we confess, with something
Of a stronger feeling, had subsidized, we
were ledto reflect upon the greater neces.
sily created by occurrences like the pres
ent, for GOODNESS, delibcration and firm
ness in those upon whom devolves the
control of that medium of light, that mighty
engine oftruih and justice, The press.
Our limit, this week, and at this late
day ofthe week, will scarcely permit of
cur saying any thing more than to thank
our intelligent cotemporary ofthe Express
for his prompt and manly stand in vindi-
eating US against the manifest injustice for
which we stand indebted, as we suppose,
to the misrepresentation of all interested
and designing intermeddler. This is an
indication which we hail with unfeigned
joy-not on account Of any immediate per-
sonal interest OF our own-but as an add.
t;onsl guaranty that the cause of truth will
never be wanting for staunch s. firm cham
pions among the democratic press Of this
State.
There has been, however, no "warfare
between the editor of the Reporter and
Doct. Mcdonnell When that individual
attacked the Democracy of the State on ac-
count Of the unauthorized remarks of Mr..
Smith, which we though, were sufficient
ly repudiated by Gen. Dodge and Col.
Benton, on behalf of the party-when he
compared our 9Th of January meeting to
the fanatical gatherings in Exeter Hall
when ne grossly lalsiiied the record and
the facts, BY asserting, among other things,
that The meeting loudly cheered those par
,icular remarks of Mr.. Smith, that Gen.
Dodge lodged the question, and that Col.
Benton did no better-we deemed it our
duty to expose his fallacy as we did, and
are persuaded that we did our duty, and
only our duty. 1t is true that said "E. J.
McDonrl! NJ. d." kept up his fire at US
through the Standard, in most abusive
manner, but we paid no attention to his
second philippic, especially as he virtual
ly recanted what he had said with refer
ence to the democratic party. We uere
desirons to say something more on the
subject, t. set the matter forth more clear
ly; but some of our old Catholic citizens Of
this town, who perfectly understood US,
urged upon us to drop the subject, which
we accordingly did. But enough was
said in the same paper, aside from the pro.
ceedings OF the meeting, ofwhich we were
Secretary. 10 show that we did not "adopt
the sentiments expressed by Delazon
Smith,"
We cannot but believe that the Cstho-
lie ciliEsns Of Dubuque have been imposed
upon in this matter, and that when advised
OF the true state Of the case as they must
be ere this) they will do full justice in the
premises. We will here state fact which
may have contributed in some degree TO