Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-22
A Lying Spirit Abroad.

I
! II becomes our duty to warn the pub
lie against the thousand and enc malicious
falsehoods that will be put in circulation
in different parts Of the State, prior to the
election, to operate against Mr.. Benton.
Already has the tongue Of black detrac-
ton been wagging with great activity.
One Of these lies, put in circulation here
by the great Mogul of the wing party. to-
wit; that Mr.. B. had entered into an ar
rangement with the Rev. Al Huestis,
to employ him as his deputy, in case Of
his election, in order to enlist that gentle
man in his support; was eiieetually nail
ed to the counter by the statement which
we published last week over Mr.. Benton's
own signature. AS this falsehood proba-
| bly, has been, or will be, clandestinely
circulated in other parts of the State, we
hope our friends will attend to its prompt
refutalio
i Our attention has just been called TO a
new oatch sneakingly put forth in the
Bloomington Herald { = sheet, by the way.
which does not defile our table) over the
signature Of "Paa Pry." These are in
the specious form Of queries" as fol.
lows:
| SIS it true that Thomas Fl. Benton, the
present Locofoco candidate for Surerin-
tendent, was last year, a devoted friend
OF James Harlan's, and desired his cleo.
ton?
Is it true that the said Thomas II. Ben
ton, corresponded with Mr.. Harlan dur
ing last years canvass, and kept him ad-
v.sed Of his prospects in the northern part
Of the State?
| Is ittrue that the same Thomas H. Ben
ton received Mr.. Harlan's tickets, and
circulated Them throughout his and adj
joining coun,ies?"
The object Of these cowardly insihua.
tons will readily be perceived. Not con-
tent with playing the game of blind mans
buff with The people, by attempting to
gull them intothe support of their par,i.
Fan tool under the gnise Of "no-par.y"
candidate, the desperate ,nyrmidons of
federal whiggery seek TO drive true dem
ocrats from the support of Mr.. Benton,
by casting suspicion upon his political f.
deity and creating the impression that he
has proved traitor 10 his party!
This cute "Paul Pry" then insinnates,
in the same sneaking manner, that the
said Thomas H. Benton voied for James
Harlan, and against Charles Mason = and
asks, "if these things are so?'' We will
answer, not only that '''hese Mines" arc
not so, but that they are, in epsry particular
an! every ,cord, as false as the rotten. era.
ven hear, in which they had their birth,
and as infamous as the vile cree ping
ching" Of the Herald, whose slimy trail
they marx!
We would not have thought of stoop;pp
to notice these slanderous inuendoes of
nameless scribbler, with no other endorse
ment, than that Of the scurvy creature
Stout, were it not that they form Dart of
the batch Of federal lies pu. forth asains.
MIR. Benton, to be re-vamped according
to the different latifudes in which they
are to be used in the canvass What must
upright men, Of either party, think Of pol
iticians who will resort to such means for
securing the election Of their candidate?
Last year this same Harlan had the all.
dacity TO publicly claim "one Of the mos,
prominent democrats OF this city" Judge
Carleton) as his political god father; and,
when called TO account for il, resorted 10
the most despica5le prevarication, in or.
der 10 escape the consequences. Dare he
now endorse these infamous inuendoes
with reference to Mr.. Benton? From
whom, in fact, could ''Paul Pry"h have CD.
tanned such inio' nation, as tina, Mr.. Ben.
ton twas last year devoted friend of Jas.
Harlan's, and desired his election''-tlst
he ''received and circulated Mr.. Harlan's
tickets" and 'corresponded with him dur.
ing last years canvass, and kept him adj
vised Of his prospects in the northern
portion of the Sta'e'-from whom, we
say, bnt from Harlan himself?
But "Paul Pry" says that he is credi-
bly, informed that these things were So"
"though notify Mr.. Harlan" This looks
more suspicious still. A denial, in advance.
Of the authority from which it is obvious to
all that he could only have obtained his
information, directly or second handed,
speaks guilty conscience anxious to cor
ceal the glaring iniamy Of the act, 1t looks
as if this midnis ht assassin was no other
than Harlan himself, attempting to give
his opponent stab in the back, under the
mask Of a fictitious correspondent with
the signature Of "Paul Pry." This would /
be in perfect keeping with the balance o:
his nefarious conduct. Again we demand
If he dare openly father these base char
ges! =
DcStrustiye Fire.
About one o'clock on the morning of