Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-15
speech Of Mr.. Le6llngwel1,
OfAe House of Representatives.. on the res.
luton to declare Mr.. Kinsman's seat "a.

,A SDCcCDa Of MT. LemWSWells
OfNe House of Representatives.. on tie res.
luton to declare Mr.. Kinsman's seat ra
:. cant. j b
GcoscLuDED FROM LAsrwEEk.
Bat sir, we are told by gentlems n that
III. fact + Of Mr.. Kinsman's resignation is
!, established by evidence Of as high char.
ac,er, aud by men Of as good moral stand
;np. as any in this State Hence, it
,eem,tl,at Mr.. Kinsman is no longer ca
pable Of Judging or acting for himself; and
consequently, he not being competent to
RESIGN his seat, some other person has re-
sipped it for him! The declaration Of a
ss.rsgglor is taken as conclusive evidence,
and his own protestations to the contrary
are wholly disregarded. To understand
thi, evidence, we have only to read it,
and to decide upon the credibility Of the
witness. we have only 10 listen to his
own story. will read it: i grg
aaCol. htz Henry Warren, sworn
sa-s, 4 was in Jasper county some time
in July las.--on my return home stop
ed ii Mr.. Kinsman's house, in Oscaloo.
"a. Il tent to that district, for the pur-
pose Of ascertsining whether Mr.. Kins-
man had resigned, and TO see if new
election had been ordered. While there,
/ gothic impression that Mr.. Ki.isman had
resigned. In 4 conversation with Mr..
Kinsman, he told me that he had written
to the Governor.informing him Of his re-
maval to tuscaloosa, so that he might or
der an election if he saw proper so to- do
--he told me that he thought his seat was
vacant from the fact Of bis remosa! from
hi, district. While was in Jasper coun-
IT,, made arrangements TO have the
Governor notified Of the fact. Mr.. Kins.
man told me that he had written to the
Governor resigning his seat"
This is the evidence by which the gen.
tleman must be thrust from this House.
This is the evidence Of "as respectable
men"--nen Of "as high moral character
and as good Standing as any III this STATED
God forbid! Itthis be sample Of the
b:sl evidence that can be produced in this
sStats--if this man is Of as good moral
character and high standing as amy in this
State-then, sir, are the people Of Iowa
snnken to the lowest depths Of moral deg
radstion; their character presents most
striking delineation Of moral deprayity,
and that man among them who could con-
coct the greatest falsehood and give it pub
icity and effect by the solemn.ty, or fa,h
er the mockery Of an OATH, would be &C
counted the most important and respecta-
bic parsonage in the State! Sir, it is a
gros, libel upon the morality Of lowe; and
to compare this political scayenger 10 the
responsibility Of Iowa, is base insolerce
and brazen effrontery.
Il claim for myself, Mr.. Speaker, as
great an exemption from any situper alive
sport, and as much distaste for recriinlna-
ton, as any member on this floor; but, sir
for the proper consideration Of the charac.
ter oflhis evidence, and especially, the
testimony Of apolu,tary, ,rilliug, eager and
| may add, consciencciess witness, in the
case, the usual decorum of debate may mol
be strictly observed; and trust that l
will be exonerated from any disposition
TO commit an intraction of that courtesy
which should pertain to deiiberative bod
les. Who is this personage, for-whom SO
much exalted and eminent responsibility
has been cIaimed?a Who IN this devotee,
who, under scorching July sun, per.
forms his pilgrimage to the new county;
a journey Of some two hundred miles! and
what 10 the object Of his mission? He tells
us, land ! shall speak upon the authority
Of what purports to be his own oath, )that
he went 10 this district "for the par.
pose Of ascertaining whether new cleo.
ton had been ordered, and whether Mr..
KiDsman had resigned;' and how, let me
ask. did lie succeed? He says, while in
Jasper county 4 got the Impression that
Mr.. knsman had resigned Are we
told how the witness got this impression?
No.. Mr. skinsman ! had removed out OF
his district, and Of course it was not from
any thing lhathe learned Of that gentleman,
that he got the Impression What weight,
then, is such an impression entitled 10?
None! On his return home he stopped at
Mr.. Kinsman's house, in Oscaloosa." He
was then told BY Mr.. Kinsnan, that he
Asd written 10 the Governor, informing
him Of his ucmoual from has district, that
he might order new election if he saw
proper SO 10 do. Now, sir, it is clearly
shown by the testimony, THAT IN this con
.versation, the mind Of Mr.. Kinsinan was
not clear as to the fact Of his seat beng
vacant; but he had sent a statement oftha
facts to the Governor, SO that he might act
as ne thought proper. This factis more
strongly impressed by a reference to the
testimony Of Smith, another witness, who
states that Mr.. Kinsman told him that she
did not know whether his seat was vacant
or not, but had written to the Governor
to ascertain The gentleman DID not know
whether the removal vacated his seat or
not. This is the conversation, then, that
was had at Mr.. Kinsman's house.
The witness next states, that awhile in
Jasper county he made made arrange
ments to have The Governor formally nCti-
ned NJ the fact. This stregthens the propo.
sition that was first laid down by me-
that Mr.. Kinsman not wishing, or, being
unable, to resign, some other derson had
resigned for him. L seems that this very
efficient agent has taken upon himsei,
the exercise Of a power that was NOT del
e0afod tn1h:.n n.no ~ ~ e.fxyl. ~