The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-06-29

scribblers, for the purpose of shielding his
awkward position from public scrutiny,
evinccs the depth Of the mire in which he
is laundering. and the absence Of firm
bottom on which to rest his hopes.
For he knows TINT the Legislature, Of
which he is still member. passed law
authorizing the election Of Superintendent,
at the next annual township election; thu,
this was approved Feb. 9Th, 1917; thu,
i was mos. thoroughly published BY the
Secretary Of State, and copies duly au,hcn.
.lcatcd by him sent to the CONS. Clerk Of
each county, whose duty it was TO publish
clcclions that the election was duly pub
lishcd. regularly conducted. and the returns
properly made to the Secrc,rrv Of State
at which election received n majority oil
the legal vo,es-all Of which is mater o
public record in the proper offices.
Tie knows me not only To have been
regularly elected, but TO have been in the
possession Of said oil;ce-of its hooks, pa
pcrs, and immunties-nnd in the perlor.
nance Of its dnties during the past year.
and up to the present moments and that
have been recognised by every department,
of tho State Government. lie knows tina,
J have no, resigned said Office; that have
not been oustcd from the sumo: and tina,
|, has never been declared racani.
/ lie knows That am legally and morally
bound TO The people Of The State, in official
bond and onth. for faithful performance
OF the duties II said Office. during the three
years for which was elected; and that
have never been released from these obi.
CATIONS.
lie knows. too, TINT in the recent crn-
vass before the people, came not as can.
cidatc in the primary meaning OF the term,
bu, as the officer, duly elected. aud in full
possession OF the Office; giving it us INV
ilrm conviction that the then approaching
election was unauthorized bv law. aud
would consequently be perfect null,v.-
This position will be remembered with u
degree Of vividncss, by Mr.. Benton. when
he calls To mind his oft repeated efforts,
both in his circulars and speeches. to turn
il into ridicule
Consequently, Mr.. Benton knows tina,
! am under no legal obligations to snrrcn-
der the office 10 another; aud under u,
implied obligations from sense Of honor
unless clear majority Of The icgal rotfs
had been cnst ngnInst me. lie knows. Ton,
unless he choose 10 close his ewes 10 eyi-
dcnce, that this has not been done; that
all las sympathetic appeals to tho mem.
bers oi the Methodist Church who were
democrats, tn the Wings on the score OF
personal fricndship-to the people at large
because his Uncle Benton had never .iveu
him Office, were unavaling: tina, his direct
appeal both from The stump mud from the
press, To the political prcjudices of n party
supposed to be greatly in the majority.
backed by conventional circular from the
leaders OF this part, aud organized by him.
SELF. IN mighty caucus with political friends
l-pledalng himself ITO he crcr fruc 10 tho
Democracy If Tie Dcmocrnry moud hold
on TO m-was also Intellectual lie is
compelled TO feel tina. either the one thou
sand democratic majority claimed for the
State, has dwindlcd down to nothing under
the lawlcss abuse l,avc received from par
tizan leaders. in their efforts 10 defeat the
will Of the people, ar that ONE THOUSAND
Of his political friends have condemned
him.
Under this view of the subject I would
inquire Of cnndid men, either Wings or
Democrats. il it Is my duty to surrender an
office nj discretion, after receiving il sec.
ond time from The people. nj nv own re.
quest, merely because | NAV have been
sharnciully swindicd in the oiiicial canvass
Of the returns? liza jury Of twelve men,
in any part Of the State. uninhucnccd by
party feelings with full statement Of the
facts as they exist, placed under n pledge
II honor alone, would answer in the affirm.
alive. would resign in less than an hour
have invited Mr.. Benton to person.
al examination Of the facts bcnring on this
subject. That we might, iiposslbIe, come 10
mutual conviction Of truth. and avoid the
unpleasant necessity 81 conflict Of Official
action. but he ''respcc,fuily declines adopt.
ing such course; leaving me no al,crna-
tive but To hold on TO the office, or to meek.
" bow at the feet Of the man who SO cour-
icously assumes 10 be my superior. Isup-
pose j, will require no prophetic spiri, on
the part of my friends to divine the course
TINT shall pursue.
Believing myself 10 hnvc hecn legally
elected on the 9th Of April lS47, for the
term Of three years, ] shnll continue for
Two years to come, as ] have during the
past year 10 perform the duties Of the Of.
fee 10 The best Of my ability, unless the
courts should decided against me. Ii they
should thus decide, having received ma
Jortv Of the legal votes AT the recent cleo
ton, would expect 10 hold The Office for
three yenrs TO come. The one or the 9TH
or election must have hecn rirh,-if the