Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1849-01-10


none of its advocates have uttered a senti.
ment to justify the gentleman in imputine
to us motives SO unworthy and impious
in their character.
| Why do our opponents manifest SC
much sympathy for people whom they
say have been driven from three or four
States of this Union, by mob violence in
consequence of their religion? And why
do they charge us Of intending, by the
passage Of this bill, to cut them off from
the rights and immunities which the con-
stiution guarantees to citizens of this
State, when no such intention has been
expressed or can be implied from the posi-
ton of its advocates. 1t is Characters
tic of the great party to which l have the
honor to belong, and Of the political creed
to which endeavor to adhere, to esli-
mate men according to their intelligence
and disposition to discharge their high
! duties as American citizens. The charge
that we wish to make this question re-
l1gious testify which to disfranchise
portion of our people in consequence of
their peculiar religious tenets, is wholly
uniounded and gratuitous. This charge,
l cannot look upon in any other light than
as an unworthy attempt upon the part of
the opposition in this chamber to engen-
der popular prejudice in the public mind
against the advocates Of the bill. Who,
| ask honorable senators, first dragged in
to this discussion the peculiar religious
tenets Of the Mormon church. Will any
gentlemen deny is coming from the whig
side Of the house, 1t was they who first
and who now seek to make it party
and political question, by making able and
eloquent appeals to the worst of human
passions, in connection with religious and
political party feelings.
The prosecutions inflicted, and the
great hardships endured by the Mormons
have been leelingly alluded to by the
gentleman from Cedar (Mr. Cook That
gentleman evinces deep and | think, a
PecNlio'' interest in the success cf this I'M
fortunate sect Of christians in Iowa. AL
though he assures the Senate, that he is
not their apologist, yet in alluslon to their
expulsion from the States Of Missouri |
and Illinois he fully exhoncrates the
Saints from all blame in those melancholy |
events, and in the characteristic party BIZ
as OF that gentlemen charges the whole |
responsibility upon the democratic party.
At the same time he tells us that those |
people had always voted the democratic
ticket. This Sir, if true, should teach
the wings Of Iowa an important lesson. I
1t should admoniSh them not to attempt to
sustain this people Oh party grounds in
order TO avail themselves of their votes.
The democratic party of Missouri and H.
linols, have refused according to the gem
tleman's own showing, TO tolerate these
people in their midst-and am very GER
tain that the democratic party of this
State would spurn the idea of acquiring
additional strength from that source at the
sacrifice of 4 single element of the great
principles of peace and prosperity which
now exist in the State.
| should be pleased TO see our oppo-
ncnts meet this important question solely
upon its merits. viii they tell us whcth-
er or no, they are willing to place large
portion Of the freemen of Iowa under the
control and subject their rights and liber-
ty to civil organization under this I'M
fortunate and infatuated sect? If gentle
men OF the opposition do not wish to wit
ness within the limits of our own Young
and prosperous State, the re-cnactment
oil the horrid scenes OF Missouri and Hi
nois they must abandon their present po-
sition and vote for the repeal OF this law
Tor the organization Of a county compo-
scd OF the same elements of diScord which |
produced the effect in those States
With county about as large as twenty
OF our ordinary counties, and entirely un-
der the control OF the Mormon sect, they
will have within their unbounded control !
the entire destiny OF our State. Justice,
as we'll as sound policy, in my opinion,
dictates the passage Of the bill under con-
slderation. Our opponents charge us
with an intention of depriving the people
OF the fottaWatamie country OF an oreuni
EATON. This is an unwarrantcl aS>ump-
ton OF their own, and |, for one, utterly
deny any such intention. In nv opinion,
cur present border counties should be
disconnected with the Pottawatamie pur-
chase, and placed in position TO act free
and untrammelled by the vcnal influence,
which we have good cause TO believe,
prevails there ,anl which will inevitably !
lead to unhappy consequences. | fer one
an willing to see separate organization
IN this part Of the country, and | believe
1t to be the position Of members generally |
on this floor who advocate the passage of
this bill.
The gentleman from CEDAR lis us that
if this bill becomes a law, that he will
travel tie length and breadth of this
State and proclaim the a!ledged outrage
to the people. Well Sir, know of no
gentleman better qualified for the dis
charge Of such a task than he is. The !
mission would probably suit his taste,
and accord with his system of party tao
ties. When he shall wander forth on
this mission Of sai"f'y love and mercy, !
hope he will not forget to come to the |
'Desmoines Republic" We in that re-
elon shall feel ourselves highly honored !
to have visit from so distinguished
character on such a mission. If the gen
1ap,op'S f,itb It'll