Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-02-22
a Il n I. &c 9

to separate deem it fit occasion and du-
ty they owe to you, to give brief state
ment Of their conduct, as well as to refer
to the action Of the majority in both branch
es. This they esteem TO be more neces-
sary, since at no time has it been more i'm
portant that the character and conduct o.!
public servants should be carefully scru-
tinized by an enlightened constituency, the
meritorious receiving their need Of praise,
nd the faithless and profligate meeting
their just condemnation. This arises, to
mention no other reason, from the fact, that
we have but just commenced our career as
State, and il hasty and profligate legisla-
ton is avoided now, our commencement
must be the sure foreshadowing OF our flu
ture greatness and prosperity.
II is well known, that in the present Ge-
neral Assembly, we have been in an almos,
hopeless minority, having but eleven mem
hers Of the thirty nine in the House, and
eight Of the nineteen Senators. Thus out
numbered we entered upon the discharge
OF our duties, determined to be found at all
times trying to discharge our whole duty
conscious, however,t that we could offer but
feeble resistance to the will and determ-
nation Of such an overwhelming majority,
and equally fearful that we conld succeed
in nothing that came in conflict with the
slightest designs Of the majority. To some
OF the more prominent measures we pro-
posestO invite your attention, as well for
the purpose Of presenting the course of the
two parties thereon, as also for the purpose
awakening public attention the more GER
tainly TO the dangerous tendency of the ac-
tion of the dominant party in this State.
The course Of our democratic friends al
the First Session Of the General Assem-
bly,, with regard to the election Of United
States Senators, is well known. AT that
time it is known, that it was at least doubt
full whether those who had fattened upon
public spoil, and lived without labor or yet
toiling, could have been installed into those
high places. For fear Of this, and from
their firm adherence to the doctrine OF
"rule or ruin" they continually refused to
GO into an election. AT the present time it
has been far different. So soon as decent
haste would permit the elections were gone
into, and the result you have before you.
Permit us to say here, that to us it is lit
tie strange that the Senatorial robes should
have been thrown over two individuals Sc
lected, in preference to all other prominent
democrats Of the State. A 10 ability, we
will 'say nothing more than TO remark, that
certainly tire, Euse many Supporters in their
ranks. So far as claims were concerned,
they certainly possessed no advantages, nm
less, indeed, the holding OF Offices with
princely salaries can be said TO entitle men
10 still further political tavors. 1t is well
known that one of these gentlemen came
10 our State with commission in his pock-
et-has ever since enjoyed office at the
hands Of the Government, and never one
from the hands of the people, whose SEN
ator he now is. The propensity Of the 9TH
er for Office is well known. That he has
been fed from the public crib, and has fat
tened on the spoils of office, is equally self
evident. No person, be he ever so strong
democratic partisan, but mus, have ask
ed himself the question-by what right or
tenure does this man lay claim to,and hold
all the lucrative Offices that are to be dis
posed Of? What has he asked but he has
received? And what has he done? What
more than any other could he have done,if
as much? Why must all give way if he
expresses single wish? We say these
questions are natural, and must, and do
suggest themselves to the most jealous de-
mocrats of the State. For our part, we say
it is little strange that these things should
SO be. But our wonder, to some extent,
ceases when we think of the scores Of Of
fice-holders throughout the State who have
lived but by his will and who have moved
at his nod. With their combined influence
always brought to bear, as it invariably is,
it ceases to be a wonder that offices appear
to be made for his enjo, ment.
But the election OF these two individuals
over others Of their own party, is to us a
matter OF surprise for another and much
more important reason. We allude to their
known ultra views as pro- slavery men. AT
the election in November last, it will be
recollected that there was clear majority
in this State in opposition to the views adj
vanced by Mr. Cass on this question. This
is true from the fact, that the Wing and
Free Soil vote exceeded that given TO Mr.
Cass. When it is known that the Wing e.
lectors at all times took ground in favor Of
heWilmot Proviso, and the vote is known,
no man can doubt but that the majority Of
the people Of this State are strong ly in ia
vor of the principles Of the Proviso, and
opposed to the further extension of slave
~. And this is more clearly true from the
well known fact, that many Of those who
supported the Cass Electors, are Free Soil
men in principle. We say then, that after
this recent manifestation of public senti-
ment upon this vastly important question,
when it is reflected that we are also por-
ton of that great North West Territory
which has grown and strengthened under
the happy influence Of the Ordinance Of
'87; when it is known that the more mod
crate and rejecting Of all parties in the
West are taking but one view of this qnes-
tion-it is remarkable that your Repre-
>entatives should have taken the opposite
ground, and selected men whose princi-
Piles lead them to act otherwise than the
majority of their constituents demand, or
an enlightened public policy viii justify.
Upon this question the majority in both
branches had frequent opportunity TO show