Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-06-20
BURLINGTON HAWK-EYE.

HAWE
~
Correspondence Of the Burlington Hawk Eye.
Iswa Contested Election case.-Lscefocs esrrup-
tisn in Iowa exposed.
WARRINGTON CITY, D. c., June 6, 1850.
JAMES 9. EDWARDS, Esq.-Sr:-1 herewith send
you copy OF the n inted evidence taken in the con
tested election case, from your State. 1t is being
very generally read and commented on here, and
creates quite sensation with oil classes. Ills at-
nitted on all hands that the conduct of Thompson
and his lawyers at home il infamous; but his Lo-
CO friends in Congress agree that the mproprieties
which he and his counsel were guilty Of, is mere
matter Of morals, which should not be considered
IN the determination Of the right to the seat. The
Wings, however, are determined that the morals as
we'll as the Lao Of the case shall be freely debated
and laid before Congress.
The Committee will have their report prepared
| in few days, and in about two weeks from now,
the debate in the House will be closed and the vote
taken on the final result. The Wing members ex-
press themselves very confidently in the belief tina.
Miller will succeed; but the locofocos have the
| ascendancy, and may eventually fall into Thomp-
sons Observation-Disclosures they now speak Of
matter very doubtful.
The result depends on the allowance or rejection
Of the Kanesville vote. lit il allowed, Miller 10
elected; il rejected, Thompson keeps the seat.
The evidence discloses that Kanesville was or
gained into election precinct with all the forms
and formalities Of Law; that the election was held
there in accordance with the strctest forms Of
and that the voters there were all entitled to vote
within the bounds ofthe first congressional district.
BY referring to the printed evidence, pages 81
and s5,) you will notice th,t Townsend-a locofoco
leader in the west part Of your State-was chiefly
instrumental in securing Al election precinct for
the benefit Of the people Of Kanesville, and that he
assisted the Clerk Of Monroe in writing the notices
Of the election; that he present at Kanesville
on the day Of election, voted there for Thompson,
.sand did all he could for Thompson, and an he could
against Miller" .....
BY referring to the evidence, (paxes - and s7,)
you will see that the county commissioners Of Mon
roe county, and their clerk, who created the pre.
cinct at Kanesville, are Locofocos and voted for
Thompson; that two of the Judges of the election
at Kanesville, were Locofocos and that Ezra p.
Cone the Sheriff Of Monroe county, Locofoco, too,
was present at tho Kanesville polls voted there !;
cleCtlODeeflng ThOmO.
son and the locofcco ticket.
By reference to the testimony Of Stiles pages II
and 1871 you will notice that grand locofoco cav.
alcade consisting Of himself, Bonney, Selman and
Townsend visited Kanesville few days before the
election, for the purpose Of the interests
OF the Locofoco candidates. that most Of the dele
CATION returned home before the election but that
Townsend was left at Kanesville, and to stay there
until the election was over, WITH MONEY FURNISH
ED HIM BY BoSSEy TO PAY HIS EXPENSES.
Stiles testimony further discloses the fact that
Hall, the big gun OF Locofocoism in Iowa. accom-
panied the cavacade about rs miles on their Jour
ney outward. His object was, suppose, to in
struct them in the plan of operating, and in the u
dieicus disposal of the funds.
Hall-who will, suppose be the locofoco candi.
date for Governor Of Iowa, at the ensuing elections
or at least ought to be, after that amp
ernor jim Clarke, he has done the most dirty work
Of any man in the State-is made by the evidence
to cut most ridiculous figure. His own te stimony
(pages -, IS and 2e) shows that he carried off the
poll books in his saddle bags, and gave them to
Thompson; and the testimony OF Sloane. the re.
Thompson, tpase ssJ proves that the poll books of
hands Of the Clerk of Monroe county. Marshall
the famous loco s. T. Marshall OF Lee county,
swears page 1861 that he saw the poll books in
Subsequently when the stolen books are broush, to
iigh, by the biunder Of Judge Mason, Hall again an
pears actor in the scene; he nor comes for
ward and swears, page 2s.) tina, in August 1884,,
he met Miller at West Point, Iowa, and told him
that the poll books "rere sefs and sound, but that
he s.did NOT kno1 rh.re they Notwithstanding that
thing is safe and sound, and yet swearing he don't
know rsere it is, is what should call swearing by
the yard stick.
And now that the poll books are brought to light
and the thieving duly exposed, we next see Hall |
come forward with the poll books tsee pages S. -
and with the expression of |
innocency, and the modest assurance OF man who |
had accidentally found the stolen property of ano,a-
er, hands them over. saying, why here they are
why al! this hue and cry about nothing9
Next on the stage appears Judge Mason. He is
one OF Thompson's counsel, and in calling Miller
into his office to serve notices him for the ia
king OF testimony, he commits the unaccountable
olunder OF handing out by mistake the stolen poll
books. He reaches to take the books from Miller;
but Miller holds On until he secures proof OF the
whole affair! Miller denounces the then by which
they had been taken out of the clerks Office, which
Mason does not deny; but pleads in excuse for him
'ey, that he came BY them honestly, but not at
liberty to tell how or from whom he got them. 81
assure you, Mr. Miller, CANE BY them honestly, but
an NOT at liberty to tell HOW or from wHoM.' &C..
see testimony OF Van Antwerp and Beck, pages
ls-2o-2i. At another time. tpase S., he acts As
Surveyor for Thompson, and goes on. to help es-
lablish the geographical location Of Kanesville. He
Aiso acts as clerk for Thompson, hires Weber to
I'D In the survey, and furnishes part Of the pay,
pages so and 81. And, finally, whilst Weber was
ou, on the Missouri, making the survey, the Judge
was along with him in the very commcnaable ca
pacity Of having sCHARGE OF PACK HORSE,
See Weboer's testimony page 81.
Jim Clarke, the scamp before referred to, is By
Hail's testimony also implicated in the affair, but
IS he is universally admitted to be low bred fel-
low, and of no political consequence, except what
he has derived from his relationship to one Of the
Iowa Senator's, tits not thought necessary to dwell
upon his conduct.
Respectfully, Yours. &C, :.
'icians from various parts Of the State, met the