Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-07-26
Correspondenceof the Hawk Eye.

Correspondenceof the Hawk Eye.
WASHINGTON Cry, July 1, 1850.
IN Effort made to get up an Anti-mor-
mon excitement in the House Of Rep
resenfufiues.
]. G. EDWARDS, Esq, Sir:--I.as,
Thursday was notable day in the reli-
gious as well as the political history OF
our country: il being the first time in the
period Of our history as nation that a
religious crusade was preached in the
halls Of our National Legislature against
any portion Of the American people,
The facts are these: The evidence ia
ken in the contested election case from
your State, showed clearly that Miller
was fairly elected; there was the printed
testimony, and it could not be gainsaid.
Thompson's friends being driven to the
wall. now resorted to the most desperate
means. They took the high ground that
Mormons were not entitled to vote in
the United States and ought to be mob
bed out of the country. And an It APP
peared by the evidence, that Miller had
got 493 Mormon votes at Kanesville,
and Thompson 80, they insisted tina. the
whole vote should be thrown out, and
which being done nave elected Thomp-
son. Disney of Ohio, openly advocated
The stealing or carrying away of the
Kanesville poll books, on the same prin-
ciple, as he expressed il, that he would
feel justified in seizing a club TO knock
out the brains of highway robber tina.
he should meet on the prairies. He
spoke in rage Of passion and indicated
by every tone Of his voice, and gesture,
that he considered he would feel justified
in killing Mormons wherever he might
meet them. Other Democrats followed
in similar strain; but none, not even
Disney himself, exhibited as much of the
sdrive-them- from-ihe-St or extermi-
nate them system, as Hon. Shepherd
Letter, of Iowa. He called on the
Democracy to rally in the support Of his
colleague, Mr.. Thompson. At the top
of his voice he screamed out that he
would not be governed by the testimony
printed in the case. He charged the
crimes of Larceny, Robbery, Arson, and
Murder against all Mormons without dis
iinctions; denouncing Jos. Smith, and
said that he had met his death for his
crimes. He poured forth a volume Of
abuse on Elder Hyde; called him all
sorts of scoundrel, and charged him
with all kinds Of fraud.
In the midst of Letters TRADE, a
Whigmember rose and asked him where
was the proof of the statements be
made, since it was not to be found in the
printed evidence. Letter replied that it
was to be found in the general histories
of the country The Wing member re.
torted that the Democrats had heretofore
had the benefit of the Mormon votes, and
he wanted those histories named. Mr..
Letter stood silent several seconds and
then replied it was to be found in certain
newspapers in the west. 1t is under
stood and known here that in 1916, Lief
fer as candidate for Congress, received
nearly all OF the Mormon votes cast that
year in Iowa; and his present assault up
on them is regarded with disgust by all
the Wing members and several Of tho
democrats.
As soon as Letter was done, Mr.. Ev-
ans, Whig) of Maryland, sprang up, and
by his defence of the people of Kanes-
vile, and sarcasms on Letters position,
created quite an excitement in the House.
In the midst Of the scene. Miller walk
ed across the hall of the House and han
ded to Mr.. Evans, Judge Mason's app
peal 10 the Mormons at Kanesville, (pub.
lished last April in the Hawkeye) call
ing on them TO forgive the past niscon-
duct and sins Of the democracy of Iowa,
and join in and help fog the Wings. /,
being announced that Mason was the
counsel of Thompson and wrote this let
ter to the Mormons but three or four
months ago, there was Simultaneous
cal. all over the house that the letter
should be sent and read at the clerk 3
table. The clerk had got abou, half
through amidst the greatest exhibition Of
laughter and exultation on the Wing
side of the House, when the Democra-
CIV, deeply, chagrined and maddened, in
,erposed and stopped the clerk and
would not allow him to 60 through with
the whole Of il, Mr.. Eva.s then seat for
the letter, and read it aloud from his
place of speaking.
After heated debate Of four days, a
Locofoco House of congress decided. by
a majority of eight. that Thompson had
not been elected, and sent the election
back 10 the people.
You are aware that Miller was always
anxious to trust the cause to the people,
and that last winter he proposed in wri.
ting TO Thompson, TO run the election
over. Yours in haste. ].