Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-23
JAMES HARLAN.

This gentleman Ia now before the people OF Iowa,
as candidate for Governor. The first four years
OF our existence Estate have nearly expired and
we shall soon be called upon to select another Chief
Magistrate, besides the present incumbent. We
know Of no one more worthy of the sufrages OF the
people for this Office than JAMES HARLAN. He has
hewn his way to distic,ion by his own efforts.
Aside from his own personal merits there are
reasons why the people should support Mr. H. which
no other candidate can present. When the Legis-
lature created the Office Of State Superintendent OF
Public Instruction, a majority Of the people ex-
pressed themselves opposed to make the Office a
party one. Mr. HARLAN had been successful
teacher in the Academy at Iowa City, and as he
was not known politician, he was viewed as
suitable person, and was prevailed upon to run as
candidate. Hon. CHAs Mason was his opponent.
Harlan beat Mason by large jority, and was de-
clared duly elected But mark the rickery oflocofo-
coism The person thus elected was Joy law, to hold
his Office three years. But the demagogues Of the
loco foco party, finding that Mr. Harlan was wing,
determined to Dust him. By species of the mer-
est quibbling and most Outrageous rifng the Legis-
lature declared the Office vacant after the first year.
The Wings, and many of the honest in the loco TO
co party did not recognize this order for cleo
ton as legal; but as the destructives seemed de-
termined to run candidate for the office. it was
thought advisable that Mr. Harlan should make a
show by running in opposition.
On account Of the enormty Of the course Of the
loco focos, and its papable illegali.y, large num-
Der of Haran's friends declined voting for him, for
fear that in doing, they might be thought to rec
ognize and countenance the power Of the Legisla.
turc thus exercised in trifing with the rights Of
Mr. Harlan. When the vote was taken, as if to Sc
Mr. Harlan's defeat the then Secretary Of State
-Cutler-threw out large numbers of votes for
Harlan on account of their being mis-spelled, and
in this way made it appear that BENTON, the loco
foco candidate, received large majority over Har
Ian. Benton was declared elected, and has held the
Office ever since. No honest man would envy him
a station obtained under such circumstances. We
do not pretend to give full and detailed history of
this loco foco rascaty. Our only object is Cor the
present to furnish mere outline of the transac-
ton, that the memory Of those who were here at
the time may be freshened, and that they may tell
their neighbors what loco focoism can do, when q
wing may happen to be elected to lucrative office.
Mr. Harlan brought his case before the courts,
but partizan Bench was no more liberal than had
Oeen the Legislature that OuSteu MN. In all his
attempts he could never get his case before Jury,
where he would inevitably have obtained redress.
The history of loco focoism Iowa. from this GUS
ting Of an honest from office to the stealing OF
the Poll Book, will present illustration OF bully
ism, which can hardly be exceled in the annals OF
Mike Walshism, and which richly deserves and
should receive the condemnation Of every honest
man.
We shall, between now and the election, give
such scraps from this history, as will fully eluci-
date the true character of our opponents. Suffice
it now for merely to aude to that portion of ii
which exhibits the manner in which Mr. Harlan has
been treated. We consider, and many also will
consider, that aside from his personal fitness for
the Office Of Governor-a fitness which the pre- tent
incumbent never possessed-he is, by the base
manner in which he has been treated, fully entitled
to that which we believe he will receive. large
majority of the votes Of the people of Iowa. We
call upon the friends OF right and Of honest dealing
all over the State, to commit themselves for Harlan
without: delay, and do all they can to secure his
election. BY SO doing, they viii award a severer
rebuke to loco fuco wrong doing than they could in
any other way. rebuke, that will teach that par
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