Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-03-27

neihct harmful nor against the law TO watch them
The Work gees Bravey on.
While every attempt at Investigation exhibits
more and more nagrantiy the utter unftness of Mr.
BENTON 70 Gll the station he now occupies, as SUI
perintendent Of Public instruction, it at the same
time developes the far superior qualifications OF
Mr. WOODWARD for the same office, and encourages
his friends to press his claims on the public with
confidence and an enthusiasm 80 sincere and so ar
dent, ~ must convince the people that they are in
earnest. The unanimous acceptance OF Mr. Wood
ward a. q candidate has been no cold. shouldered
a6air. The language Of The whole WING press lit
orally declares that ifsfofty Conventions were to
have assembled or il ssshc whole people had met In
mass they could not have selected filter or more
capable msn than Mr. W.. Every man we have con-
verssd with on the subject responds to such sen-
timent. This evidently shows heartiness and 4
coincidence Of feeling and Of opinion which has
never been exhibited in this State-where petty
jealousiss too often cripple political acion-in be-
half Of any candidate for any ONCE. II Is presfsqe
Of success. II should nerve every man who has
the immense educational interests of this State at
heart, whatever may be his general politics. to la
Dor to secure the election OF Mr. Woodward
Those who have witnessed the loose and unfai,hful
manner in which Mr. Benton has thus for perform
ed the duties OF the ofhce--the jeopardy in which
he has placed the school fund-and the incohel cnt
and unsatisfactory attempts he has made TO explain
mrs uerelcnon OF dufy-.Aosfd look upon the de-
feat OF Mr. Woodward as apablic calamity.
Had The exposure Of Mr. Benton's incompetcncy
been made BY tsicksters, politically or personally
opposed to him, degree of suspicion nigh. be
thrown around the action Of those rho are attempt
Ing 70 secure his defeat. but the few friends he
has LEFT know that this IL not the fact. Prominent,
members in his own party first called attention to
and published the fact OF the una ccounted for sio
zoo; and his own reports declare and demonstrate
has incompctency, by the acknowledgment that in
order TO perform one class of duties required by
the law he himself had drafted, another class had
to be neglected. He reiterates this acknowledge
ment, though in more guarded manner, in his late
clectioneering Circular Of the 4th of March, and
willing to give him all the benefit he may ac-
quire from publication so full Of sophistry as is
the last paragraph, By presenting our readers with
the principal part of this e,ectioneering Circular,
It seems somewhat singular taot the very depart
ment, which he laid aside all others 10 manage.
should be the very department which he has failed
70 manage properly. II there has been any misman-
agcment OF any department more prominent than
any other, Is that Of his management Of the School
Fund. Here is what he says:-
"H - uinlcnlt for those totally unacluaiuted with
the subject OF popular education to realize the
vent OF the responsibility devoiving upon an indi-
vtdual charged with the estah!is hment and manage
ment Oft system OF public instruction. This Re-
sponsiOilttys IN our own state is increased by the
rapid and continued influx Of population and the va
!ious impcdiments with which we have to contend
e new country. Indeed should long since
pave despaired Of success, had 1t not been Tor the
euctent aid have received trsm subortinate OH .
state. 'ne
sly muat also be remembered that the SUP erin.
tendents during large proportion OF the present
term, has been occupied with the manoremant NJ
the school fund, in consequence OF which otsrr du
nss, fmpOrtdnS tCfn Themselves haze neces,1ri,,
Seytecsed. The selection and disposition Of our
scnooi iands IS the first, and doubtless the most
important step towards founding our school svs
TEN, our schools are whollydepcndent for their fu-
suse prosperity upon the proper investment of the
sch0Oi fund. Before the expiration OF another Off.
cial term the amount OF this fund at interest will
exceed one milton ~ dollars. The care and yigi.
lance, therefore, requisite for its protection and
preservation must be obvious to all. This labor
however IN the coI.se OF few years will be great
" diminished (which will cfford the perintendent
= opportunity Of derosing more time 20 the other
legitimate duties Of his otice.n
~ must be acknowledged by all, that out of his
own mouth he stands condemned. But we do NO.
mink he tells the whole truth in relation 10 the
cause Of his neglect Of duty. He receives largo,
saiafy than any other State officer, because il was
known that his duties were arluous and RESPONSE
bic. That salaryis on adequate inducement for him
% give his undivided attention 10 the performances
- ~ Ms duties. but instead OF be slowing the re-
qured attention to every department OF his Office,
hs mas aosenfed hmse from the State about one third
q fas whole period during oaich Ne has held The Office
We 40 not complain so much Of his visit TO the east
IN iSls; for at the time encouraged IT, with the
hope that he might learn how to perform his du,ie.
which We then believed him ignorant OF. His ,oao
visit to Texas, however, cannot plead for itself the
same scrblAnce Of excuse. II was emphatical,v
md plainly forsaking of his post Of duty, end We
can nov see ito injurious effects ON the cause o
Education in this state, BY his own confession. II
- had remained ct home he might have performed
those "duties" which were ssimportant within
thsasslvessp but which he acknowledge s.were
nsglscted.s asi HI8 as4t.I
we presume he had become tired Of his once.
amer hearing Of the immense fortune, some Of his
friends had made In CALIFORNIA;, and presumine thaa
Ne stars Of HE uncle Benton and cousin Fremont
would remain In the ascendant, he declared his in
Dentioa 70 relinquish his onica Il the end Or his
Term, Tor the purpose Of visiting the golden region.
But when the adverse news Of ssilure on the part
" the majority of gold hunters reached him-whsn
.he downfall efhis uncle became . fixed fact-and
he unropuarity Of his cousin in California became
he rumor ofihe aay, he changed his plan ana con.