The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-03-27
SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC IN
STRuCTION,


The Hawkeye and Fairfield Ledger pro.
passed The name Of VIZ. 6. WoonwARD, ESQ.,,
simultaneously as candidate for the office
Of Superintendent Of Public Instruct
but both, we believe, alter bis name had
been suggested ia connection with tina. Of
fee BY the Muscatine Journal. Mr.. Wood
ward refused III first to be considered can
didate. hut observing the unanimity with
which the papers throughout the State OPP
posed 10 Mr.. Benton have hoisled his name
he has a, length consented to be an indepen-
dent candidate for the above office. We
are pleased with his decision as a better
man could not have been selected in our
State, though Convention had been held
and the claims Of our best men been con.
vassed.
The question, who are the candidates for
this office. now being settled in the persons
Of WV. G. WOODWARD, Esq, and Col. Tnos.
II. Benton. i, remains Tor the people to
make the choice which they will prefer for
the ensuing three years as the highest edu-
ca,iona! officer in The State. Those who
are best acquainted with Mr.. Woodward
urge bis superiority for the office Of Super
intendent. They say that he is 'wor,hy,
and honest"
Mr.. Benton mus, be permitted to speak
for himself, and this he has abundantly
done in the report which he made to the
last Legislature-a report 80 clumsily made
and Astounding ia such condemnatory state
ments, that his friends have been ever since
actively engaged in trying to smooth il
over and to free Mr.. Benton from some Of
the odium which his own confession has
cast upon him. The unparalleled specta-
Gle has been presented Of one Of the leading
Locotoco papers in the State coming out
openly and undisguisedly in condemnation
Of MIR. Benton for not accounting for the sum
of ten thousand dollars Of The school fund
The Wings cannot circulate stronger
evidence Of Mr.. Benton's incompetency
than by giving general diffusion TO bis re-
port. Itbears prima facia evidence TO every
discerning mind Of bis utter inability to dis,
charge the duties of that Office; It shows
that being aware of,his fact he has neglect
ed those duties with = wilfulness which
proves, better than his confession, total wan,
ofincompetency.
Mr.. Benton was recently on an election
eering tour 10 tina south Of Iowa, but meet.
ing with unqualified unsuccess no has re-
turned to Iowa City and addressed circu-
lar to the people Of Iowa. circular re-
markable for its brevi,y and the want Of
truth Of its leading sentence-"l have per
formed the duties Of this responsible station
for three successive years. lie further
says, We quote his own language, that, if
reelected, 81 will enter upon the work
with renewed energy and shall endeavor
to perform with fidelity the duties assigned
me-" Now we would no, give one copper
for the man who enters upon the duties Of
q responsible office with the assertion tina,
he will only endearor TO discharge them
Mr.. Benton knows exactly what those d.
ties are; The made them himself and if
he feels doubt Of his ability TO perform them
shall others be censured for mistrus,ing
him? No, for so responsible an office we
want a man who has sufficient confidence
in his own abilities to knep that he can dis.
charge its duties. We wan. no man who
once having filled the Office failed in the
discharge Of its duties and now wishes il
again that be may try il he can discharge
them. Why trfle with this the most impor.
tant Office 10 the State? Why not At once
cleo. man in whom the people have con-
fdence? Benton doubts his own ability
and-so do uc, and who refuses to endorse
the sentiment? His own party have con.
demned him and unworthy indeed mus.
that mar. be when partisans come out open.
" and censure his course. Let Us look for
once to the interes.spf our young and thriv.
ing State and place . man at the head oil
its educational department in whom the
people have confidence; who, a, least, has
confidence in his own abilities. Such q
man, We have no hesitation 10 affirming,
will be found 10 WV. g. WOODWARD, ESQ.,,
man against whom even the breath Of
SANDER has not whispered charge.
FIRE IN OswEGo.-We learn by tele-
graph that fire broke out in Osweoo. n