The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-08-10
The Character Of the Canvass,

tus CoHGluucS the poillICdl CduVdSSy dHu W.
must acknowledge that it has been one o
the most remarkable we have witnessed ii
Iowa. That the Banner with the aid o
lsome half dozen legal advisers, has not beer
able to make single tenable point with all
of the material scattered around it, we re-
gard as remarkable, to say the least Of it.
We leave it to others to conjecture why this
has been the case, and why, instead of fair.
ly meeting US upon the subject of the Ne.
braska outrage, which they all admit is the
question at issue, they have striven to make
Temperance the line Of demarcation bet
ween the parties and failing to succeed
have in desperation resorted to personal
defamation. We have yet to learn that
abuse is argument and that mere assertion
is entitled to the belief of sensible men.
Now mark how easily these self-constitu
ted, though very weak, defenders of "De.
mocracy'' and its exponent, Gov. Hemp
stead, are slenced Here is the text they
assume from the Gazette of Tuesday last:
sThe speeches of the candidates consisted mainly o.
personal detraction, which, although coming with an
i'll grace from occupying humble station in life
was still more revolving when proceeding from the
Governor oflowa."
Here is the comment Of one of the wrl-
ters in the Banner, who figures over the
signature of .Publius," whom any one may
know-is gentleman, to the manner born,
from the chaste language he uses:
s'Rut the Gazette has editorial of the meanes'
character filled with the most unmitigated alsehoods
II charges Governor Hampstead with the sin of indie
cent personalities, when the lying editor knows it II
not so -
Very we'll; here is now what another
equally chaste and gentlemanly writer in
the same "family newspaper says:
..Mr Sanders acknowledges that he did not hear Mr..
Hempstead's frs, speech but merely his reply to Mr.
Thorngton and admits that Mr.. Thoringtons remarks
consisted of personal detraction, but that Gov Hemp
stead rcaliated is utterly false"
Well, again; now read the deposition OF
a third writer, over the signature of"A Vo.
ter" who seems to be more candid than his
coadjutors. The italics are his own; in
speaking Of Mr., Hampstead he says:
s.He did not descend to retaiiatos, as he said that
he would not. And it with 10 less pain and re-
grt that he referred to the thousand little pey mean
acts that characterized his opposing candidate IN their
travels together throughout the whole of their canvass
of the district -
Now tell us, if you please, fit Solons OF
"Democracy," wherein the above "reter-
ence'' differs from personal detraction!'
Thorington's personalities consisted in a
reference to the course pursued by Hemp
stead throughout the canvass. Hampstead 5
personalities consisted in reference. if YOU
please, ssto the thousand little petty, mea'
acts that characterized his opposing candi
date in their travels together" Ergo, II
Thorington' acts as referred to were mean.
er than Hempstead's and more numerous,
then the latter was guilty of more personal
detracton than the former, and vice versa
1t is an easy matter to term man liar
which, bv the way, no gentleman would DO
but it is sometimes difficult to prove it.
The above Is fair sample Of the mode OF
conducting this campaign as pursued by the
Banner. and we must confess again, thal
with all the legal strength given that press
it never before betrayed so much weak.
ness. This has been attributed to bad
cause and the feebleness in the faith OF Its
exponents Certain it is, never were ouI
Democratic friends engaged in a worse
cause than that Of supporting the Nebraska
bill, nor have they apparently had SO many
misgiyings. That at the ensuing election
they will be soundIy thrashed until they
learn to regard the dictates of conscience as
superior to that Of party leaders, we ardent
ly hope, and with the best grace in the
world, if such be their case, shall we con-
gratulate them on being placed in the wa!
Of becoming better men
/ .