Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1855-05-09

From x01T D8S3OINxS.
Foar Drs,.o,s.s. &
Arril 20. 1857
TO tie Editsr ef he loses Csp;ssl Reporter
SlR:-My attention vas arrested some weeks
since, BY scommcuicas alton in your paper sign.
ed Justice" 10 which serious imputati0ns
were cast upon several, respectable gentlemen
Of the State, in connection with the subject OF
the removal u the Capital. Among other things
the author insinuatss that one at the Commits.
hioners 10 under the influence Of certain Sen
ator who 10 sIigAtly interested in speculation
in property. con the East eide Of the river" ct
this place Now it struck me At the time. that
this was most injurious, ~ we'll ~ unjussi-
liable mode q ssPe'sing the character ana mo
tives OF public men; f0t the imPutation might
be applied indifFerently TO any one Of the
eighteen or twenty Senators who supported
the Bill fo- the removal Of the Capital. and yet
no one could with propriety, stand forth in his
own vindication.
Although vac advised. that many people
connecting the fact that, one Of the Commits ?
sioners is . townsman Of mIEe. with that Of my
jealous support Of the Capital Bin in the Sem
ate, considered we the '.Senator" aimed at;
yet de ermined TO treat the insinuation Is
generally tres: assaults upon the motives of
my public conduct: resolved to pass it by in
silence, aud leave is to time to vindicate my
character. felt the mprs Inclined TO this
course from the confederation that DR.. Morris.
the author OF the article, discla,med to friend
Of niue, the least allusion to me, or any belief
that was in any way interested in the 'specu.
lations' referred TO. however, met yesterday
IN old friend from Ohio, Who told me that du-
ring short sojourn at Iowa City. he learned
that was almost universally regarded there as
tke .Seuaeor' alluded to, and that he heard, =
| gentleman Of the Bar say that was the 'indi-
viduel r. ~ 70 in the article. and moreover.
p! he n - : fssAsas'ss1 = the removal q
Nov, Sir. IaM b aposition 10 face Ill the
world upna thls Cspi:ai question III have stu
diorsly and designsdly 70 this dag. stood sloof
from, III connection whatever with 'specuia-
sions' 81 any kind ia property in or near the
site ~ the New Capital; have kept mvsslr in
his position. knowing that the selfish inter.
| ests Of men would be Affected BY the removal
aud that might. like Others. be accused; aud
| have all along determined that would 80 act
| as TO have it in my power to give the lie d.
| rect 70 any man who should, attempt to i'm.
| pugn my motives in connection with the inca
sure in question. Having the most perfect
means Of self virdication, I do row, as far a.
am concerned, challenge investigation.
Let any person in Iowa, who pretends to be.
lievs this story about my interest in 'specula-
| tons. IL or near the two miles raoiue of the
contemplated Capital. subscribe one hundred
dollars TO any institution Of charity in Iowa
City, or lesew here, and let him furnish me
With the evidence sf his subscription, and
pledge myself before the whole public TO exc
cute and deliver 10 him deed in fee simple Of
the whole Of my Interest. direct or indirect,
positive or contingent. legal and equitable in
any and al lands and grounds within sir ailes
| OF the junction Of the Rsccoon and Desmoines
rivers. Here now is q chance for splendid
speculation to any one who, processes Il, believe
the story in question l 90 furthes.-If there
is In Iowa City ,or:elsewhere, any patriotic gen
tieman who would like TO serve his country BY
having this matter Investigated a. . lesson TO
future iegislators. let him reduce to writing
aud publish in your paper, the allegation
against me. which has been find seriously
whispered in the ears Of the fgnorast and ere.
dulous. and pledge myselfto give him an op.
portunity TO prove il 10 equivccal form be-
fore { johnson county jury The gentleman
Who has srsady pso'essed his bciiefin it. is
Lawyer. He knOws there will be no difficulty
about the proof. Ifhe does not know this. I
will take the liberty to instruct HIM He car
call ~ Witnesses the owners Of the property in
East Fl Desinoines. the theatre Of these
pretended speculations,' and ask them on their
Oaths whether have now, or ever had any in.
terese OF any kind whatever in any sspecula
ton or in any lands or grounds within six
miles Of the junction oi the two rivers Aud il
my acc1ser should fail to call these witnesses.
hereby pledge myself to do so, and to inter
rogate them in the manner above ststed And
in order to remove the susp,ciop that am
seeking any sei6sh sdvantags 1t elie expense
OF my legal friend, / further pledge myself, that
il the jury should convict him AZ libel and
award damages against him, will assign the
whole amount, except costs, to the School fond
OF johnson countv.~ Surely, Mr.. Editor, nv
friend will not, after waiting 80 long for st
opportunity 70 distinguish himself as Law.
yer and patriot. permit such q chance rs this
TO escape him unimprovcd
/ regret, Mr.. Editor, that ! feel constrained
to aliude publicly to such a subject but know.
ing that impntations the most unfounded. have
been publicly made, and having been retained
tutionaii'y OF the Law. in relation to the Capt..
tai before the Supreme Court, would not will.
ingly appear before that tribunal under the
suspicion OF being an interested par 3. And
beg cave here to add, that. ! made up my
mind with real reluctance, to support the Cap
tal Bill in the last general Assembly. had
formed during the ,preceding three years, in.
many Of the citizens Of that place, and it was
no pleasant duty TO lake course which knew
they would feel ~ q blow At their interests.
But the people OF Lee county were, as we'll
knew, almost unanimously in favor Of the mea
sure, aud when IL was introduced without any
agency of mine, couii not do otherwise than
give il my sup ort, and every body knows that
It is not in my natafe, to support measure
that my cOnsi ltuents deemed Of great IN terest
to them, in lukewarm and halting manner
So strong was the public sentiment OF my i'm.
mediate constituents. that am told they re-
Gently held mssting 10 Keokuk, to consult
upon the proprfety Of asking the Governor to
call an extra sessi0n, TO correct the supposed
tsfrctin ths law. Let xny citizen Of Iowa City
20 TO Lee county, and enquire. aud he will
soon learn that there is no more reason to blame
me for sossaiuing the removal Bill. than there
would be TO censure Mr.. Workman for oppos.
ing L.
am truly yours, &c.
e J.A.LOvE.
For The Reporter.