The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-11
A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE ELECTION
IN IOWA. ti
LIE CLAIRE, Iowa, Oct. 20, 1858.

III. LIE CLAIRE, IOWA, Ocf. ~, 1898
To the Editor Of the National Era:
Ere this, doubtless, the columns of the Era
| contain the glorious news that Iowa has again
declared its opposition to the power that rules
| at Washington; but it may not be amiss to
notice some facts in reference to the recent
election, which mere report and comparison
of votes will not present.
The election of Curtis and Vandever and
the defeat of Trimble and Leifingwell, is a
| real Republican triumph. The Lecompton
question caused no real division in the Demo
cratic ranks in this State. The Convention
which nominated the candidates for State Off
GERS leaned strongly to Douglas, and showed it
self anti-LecomptOn by refusing to pass a reso-
luton endorsing the Administration. This give
promise of serious split" the Convention
adjourned or rather broke up without adjourn
ing-and the minority Immediately assembled,
| and passed the resolutions which the Conven-
ton proper had laid on the table So far from
this division being an I'M ury to the Democratic
cause, it proved to be decided advantage
gave the leaders two wires to phil, and they
strained them both to their utmost tension. The
Administration organs forthwith published the
Platform adopted at the State Conventions with
the resolutions of Convention No. 2 embodied :;
while the antiLecompton journals quietly pub
lished the same Platform Just as the real Con
ventiOn passed it. Aa
The candidates selected presented the same
chameleon hues Trmble, in the first district
was Lecompton or anti ecomptOn, as occasion
required but used all his ingenuity to dodge
that question entirely. Leflingwell, in the
second district, was, prior to and at the time of
his nomination, a decided opponent of the Lee
compton Constitution, with or without the Eng
lish bride. On this subject he had expressed
himself unequivocaly. He did more. Publicly.
in his own emphatic style, he applied various
epithets to James Buchanan and his Kansas
policy, which decency requires should not he
recorded here. Despite the earnest entreaties
of the ADMINISTRATORS, he opened the canvass
by vigorous denunciation of Lecompton sub
sequently Mr.. l.. grew milder, considered the
English bill as a finality, and Lecompton as a
dead question and at length, one month before
the election, after long conference with the
Buchanan men of Dubuque, he pledged himself
to support the Administration cordially hereaf
ter This avowal was circulated all over the
State, on the authority of Col Heath, late edi
tor of the Northeast, now Postmaster at Du
buque, and Mr.. Buchanan's generalissmo for
Iowa. Thus, by skillful mannuvring, all the
forces were united, and Douglas and Buchanan
men buried the Ratchet, smoked the calumet OF
peace, and voted to a man for Judge Left
Then the old bitter-end Know Nothings voted
| for I" Left" too uniting in a few townships with
the Democrats " Citizens ticket" thus de-
feating the Republicans. In Others they swal-
lowed the Administration pill without any sugar
covering, determined to do anything, as they
said, to beat those who would not vote for Fill
more. This class is getting smaller and more
feeble at each election. Ef
The Wholesale and reckless charges of fraud.
which were brought against the Republican
State officers, though without shadow of
foundation, doubtless had some effect on the
class-always large-which is ever ready to be-
heve every story that can be invented and rela-
ted, of those who hold Office
In spite Of all these influences alone
on the strength of their principles the Repub-
leans have again most gloriousy triumphed.
Iowa sends greeting to her Eastern sisters on
Teusday next, Illinois will carry the echoing
shout to New York, which will send it on with
resounding thunders to old Massachusetts, and
thus from West TO East the glorious chorus of
Freedom shall sound a death knell to tyranny
and oppression. E. r.