Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1859-09-13


him, and be dsshes into Abolition crowds
such ss those al Mt. Tabor, Denmark, Sa-
lem. DC, lashing furiouslS.
Gen Dodge referred 10 th. Iowa canvass
IN 1854, when, for casting thst vote for the
Nebraska Bill. he aud those who voted with
him had been placed on trial before tie
people Of this State without any opporfu
nifty Of defence, as they had to remain IN
session that summer.
His illusions to Henry Clay, and1his son
who fell in The tbickest Of the fight at Buena
Vista. the gallant Hardin. Zachary Taylor,
aud other Southern heroes. whose bones
whiten and bleach on foreign soils. where
called bt their country, was truly eloquent.
For passing q law say ing that these men
were equals with US. the Democracy were
denounced as seeking % extend slavery.
He charged that his competitor kept back
from the discussion of Stite policy but in
every audience brought in the negro
He ught to evade all inquiries on the
subject by laugh or illegitimate allusion.
The expenses of the State .un der Democratic
administration had averaged only $4,000
nsr snnum. But since then. our avf OF
I expenses drdsf RspubDtcsn ssls. n
we have reports, has been, for the thF9s
years, commencing November, 1854, and
ending November, 1857, $209,493.4l per
year, nearly four times as much per year as
the average expenditures during the last
four years o. Democratic ascendancy.
| This great increase has been brought a.
bout by the creation Of new Offices enlarging
salaries, erecting magnificent buildings be-
yond the necessity of the State for the next
quarter Of u century, and q general extrava-
gancc in the departments of the State gov.
ernment As an instance Of this extrava-
gance, the trip Of the Commissioners Grimes,
Johnson and Clark to the East was alluded
TO- where these gentlemen. at the expense
Of the State. visited New York. stopping at
the Astor or St. Nicholas Boston, at the
Revere or fremont. dc. The expenses OF
the trip had not been published, as the law
authorized the Treasurer to pay the amount
direct, without being audited by the State
Auditor.
He had called on his competitor to state
che size, capacity, dc, of the insane asylum.
and had sought in documents, but could get
no information. The expense of the build
ing SO tar, according to Grimes letter re-
Gently published, is S252,0OO.
The General REFER ed TO the blind asylum,
the agricultural college, aud other items,
showing the tendency to extravaganza and.
| in many cases, the disregard of law eyinced
by the Republican leaders and offiee'hold-
| ers.
| He referred to the fact that Democrats
| had been refused the right of examining
| the records for information also, the ap-
p0intment Of an inv estigating committee by
the Governor exclusively partizan, which
has never yet reported for the information
OF the people.
| We are suffering under an unwise system
| of extravaganza for so young State. Our
| seat of government has been removed to u
permanent location, and we have no public
buildings. Soon a Copitol will have to be
erected, as the State is now tenant.
He alluded to his competitor having
the advantage over him an old stumper.
and on both sides. If the old issues were
dead it was because the Democracy had
carried them into succe ssful execution, un-
til now they are acquiesced IN by the
people of the whole Union as the future poll
icy Of the Government. The Democracy
were in our Government the Locomotive,
while the Republican party served only as
q brake to stop the car OF progress. This
combination OF issues might triumph for
awhile, but it is bound to 60 the way of
Federalism and Anti ii-Masonry. Our P4rty
has been true to the country In Peace as
in War 1t can afford to be abused by
those who reprosch it for affirming the dy-
ing injunctions of Washington, and sustain-
ing the measures Of Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Jackson, and their Democratic
successors.
We are contending for the came rights of
self government as against Congress. that
the people of this country maintained as
against the British Parliament. The oppo-
sition find the power which they claim for
Congress located in no particular part OF the
Constitution. but it is a wandering power.
They cannot even read or define it alike.
Democrats insist on . close construction of
the Constitution, while the opposition are
lati:udina. ian
The General met the points made by MIR.
kirkwood on the Compromise measures,
particularly the Fugitive Slave Law, pro-
testing against the propriety Of general
discussion OH those topics foreign to the
direct interests at issue befere the people.
His positions were ably sustained, and
spiced with an occasional allusion to the
fact that Mr.. Kirkwood was in Ohio an ar
dent advocate of the Nicholson letter OF
Gen. Cas-. of Polk, and Pierce, Of hard
money and other things now commonly
regarded as heresies by all but Democrats.
The debate ranged over the Homestead
Bill, Cuba, the acquisition and disposal of
territories, the constitutional right Of the
South, Pacific Railroad, the slave trade, alb
olitionists and ultrss, party fidelity. liberty
bills black laws. school law. Negro equali
ty. dc.
This imperfect synopss is all we have
time at the late hour of closing the meeting,
to give.
The discussion was conducted in gen.
tlemanly manner on both sides. Mr.. Kirk
wood has the strongest lungs. Gen. Dodge
has the best Of the argument on every
point.
We are all satisfied. strengthened in hope.
and most agrssably disappointed in finding
the Genenal more than the equal OF his
willy and demsgogical competitor. Of whom
We have before uttered freely our views.