Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-03-06
Democrat and @ews.
TUESDAY MORNING. MARCH 6, 1860.
Gov. Kirkwood Insulted !!

tors who voted some days since for the
passage of a resolution calling upon his
Excellency for some further information
with regard to Gov. Lctchcr's requisi-
ton for the young man Copp'c. Here
We give the resolution which drew forth
the wrath OF the Governor
WHEREAS, The fact Of requisition from the
Executive Of Virginia upon the Executive OF
this state for the rendition Of one Coppc as
fugitive from instice, and OF the refusal OF such
demand has become a matter of public notori
ETY.. and whereas, it appears from public papers
that the Governor OF Virginia had cent a
special communication 20 the Legislature Of his
State on the subject. Therefore be it
Resolved, That the Governor of this State be
requested to communicate to this House the
facts touching said demsnd and his reason for
the refusal thereof. including a copy Of the
requisition and accompanying papers Of the
Governor OF Virginia, and also correspondence
with Coppc or any other person in reference
to said requisition.
Also to inform the Senate by what means
Coppic obtained the Information that there was
requisiton from the Governor Of Virginia
spon the Governor Of Iowa for the surrender
OF said Coppic
made, was communicated to any person, or
made public before the answer was gwen ny
the Governor Of Iowa to the Governor OF VIZ
glnia.
No one can fail to see from the tenor
of the above resolution that even the
Republican members Of the Iowa Legs
latnrc have become imbued with the be-
lief that kirkwood has been practicing
treachery towards the Governor of Vir-
GINA and that it was through his instru-
mentality that Coppic was apprised of
the fact that requsition had been sent
out for him. Those sixteen Republican
Senators who voted with the Democrats
said to Governor klrkwood in effect, tell
US, sir, how it happened that Coppic got
his information" 1t is as much as if they
had said, sir, we do most heartily be
licvc that you know how the information
of Gov. Letchers requislton was given
to Coppic. and we do further believe, sir,
that YOU were instrumental in aiiording
Coppic that information, therefore we,
as loyal Republicans who labored earn
estly for your election, wish You to tell
us all about tall about your hypocrisy
and duplicity in the matter
This WAS poser to the GOVERNOR
His rage and chagrin at being thus in
terroga,cd aud thus directly Implicated
and accused while setting in the Guber
material Chair and by members of his
own party may be well imagined. These
charges coming directly from home were
rather unkind-ihe more so perhaps be-
cause Of their being founded in truth.
But we proceed to give the Governors
answer which came back TO the Senate
in due time, and which filled with con-
sternation the hearts of those Repub-
leans who had dared to ask for full
explanation of the Coppic matter. Here
1t Is:
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Feb IS, 1860.
Gentlemen Of the Senate:
| have received ,he resolution passed by
your body yesterday asking certain infor-
nation in regard 10 demand made upon me
by the Governor OF Virginia for the arrest and
surrender of one Barclay Coppie a. fugitive
from justice.
| have examined that resolution with much
care and have very reluctantly arriv ed at the
conclusion that | ought not to answer it. |
readily admit the propriety Of giving to the
public full information on this subjact, and
shall promptly communicate the facts within
my knowledge in any way connected there
with. whenever | can do so consistent with nay
self respect, and with the respect and consid-
Grafton which in my judgment are due to the
department of our Government, which for the
time being, | have the honor to represent.
cannot, however, do SO in response to Q resolu.
ton which assumes that in this matter have
done acts which the common judgment Of
your body would pronounce to be improper in
any person holding my official position.
This assumption, utterly unfounded in fact as
it is, cannot either respond to or deny with
ont admitting by implication that the suggss
ton thereof was authorized by the facts of the
case.
| cannot believe it was the we'll considered
intention of your body to embrace such as
sumption. but am satisfied that your action in
this matter took its present Objectionable form
through oversight and inadvsrtance.
For these reasons very respectfully return
said resolution that you may have the oppor-
tunity Of giving it further consideration.
SAMUEL J. KlRKwooD
The Governors "sef respect" will not
allow him, it appears, to let his people
into the secret of the affair. That is
rich. His 'self respect" did not de-
bar him from conniving at Coppic's es-
cape, or from trumping up foolish ex-
cuses for not receiving Gov. Letcher's
requisition. His refusal to answer the
interrogatories is a sure indication of
guilt. The Gov. may get his dander
up and fumc over it as much as he
may, the facts are against him, and
not only is it known and believed among
Democrats, but among Republicans
also.
The motion to print the usual number
of copies of the message, to be distribu.
ted among the people in order to give
them the reasons actuating the Gov. in
his refusal to comply with thercqucst of
his Republican friends was negatived-
every Democrat voting in the affirma-
i've and every Republican in the mega.
i've, which made tie, which the chair
uDLleU Oy aDrOmn< en- -