The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1860-08-02
Only Forty Cents! 5 ses &c s asa SSEnIHR
4 squatter Sovereignty Elector.

In accepting Office at the hands of the peo-
pie, men invite the criticism of the public
we say invite, because they well know that
free thought and free speech are among the
boosted features of this government, and
that these are always freely exercised on
public men and public measures. The phi
vate life of men, who are seeking official po-
sition, some think, should be exempt from
scrutiny. Custom has, however, determin-
cd otherwise; and we'll, as we think for
who that is selfish, corrupt and tyrannical in
private life, can safely be entrusted with
public interests? In the present instance,
therefore, we regard our right to critcise,
with reference to both public and private
acts, as settled
Tn, only remaining question is, will such
course be wise and polite? We believe
that, in political matters, circumstances de-
termlne questions of expediency; aud, in the
present instance, we think the circumstance
es are such as to justify us in stating facts
and criticlsing character and motives.
Previous to the Democratic State Conven-
ton, it was generally understood that our
Squatter Elector would be nominated as the
candidate for Congress from this District
The Convention Assembled at Des Moines,
and after weighty deliberations, the idea
was abandoned. Under the circumstan ,es.
our State Democracy were unwilling to haz-
ard such an experiment. But the man had
done the party good service and, in some
way, must be rewarded. The office of elect
or was of little consequence-on that would
excite no jealousy-and he was, consequent
ly, nominated as candidate for that Office.
In this way, the party hoped to shield both
him and its cause from the abuse ana defeat
they knew would attach, did they nominate
him for Congress. Does any one now say
ought against the man? The party answer,
Why abuse the man? If elected, the of
fee he will hold will be unimportant, for he
is to do but single thing. and that thing in
a certain specified way-besides the assail
ing of Presidential elector is thing UMPIRE
cedented." All, yes, we understand But
Democrats of Wapello and of the first
District, if you did not wish us to tell the
truth on your paragon Of beauty, why did
you bring him before the people at all
We know no better rule, in morals or poll
tics, than that men should be held respon
sible for their individual acts You, Demo-
Gratis, for your unparalleled stupidity, and
without any hope of relief, must endure the
ridicule and the contempt of an insulted and
ineensed public, while your pet candidate
will have to submit to the indignation and
defeat the people will so cheerfully confer.
This "Squatter Elector' for we will con-
tinue to call him such-is man. who, in
many respects, is not little remarkable
one whose equal, we believe, remains unborn.
In an article like this, we cannot be expect
Cd to relate euery mean act of his life, for
newspapers arc not issued, weekly, by the
volume.
1t would matter little, then, for US to state
how, by frGud, he obtained Railroad pass
for year or more. It would matter little
Tor us to state how he passed ar0rthless mon
ey, and then, after the discovery of the fraud,
neglected or refused to redeem. These are
only individual acts, and others can be found
who have done like things. We, therefore,
enter upon our task in different way.
A mans life devoted to certain illegal and
immoral practices, renders him notorious,
but, usually, only in certain way. Our
"Squatter Elector' is notorious in every way.
In private life he is selfish, misery and ty-
ranical. His tastes are low, and his habits
assimilate accordingly. To his family, his
is source of annoyance, and
his worthlessncss source of expense His
personal appearance is disgr sting, and, in
decent society, his rery presence is abom-
Unable
lie is, withal, cautious man. In public
life he considers wei, the strength and the
character Of his opponent. If he is persua-
dcd that his impudence will nonplus his ad-
vcrsaly, he becomes unmeIcifully severe
Like the Ass in the fable, he is bold and
fearless, in the absence of danger-when the
lion is dead, he fights and kicks him with
desperation.
His morbid excrcsccnccs are truly surpri-
sing-even to tie profane, revolving. Some
are quite confounded to see this man, in spite
of Gods mandate, serving both "God and
:aammon," "a thing that, in olden times.
when religIon was more respected, would
have been pronounced utterly impossible
but they need not be, for this is but an index
to the sumtotal Of his yilanies. On week
days, he labo:s for his country on Sundays
for his God On Saturday he pr. aches pol
itics-and Democratic politics at Mat-on
Sunday he breaches religion. Indeed, TAX
ing him all in ALL can you imagine an ele-
ment of depravity in mans nature, not called
in play, when this mass of m-human corrup-
ton is set in motion
And, yet, this ''son Of perdition' this