Idaho semi-weekly world. (Idaho City, Boise County, Idaho Territory) 1867-1868, 1867-09-28
T4E sTATEsMAN,s RAMPAGE.


of Gov Gibbs. But the subject will bear yet
further comment, for many reasons.
One of the most egregious errors our cotenl-
porary committed, in connection with the sup
iect, was his vindictive, contemptibly uncnarlsT
able, and scurrilOus personal attacks upon NJ,
Gibbs, after it became aware OF the lacO On''0
his confirmation by the Senate had peen re-
considered and rejected. AS it had every
reason to believe--an and it's own columns are
nroof that 4 was convinced-that this tlnal ac-
tion of the Senate closed all chance against
the candidate for the Goyernorship OF this Ter
r;torv It would have acted simply in accord
once with ordinary decency and manllness to
refrain from any further, personal unkindly
mention of the candidates name or character.
But instead of doing this, the Statesman chose.
that very occasion to hurl at Mr. Gibbs the
most abusive, malicious, Insulting and founda-
tionless personal vituperation which the mind
of its editor could conceive. Yet it so hap
pened, as though just and retributiye fate
ordained it. that on thevery morning the paper
appeared with all this uncalled for and mallg-
nant abuse of Mr. Gibbs,lthe mail, few hours
later. brought the official, authenticated Exc
cutive document, which gave the intelligence
in Boise City that the abused and mallgned
gentleman was indeed the appointed Governor
of Idaho Territory, by virtue of the authority
confded to the Executive in the Tenure of
Civil Office Act, which the last Radical Con-
gress had passed by two-thirds vote over the
Presidents veto. And, to make the position OF
the. Statesman more unfortunate, this last attack
upon Gov. Gibbs private character called forth
an ample vindication by friends who hadknown
him long and intimately in the places where he
had lived.
Another great error Of our cotemporary's-
but it is very common error with him and
other Radical journalists is its wholesale, IN
discriminate denunciatiOn of all Democrats.
In the case before us, it INDUCES in outrageous
defamation, and vents its vituperative malice
towards all who opposed the Radical Admins
tration of this Territory, particularly, and oil
Democrats generally Agreeably to its way
of thinking, to. be an opponent of the Boise
City Regency is to be a swindler," and
"thief;" while Democrat" and defender OF
thieves and TRAITOR are convertible terms.
This sort of logic can convince no respectable,
reasonable person, and it does not only disgust
many, but also causes them to believe that one
SO ready in applying such abusive language is
far more vulnerable to the epithets than is the
person assailed. We are as much opposed to
Radicalisn, and are as firmly settled in our
full belief in the cardinal Democratic prlnci-
pie of State Sovereignty, agreeably to the old
Interpretation of the Kentucky and Virginia
Resolutions of 17SS-'89, as we think man can
be; yet because we SO thoroughly abhor and
oppose the Radical belief and policy, we do not
believe that all who are Radicals are rogues
and corruptionists. That many OF them, es-
pecially those who hold Office, are very bad
men, in private as well as pnblic life, we are
convinced; but still, we very cheerfuly admit,
there are frequent and honorable exceptions
to this rule. For instance, we have said be-
fore, and we repeat here, that we believe Gov.
Ballard to be q perfectly honorable gentleman,
both in private and public life,. We have never
found occasion to condemn his public conduct
of affairs, in his Gubernatorial Office, save in
matters of purely political import, wherein our
views are Numerically opposed to his, in toto.
But in all other public affairs, in which the f.
deity and integrity Of the man were involved,
we have frankly and honestly approved many
of Gov. Billiards. acts. The Democratic party
is not responsible for his appointment or for
his suspension. He was appointed by an Exc
cutiye elected by Radical votes, and Radical
Senate confirmed his appointment. So, too,
an Executive elected by Radical votes nomi-
mated another Radical tosucceed him in office,
and the Radical Senate, by confirming that
nomination in the first place, expressed its
assent to Gov. Ballard's removal, notwithstand-
ing the subsequent action Of that body in re re-
considering (not the removal of Gov, Ballard all
be it remembered) the. confirmation Of that
appointee, and its final rejection of him for the
Office of Governor of Idaho. And further, 1t
was by the express terms Of law passed'by
the Radical Congress that the President was
empowered 10 suspend tho Radical Gov. Bal
lard and appoint t0his Office the Radical Gov.
Gibbs Thus, the Democratic party has had
M ldt hr 1,srt II, th, matter bift it is simply