USA > Iowa > Hardin County > History of Hardin county, Iowa, together with sketches of its towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110
Resolved, That the thanks of the American people are due to Major-Generals Scott and
Taylor, their officers and men, for their courage, bravery and endurance; that in the victories they have achieved, they have shed imperishable honor upon their country's flag at the same time that they have won for themselves, one and all, chaplets of imperishable renown.
Resolved, That in the demand which now ex- ists in the countries of the old world for Ameri- can provisions, we have an illustration of the incalculable benefits which are sure to result to the United States, and particularly to the great West, from reciprocal interchange of coumo- ditics; that the agriculturists of Iowa have sen- ·sibly partaken of the benefits resulting from this liberal system of policy, and in the name of the Democratic party of Iowa, we tender to President Polk and the Democratic members of Congress our thanks for the enactment of a tariff, which is likely to have the effect of caus- ing foreign countries to still further abolish their restrictions upon American grain and American provisions.
Resolved, That the evidence to be found iu the fact that, within the last three months, the cnor- mous sum of fifty-five millions of dollars has been offered to be loaned to the Government at a premium, is a proud vindication of the finan- cial ability of the Goverument, at the same time that it rebukes with merited severity the croak- ing of those who, at the commencement of the war, predicted that the treasury would be beg- gared iu less than a year, with no means of re- plenishing it.
Resolved, That we approve of the conduct of the Democratic members of our first State Legis- lature. Under the peculiar circumstances by which they were surrounded, their conduct was such as became them, and is sustained by the entire Democracy of the State.
Resolved, That the Democratic party have ever regarded education as the only means of pre- serving aud perpetuating our republicau institu- tions; that it is now and cver has beeu solicitous for its extension throughout the whole length and breadth of our land; and that it is one of the chief objects of the Democratic party of this State to establish such a system of free schools as will cuable every child within its borders to
140
HISTORY OF IOWA.
qualify himself to perform all the duties devoly- ing upon a citizen of this favored country.
Resolved, That we pledge ourselves collectively to support the nominees of this convention; that in our respective counties we will spare no efforts to promote their success; that we will permit no selfish consideration, no sectional feel- ings, to influence us, but, rallying under the banner of the good old cause, the cause of De- mocracy, we will march on to victory, triumph- ant victory !
The Whigs nominated for President of the Board, Geo. Wilson; Secretary, Madi- son Dagger; Treasurer, Pierre B Fagan. Sample was elected over Wilson by 510 majority, out of a total vote of 16,250.
The Whigs of Iowa were first in the field in 1848, meeting in convention May 11th, at Iowa City. They nominated for Secretary of State J. M. Coleman; Auditor, M. Morley; Treasurer, Robert Holmes. The following platform was adopted :
The Government of the United States is based upon and exists only by the consent of the peo- ple; and,
WHEREAS, It is the duty as well as the rights of the citizens of the United States to meet in their primary capacity, whenever their judg- ment may dictate, to examine into the affairs of the Government; and,
WHEREAS, This right carries with it the power to approve the conduct of their public servants, whenever approval is merited by faithfulness and integrity, so it equally confers the duty of exposing imbecility, selfishness and corruption, when they exist in the administration of the Re- public, and of denouncing those who, disregard- ing the example and admonitions of the Fathers of the Republic, are abandoning the true prin- ciples on which our civil institutions are found- ed, and proclaiming and carrying out measures that cannot but prove detrimental to the liar- mony and best interests of the Union, and may eventuatc in the overthrow of our present Re- publican form of government; therefore,
Resolved, By the Whigs of Iowa, through their Representatives in Statc Convention assembled, that the Government of the United States is a limited Government, divided into three depart- ments, each having its appro, riate sphere, and separate and well-defined duties to perform; that it is necessary to the stability and perpetu- ity of our institutions, that the Executive, Leg- islative and Judicial Departments should be kept distinct, and confined to their legitimate duties; and that any encroachisent, by one de- partment, upon either of the others, is a viola- tion of the spirit and letter of the coustitution, and should call down the severest reprehension of the American people.
Resolved, That the admonition of a late Presi- dent of the United States, "Keep your eye upon the President," should especially recommend itself to all the people iu times like the present; that the Government can only be kept pure by the constant watchfulness of the people and the expression of their loudest censure, when spec- ulation and corruption is detected.
Resolved, That entertaining these opinions, we have no hesitation in declaring that the eleva- tion of James K. Polk to the Presidential office was a sad mishap to the American Government; and that his administration, by its total aban- donment of the principles of true Republican- ism, as taught by Washington, Jefferson and Madison; by its encroachments on the national constitution, and its entire disregard of the will of the people, as expressed through their Rep- resentatives in Congress; by its denunciations of its own constituents, its futile attempt to misrepresent facts and conccal the truth, its endeavors to prostrate the industrial energies of the people and discriminate in favor of the man- ufactures and machinery of Europe, its violation of its own much lauded system of finance, the sub-treasury, thereby furnishing the people with promise to pay its officers with gold and silver; by its war, commenced without the assent of the war-making power, against a weak and dis- tracted sister Republie, while at the same time, it ignobly and cowardly crouched beforc the lion of England, aud took back its own asser- tions; its public debt of one hundred millions
141
HISTORY OF IOWA.
and its sacrifice of human life; its veto of meas- ures that met the approval of every former Pres- ident; and, worse than all, by its infamous at- tempt to rob of their well-earned laurels, won on the tented field, in the heart of the enemy's country, those who commanded the armies of the Republic, and bring them into unmerited disgrace before the American people,-by this aggregation of misdeeds, has signalized itself as the worst, most selfish and corrupt adminis- tration the United States ever had.
Resolved, That, while we concede that it is the duty of every citizen to support his country when engaged in a conflict with a foreign power, yet we equally insist that it is the duty of the people to hold their public servants to a strict accountability, and honestly to condemn what- ever their judgment cannot approve; that we indignantly hurl hack the imputation of James K. Polk and his parasites, that the Whig party of the Union are wanting in love of country, and deficient in its defense, and in evidence of the patriotism of the Whig party, we proudly point to the commanding generals, the distin- guished officers and the brave soldiers who, in our army in Mexico, have shed luster upon them- selves and renowu upon the flag of their country.
Resolved, That, believing the war terminated, our convictions require us to declare that the war with Mexico was a war brought on by the Executive, without the approbation of the war- making power, that had the same prudence which governed the administration in its inter- course with Great Britain, relative to the settle- ment of the Oregon question, exercised toward Mexico, a nation whose internal dissensions and weakness demanded our forbearance, the war would have been averted, and the boundaries between the two nations amicably and satisfac- torily scttled.
Resolved, That we are in favor of the applica- tion of the principle contained in the Wilmot proviso (so called), to all territory to be incor- porated into this Union, and are utterly opposed to the further extension of slave territory.
Resolved, That our opposition to the sub-treas- ury and the tariff of 1845 has not been dimin-
ished by the evidence furnished us of their oper- ations; that they are twin measures, calculated and designed to depress the free labor of the country, for the benefit of a minority of the people-the one operating to lessen the price of labor, and hring down the wages of freemen, and the other throwing open our ports for the introduction of the productions of the pauper labor of Europe, thereby crippling our own man- ufacturers and compelling them either to sacri- fice their laborers or close their business; that the onc has failed as a disturbing system of the Government, the administration having been compelled to resort to banks and paper in making their payments, and the other, as a rev- enue measure, has proved entirely inadequate to the support of the ordinary expenses of the Gov- ernment; that the one, by withdrawing from circulation, and shutting up in its vaults a large amount of specie, and the other, by overstock- ing the market with foreign goods, have largely contributed towards, if they have not entirely produced, the present financial difficulties; and that we cannot but foresee that the country will soon be visited, if these measures arc continued, with a commercial revulsion as great and disas- trous as that of 1837.
Resolved, That the profession of the adminis- tration of James K. Polk, that it is in favor of, and devoted to, an exclusively metallic currency, while it is issuing millions u. on millions of paper money, in shape of treasury notes, irre- deemable in specie, is an insult to the American pcople, and deserves the unqualified denuncia- tion of every lover of truth and honesty.
Resolved, That the great West, whose popula- tion and commerce are rapidly increasing, bear- ing, as it does, its full proportion of the public burdens, is entitled to some consideration at the hands of the General Government, and to some participation in the Union; that the Mississippi river is to the whole Mississippi Valley what the Atlantic is to the Eastern and the lakes are to the Northern States; that if it is constitutional to clear and improve any harbors in the latter, it is equally constitutional to do the same in the former; that the River and Harbor Bill of the last session of Congress contained only appro-
Y
142
HISTORY OF IOWA.
priations for work that had met the approval of Jackson and VanBuren; that the veto of that measure by the Executive was a high-handed usurpation upon the rights of the people and their representatives, uncalled for and unneces- sary, and that, by that act, James K. Polk proved himself false to the principles of his pre- decessors, and hostile to the future growth and best interests of the West.
Resolved, That in view of the misrule, venality and infractions of the Constitution which have characterized the present administration, we deem the approaching Presidential election one of the most important that has occurred since the organization of the Government; that it is necessary to the preservation of the institutions bequeathed to us by our fathers, that there should be a change of rulers as well as a change of measures; that, animated by a sincere desire to promote the welfare and honor of onr conn- try, we have determined to buckle on our armor and enlist for the war; and, in the language of one who never faltered in his devotion to his country, we call upon every Whig in Iowa to "Arouse ! Awake ! Shake off the dew-drops that glitter on your garments !" and, in company with your brethren throughout the Union, "Once more march forth to battle and to victory !"
Resolved, That, although the Whig party of Iowa has expressed a preference for General Taylor as the Whig candidate for President, yet they deem it due to themselves to declare that they commit the whole subject into the hands of the Whig National Convention, and whoever may be the nominee of that body for President, the Whigs of Iowa will give him a cordial sup- port.
Resolved, That locofocoism in Iowa has proved itself a faction, "held together by the coercive power of public plnnder," and devoid alike of generosity and principle; that, under cover of an assnmed love of law and order, it has under- taken and cast from office a citizen chosen by a large majority of the popular voice, while, at the same time, it is represented in Congress by men elected without the shadow of law; that in foist- ing into the halls of Legislature, men who had no right there, for the purpose of carrying out
their own selfish designs, they were guilty of a clear violation of constitutional law, and of usurpation upon the rights of the people; and that the Whig members of the Legislature, by refusing to go into the election of Senators and Supreme Judges, while those individnals exer- cised the functions of Representatives, truly reflected the will of their constituents, and de- serve the thanks of cvery friend of good gov- ernment.
Resolved, That we most cordially commend to the support of the people of Iowa the ticket placed in nomination by this convention, of State officers and electors of President and Vice President; that they are citizens distinguished for their ability, integrity, patriotism and cor- rect moral deportment; and that we pledge to this ticket a full, hearty and zealons co-opera- tion in the ensuing canvass, with the confident assurance that if cvery Whig does his "duty, his whole duty, and nothing short of his duty," at the ballot-box, they will receive from the people of Iowa a majority of their suffrages.
Resolved, That we are watching with deep in- terest the recent movements in Enrope, indica- ting as they do, the spread of popnlar liberty, and the determination on the part of the masses to throw off the fetters of despotism and kingly inle; that we joyfully admit into the brother- hood of republicanism the new republic of France, trnsting that an all-wise Providence will guide and watch over the destinies of the new government and establish it on a permanent basis; and that to the masses of the other na- tions of Europe, who are now struggling to be free, we tender our warmest sympathies, and bid them a heartfelt God-speed in their efforts to obtain a recognition of their rights and liberties.
The Democrats placed the following ticket in nomination at a State convention held June Ist, at Iowa City: Secretary of State, Josiah H. Bonney; Auditor, Joseph T. Fales; Treasurer, Morgan Reno. The official vote showed Bonney to be elected Secretary of State by 1,212 majority, out of a total of 23,522.
143
O
HISTORY OF IOWA.
The campaign of 1849 was opened by the Democrats, who met in convention at Iowa City, and nominated William Patter- son, President of Board of Public Works; for Secretary, Jesse Williams; Treasurer, George Gillaspie. The platform adopted by the convention was as follows:
Resolved, That, in view of the large interest at stake in the judicious and vigorous prosecution of the public works on the DesMoines river, and in view also of the efforts on foot by the Whig party to obtain the control and direction of the same, by means of a Whig Board of Public Works, it is important that the Democracy of the State should take immediate and energetic steps toward a thorough and complete organiza- tion of the party, and be ready on the day of the election to securc to themselves, by a tri- umphant majority, the choice of the officers; and that, while we cordially and unreservedly recommend the nominees of this convention to the confidence and support of the people, we should also take occasion to admonish our friends, that in union there is strength, and in vigilance, success.
Resolved, That this convention has received, with feelings of profound grief, the intelligence of the death of that pure patriot and able states- man, James K. Polk, late President of the United States; and that for his eminent and distinguished services to his country, for his faithfulness to principle, and for his purity of private life, his memory will ever live in the cherished recollec- tions of the Democracy of the nation, by none more honored than the people of this State.
Resolved, That we recur with pride to the tri- umphant success, the splendid achievements, and the imperishable renown of the late admin- istration; and that, while we point to thesc as the glorious results of past labors, we should re- member that, as they were gained by a strict adherence to honest principles and the adoption of an honest policy, they can be sullied or im- paired only by a base abandonment of them upon the altar of expediency, or by a disgrace- ful surrender in the form of coward silence.
Resolved, That we still adhere as firmly as ever to the principles and measures which dic- tated and governed the course of the late admin- istration; and that we drive a high pleasure from the fact that a Democratic Senate is vouch- safed to us as an impassable barrier between the federal high tariff, bank and paper policy, hopes and designs of the present dynasty, and the gold and silver currency, and low tariff and inde- pendent treasury policy of the people.
Resolved, That the administration of Gen. Taylor, as far as it has proceeded upon its mis- sion, has unblushingly falsified every promise and grossly violated cvery pledge given before the election by its nominal chief; that a party which can go before the country upon one set of issues, and immediately after its installation into power enter upon the practice of another set, is more than ever deserving of the reproba- tion of the world, and of the continued and uncompromising hostility of the Democratic party.
Resolved, That General Taylor, for the part which he has played, or has been made to play in this disgraceful game of deception, has dis- played a want of honest principle or weakness of mind and character, which equally disquali- fies him for the place he holds, and fully justi- fies the worst predictions ever made against his fitness for the Presidency; and that, although we may once have admired the soldier in the tented field, we are now reluctantly brought to condemn and to repudiate the cipher in the cabinet of the country.
Resolved, That the removals in this State have been made without cause and in direct violation of the professions of General Taylor, before the election; and that the appointments which have followed have been made in equal violation of the same professions.
Resolved, That the appointment of a bureau officer from this Statc, in the person of Fitz Henry Warren, is an act deserving the censure and undistinguished condemnation which it is receiving from a large majority of the Whigs of Iowa; and that his retention in office, in the face of these open and emphatic expressions of
Y
144
HISTORY OF IOWA.
S
public disgust, is well calculated to prepare the mind of every one to be surprised at nothing, in the way of moral turpitudc, which may mark the future character of General Taylor's admin- istration.
Resolved, That the Democrats who have been removed from office in this State by the federal and proscriptive administration now in power, retire from their respective posts without re- proach from government, and with the unim- paired coufidence and respect of the Democracy of the State.
Resolved, That we deprecate any separate and sectional organizations, in any portion of the country, having for their object the advocacy of 'an isolated point involving feeling, and not fact-pride, and not principle, as destructive to the peace and happiness of the people and dan- gerous to the stability of the Union.
Resolved, That inasmuch as the Territories of New Mexico and California come to us free, and are free now by law, it is our desire that they should remain forever free; but that until it is proposed to repeal the laws making the country free, and to ereet others in their stead for the extension of slavery, we deem it inexpedient and improper to add to the further distraction of the public unind by demanding, in the name of the Wilmot Proviso, what is already amply secured by the laws of the land.
The Whigs met in convention June 30, at Iowa City, where they nominated the following ticket: President of Board, Thomas J. Mckean; Secretary, William M. Allison; Treasurer, Henry G. Stewart. The following platform was adopted:
Resolved, That this convention has unlimited confidence in the integrity, ability and patriotism of the people's President, General Zachary Tay- lor. The illustrious services he has rendered his country in forty years' devotion to her in- terests and her glory in the field, and the abun- dant evidence he has given since his inaugura- tion as Chief Magistrate of the Republic, of the possession of emineut administrative talents, afford a sure guaranty that his administration
will be devoted to the highest and best interests of the country, the whole country, and nothing but the country. With such a leader, one who has successfully encountered every danger, whether in front, rear or rank, we may look with confidence to the speedy restoration of the country to her true Republican destiny.
Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meet- ing, the recent demonstration of public senti- ment inscribes on the list of executive duties, in characters too legible to be overlooked, the task of reform, and the correction of those abuses which have brought the patronage of the Federal Government into conflict with the freedom of election; and that as vacancies by death are few, by resignation none, the task of reform and the correction of those abuses can be accom- plished only byremoval; and we regard the wail- ings of the locofoco press at the salutary and essential changes which the administration has seen proper to make, as involving a disregard of the importaut truth here referred to, and a contempt of the first principles of Democracy.
Resolved, That the welfare and interests of the people of Iowa imperatively require an amend- ment to the State Constitution, by which the incubus, imposed in some of its provisions upon their resources aud prosperity, shall be removed.
Resolved, That the people have a right to demand that this question shall be submitted to them for their action, and in the judgment of this convention they will be recreant to their interests if they do not visit their condemnation upon a party that, with professions of Democ- racy perpetually upon its lips, has shown itself in practice to be destitute of the true principles of Democracy.
Resolved, That the course of the dominant party of this State, in the late General Assembly, in its daring assaults upon the most sacred pro- vision of the constitution; in the outrage which it committed against the great principles of civil and religious liberty, iu depriving one of the counties of the State, as a punishment for the frce excrcise by its voters of the elective fran- chise of the rights of representation, in ex- cludiug it from all the judicial districts of the
145
HISTORY OF IOWA.
State, and in its flagitious attempt to destroy its organization altogether, and to cxcommunicate its inhabitants, indiscriminately, from the pro- tection of civil society; in its contemptuous refusal to allow the people of the State the priv- ilege of expressing their opinion on the subject of a convention to amend the State constitution; in its refusal to instruct the Senators in Con- gress from this State to favor the policy of the Wilmot Proviso, by excluding the institution of slavery from our newly acquired Territory; in its attempt to create new offices, not demanded by the public interest, as a sort of pension to partisan favorites-offices which would have im- posed new burdens in the shape of increased taxation without any corresponding benefit,- and in its reckless prodigality of the public money, should consign it to the perpetual con- demnation of a free pcople.
Resolved, That we are opposed to the exten- sion of slavery into territory now free, and that we believe it to be the duty of the Federal Gov- ernment to relieve itself of the responsibility of that institution, wherever it has the constitu- tional authority so to do; and that the legislation necessary to effect those objects should be adopted.
Resolved, That for the compliment paid to our State, in the appointment of one of our fellow- citizens to the important office of Assistant Postmaster, the President is entitled to our thanks.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.