Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/340



In September Governor Clarke issued a proclamation for the election of State officers and members of the Legislature. The Democratic State Convention was held at Iowa City on the 24th of September, at which Ansel Briggs was nominated for Governor; Elisha Cutler, Secretary of State; J. T. Fales, Auditor; and Morgan Reno, Treasurer. Shepherd Leffler, of Des Moines County, and S. C. Hastings, of Muscatine, were nominated for Representatives in Congress, for since no apportionment had yet been made of Congressional Districts, the Representatives were to be elected by the State at large. The platform adopted by this first Democratic State Convention embraced the following declarations:

1. Endorsed the administration of James K. Polk. 2. Approved the independent Treasury bill and settlement of the Oregon boundary. 3. Endorsed the repeal of the tariff of 1842 and approved tariff for revenue only. 4. Pronounced unalterable opposition to all banking institutions of whatever name, nature or description. 5. Favored unlimited suffrage to free men without property qualification or religious tests; opposed the grant of exclusive privileges to corporations. 6. Declared in favor of less legislation, few laws, strict obedience, short sessions, light taxes and no State debt.

The first Whig State Convention met at Iowa City on the 25th of September and placed in nomination the following candidates:

For Governor, Thomas McKnight; Secretary of State, James H. Cowles; Auditor, Easten Morris; Treasurer, Egbert T. Smith; Representatives in Congress, Joseph H. Hedrick, of Wapello, and G. C. R. Mitchell, of Scott County.

The platform adopted declared in favor of,

1. A sound money currency. 2. A tariff for revenue and protection to American labor. 3. Restraint of the Executive from exercise of the veto. 4. Distribution of proceeds of the sale of public lands among the States.