Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-15
a. esq From the IoUa Sentinel.
The Taylor Celebration.

. HS 4 SytDT ScicOfttAOsss
Special Overland Express from Sit Rirer-
General Taylor (nqt) elected President
Craufshins omeag the Clay Wh,gs =
Defining positions BY "The best speakers
in The Mote'-ertensiue future Of the
general enthusiasm, etc. 40 ssa .
+ The good people Of Fairfield were
thrown into quite an excitement some tw Q
weeks since, by the announcement that
several Of the coons that took passage on
the Hog Oliver for Salt River last fall,
had returned by the overland route" 1t
appears that special messenger sent by
Santa Anna to Tom Corwin, (the Iowa
Senator had missed his way and wander
ed into the camp of'he Hog Drivers crew.
Finding the inmates TO be friends, he
made them acquainted with his business.
He took out his dispatches, which were
carefully folded in two envelopes, the frs,
copy of the Valley Wing, and the other
of The Hawk.ye. These being the first
papers that had bean seen in camp since
the landing, they were seized by the ca
ger crowd and the contents swallow ed
with the greatest dispatch. From these
it appeared that Gen. Tavlor was to be the
wing candidate for President, and that hi.
popularity was so great that loun would
surely go for him. A meeting ofthe camp
was called, and it was decided that the
company might leave Salt river with per-
feet safety. Ii was voted that the horse
rode into camp by the Mexican bearer Of
dispatches was public property, and
should, therefore, be used as such. Ac-
cordingIy, the provisions being packed,
the company took up their lire Of march,
and about two weeks .irce arrived in "the
settlements" Those who went from JEFF
ferson county, Immediately on their re-
turn, set in motion call for "Taylor
Supper" 4 g.. ..-
Finding that Taylor was not exactly
the maj, with all the uhigs, they found that
it was necessary to avoid making i, po-
li,ical affair. Therefore, wings demo-
Gratis, natives, everybody, were invited TO
come and eat Rough and Ready supper.
AS an additional Involvement, it was an
nounced that "he best speakers in The Mate'
would be there and address the crowd.
The time fixed upon was Tuesday night
last; and as "old Sol was pulling in his
last ray" the windows of the National
were illuminated. and the farce commence
ed. ah
A once old fashioned Clay wing, but
iutely John Tyler man, and nor a Tay-
Tor man, was called to the chair-and
thereupon, amoaest, but exceedingly Tay-
lorish speech was made, Several Vice
Presidents and Secretaries were appoint.
ed with a view to make tie published
proceedings imposing. THE table and
room were decorated with flags. upon
which were various NOTES and devices,
and both were well lighted. There was
something wanting, however, to render
the tableau comp! e'e:--tl,ere was nothing
to remind the company of the "Jlooay
hands and hospitaJle gravss," which Tay.
lor and his comrades met in Mexico
But to the proceedings. This comico-
trageo farce vas opened with prayer Cd
by Rev gentleman, who, but few weeks
since, made the horrors and iniquity of
war the subjects fer a pulpit exhorta'ion.
Then came the toasts drank with coffee at
the table, but, with ''bald face" in a side
room. MucI, ercitement was evinced as
the different sentiments were read, par
ticularIy in the side room.
And now the "best speakers" in Iowa
were called TO the stand. ....
Wallace, the would be Delegate to Con
gress, Supreme Judge, Senator, Clerk of
the House Of representatives, captain, or
even sergean, in the army-was toasted.
Whereupon, he rose and endeavored to
make Taylor speech, but failed. He
had 'nt got up the steam, or else by his
long residence on Salt River, was "behind
the times" He didn't know whether
Gen. Taylor was good whig. or not; and
hence it was not worth while 10 waste the
power Of his lungs on an uncertainty. lie
therefore "begsed to be excused" the
next s'best speaker" was Cowles, OF the
Valley Wing. He didn't know much, eth
er about Gen. Taylor or his politics; but