The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-02-01

Ar HONE, January 22d, l040.

Ar HoME, January 22d, ls49.
Dear SANDERs:-I propose to fulfil a
promise msde you recently, and briefly re-
view the ac,ings and doings, Of the late
extraordinary session Of the Iowa LegisIa.
'ure; to accomplish this, propose to give
you communication for each number Of
the Gazette until shall have exhausted
"my Stock" and in order to avoid boring
your readers, will endcavor not to be too
prolix.
At the Extra Session Of the General As.
sembly one year ago, bill was passed ap-
pointing three Commissioners to revise and
report q complete code Of laws for this
State. Il was expected Of the Commits.
sioners that they would have been ready to
report the result o! their lsbors to the late
session for consideration, but the unde rta-
king required more time and study tina n
many anticipated, and the Commissioners
found themselves unable TO accomplish the
work in time, and notified the Governor
accordingly; the subject was properly laid
before the General Assembly and referred
to appropriate committees. In the Senate
Mr.. Bradley, chairman of,he Judiciary com.
mi,'ee, submitted report recomme nding
an enrly adjournment Of the General As
scmbly, and the passage Of . resolution, 70.
questing the Governor to convene them
again in Extra Session rs soon as the Com.
missioners Of revision should notify him Of
their readiness to report the revised code !;
in accordance with the recommendations
contained in that report, joint resolution
was introduced into the Senate to adjourn
on the 2lst Of December, this resolution
passed the Senate BY very small mniori-
~, and was sent to the House where il
was very unccremononsly laid upon the
table. Ia the mean time all agreed tina, i,
would he bad policy to enter upon n gener.
al sysiem Of legislation, better wait for the
adoption Of the revised code. In outdoor
conversation with members all agreed tina,
It was unnecessary to !cng,hcn out the SEES
sion over fifteen days, vet these same
members when in session refused TO take
any step towards fixing upon day for an
adjournment, and if Que Of the minority in
the House urged the necessity of some nc.
ton upon the subject, they were tnun,ing.
ly told that their action or opinions were
not wanted. They were not authorised to
interfere in matters that did not concern
them;-the rnterritied .'war horscs" Of De-
mocracy were alone responsible Tor the acts
of this Legislature. Mr.. Speaker Bonbam
left the Chair and took the floor to an
nounce "to Wings ond Whiggery that the
Democratic party held themselves respon-
sible for each and every act Of that body"
and 'he wished the minority on that floor
to understand distinctly that this 10 Dem.
ocraiic Legislature, and the interference Of
Wing members in matters concerning the
policy to be carried out, was unsolicited,
and uncalled for, md he trusted in future
the minority would SO understand il, and
mike themselves less ofiicious." Mr.. Speak
er Bonhsm was always nervous when any
thing was said about adjournment, this was
perfectly natural, for be il known he was
receiving 81 per day while the other men,
bers only received s..
The fact is, every member had his ex-
cuse for Prolonging tho session, some Of
them expected petitions asking the i'm
proyement Of the "North fork Of Skunk
Creek" others, asking for ferry charter
across mill Creek" during the time wa
ter happens to run in it, but the truth is,
the 81 per day, and roast beef had more
to do with their actions than any other con.
sideration, except ono very important mat
ter which will explain hereafter.
II was plain to be seen during tho organ
ization Of the General Assembly, that Lo-
cofocoism was sticking out 10 every move;
the immortal Augustus C. Dodge-who
ought to be called "Western Thunder
wos present to cheer up the despondng,
md '',rhip in" the refractory. Il was Is.
certained that there were three moro np-
picants for Offices who had been promised
place than there were places for them; il
was absolutely necessary to provide for
Them or the members who were hackinu