Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-03
Written for the Journal.
hat "Letter from Judge Williams"

That "Letter from Judge Williams"
MEssRs. EpIroRs = Sometime ago it was
reported that Judge Williams had gone to
Washington to lobby for the Lyons and Iowa
City Railroad. could hardly believe it
until you published his letter last week for
in that letter he says :-"If l can get land
for the Lyons Road, including that for
Muscatine and for the Oskaleesa Road too,"
&c.
Is it possible that Muscasine man will
60 to Washington to endeavor to incumber
the bill, which had already been introduced
in Congress, for the donation Of lands for
four roads entirely across the State, and
another long branch? Does not every one
see that there is very great danger Of our
Representatives, in their endeavor to please
all, asking for too much? Il is one Of the
most difficult things q, Representative can
have to encounter, to procure an sppropria-
ton or favor, for a particular location,
without doing the same for every county
and town in his district. The people Of
Muscatine rejoiced, as they had great reason
to, when they saw that cur delegation in
Congress had fortified themselves behind
"the old memorial of the Legislature a.
Judge Williams is pleased to call il, and
limit themselves to that. And even with
this limit, if the bill is lost, it will be be-
cause it is too large.
Suppose Judge Williams should consti.
tute himself the sole Representative Of Iowa,
and have introduced into the bill twice as
many railroads as there now are, would he
procure its passage, or its.defeat? Inev.
liable defeat. 8. -
But Judge Williams says q great deal
against John P. Cook, tho Representative
of this District, and yet he says nothing
against him. If we can infer anything from
81 object to Mr.. Cook, or any of the Da-
venport school, ploughing with Museatine
'heifers,' by undertaking to construs my ac-
ton here as Muscaiinu man." it 10 that
Mr.. Cook will not approve Judge Williams
course, in asking for such extensive dona-
tons, as must work certain defeat to the
whole object. He has not even intimated
that Mr.. Cook is such DaYenport man as
to stick in the Davenport and Iowa City
Railroad. Then what are those serious
charges which Judge Williams brings
against MIR. Cook? They are nothing.
One grisvous charge is in these words !:
Gas have said, the delegation, save Cook,
approve my curse here. If do not love
Muscatine, her interests, good faith, and
all that is dear to her, who should? Does
Mr.. Cook, that he should be quoted by
Muscatine men against me, and Dodge,
Jones, and HEM a'' Most ridiculous !!
Judge Williams talk Of love to Muscatine,
and going for the Lyons and Iowa City
Road! If that road does any business it
will be to take the trade of Johnson, Cedar,
and Linn counties from US. sDoes Mr..
Cook love Muscatine % 1 defy Judge Will
liams to name an instance in which Mr..
Cook has not acted the honorable part a.
Representative of the whole District es.
pecially towards this little part called Mus
catine.
'sAs hare said, the delegation, save
Cook, approve of my course here" Docs
he intimate that "NE and Dodge, Jones
and Henn," are all going for all the roads
that ME- proposes? Has John P. Cook been
superseded 6y Judge Williams? Read that
letter again. and you will find stronger
proof Of this fact than any thing else id
contains. i
The moving power here, must be "loave}
and fishes" Besides here is great compel
tition among the different railroad interests!
John P. Cook, in his locality, cannot be
benefited any by this Company for which
Judge Williams is SO devotedly at work.
Hence the dire hostility to him. But when
John P. Cook stoops to newspaper para
graphs to cast disreputs upon any railroad
company, thea is the time to End fault with
him.
This railroad competition is Of very great
advantage to us, and we ought to esteem
ourselves highly favored, to have these two,
great and powerful companies contending
for the trade Of our favored town. Our
hearty wishes for the speedy and most
bountiful success to you all. But fair play
is the word, gentlemen.
Yours truly, SwIrcH.
The difficulties at Erie, it appears. have