Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-01-11
csrsssooaa,ass Of the Daily Gasstse.
Iowa ClrY, Jan. 5, 1885.

I AC SAiiHt LAVA vi ~
l..prohibto-y Law introduced by your wor
thy member. Dr.. Witter, came up in the
House again this Afternoon in the committee
of the whole. Tie question under discus
sion being I, strike out ali att.r the enactina
clause. This called out many of the big
guns favorable andopposeI tothe bill; among
which were Dr.. Wtter, Tracy, Rodgers
Noble, lthe Speakcr) Simueis and Russell
Dr.. Witter stated that he was glad this
important bill had assumed this shape. for
| e there could be found members enough in
the committee to adopt the motion the same
strength would be able to defeat the bill
when it should come before the House. He
was opposed to any amendments which would
render the enforcement of the PROVISIONS Of
1.-THE bill dificuit--<Df. w. is deliberate leg
islator. His speeches are short ana to the
point. H. commands the respect of the
whole House, all giving him credit for hon
esty Of purpose.)
Mr. Rolgers IN de an effective effort in be-
half of the cans,itutionaliiy OF the bill and
the wishes OF the people as expressed in the
last election in its favor.
NJ. Noble followed in a suecinct and hap
py speech. denying the constitutionaiity Of
the bill, upon the ground that liquor was con-
siaered as property and that the laws of tAe
State could not prohibit its manufacture
He also denied that the people in his portion
Of the State had spoken out in favor of this
law Git strikes ne that the vote OF Clay
ton CO. for Hon. Janies Thorington tells a
different tale.)
Mr. Samuels, OF Dubuque, the acknowl-
edged champion Of Democracy, then arose
ana as usua! much was expected o. him. He
commenced By stating that he was opposed
to tie bill on constitutional grounds, first for
the same reason as stated By Mr. Noble.
"a, because il crelted d distinction between
our own citizens. 81, because it took pri-
vate property without giving any compcnsa-
ton for the sams. III, because it furnished
the RICH, of search in an unconstitutional
manner, according to the 9Th clause of the
bin Of rights. 9TH, he opposed the bill as a
friend Of temperance, because he did not be-
lieye the people could be coercel into being
temperate. He adduced all the arguments
which the ingenuity AMI slrewdness of a
most ingenious and profound debater could
invent to substantiate his positions, which
were apparently plla;ibl, AM reasonable
He tilen with all the grace and ease of a
skillfuI orator claimed to be temperance
man and favorable to the cause, and stated
with manifest pride that he had for the latter
hall Of his life been in the habit of making
temperance speeches whenever a proper
occasion offered. He then passed splendid
eulogium upon his beautiful city, Dubuque,
and her honest, upright cnterprising citizens,
at the same time artfulIy managing to intro
duce the reprieye Of EXC oyernor Hampstead
OF one Stebbins OF this city for selling liquor
against the law and hurting back the slurs
and inuendoes which he said the gent emsn
from Washington (Mr. RusselD had OH a
former occasion thrown gu. against both.
Like the friends of Hayne in the U. S.
Senate, after his great speech on the nullii-
cation question, the opponents of this bill,
as well as its friends, felt that Mr.. SIS.
speech was unanswerable, but, sir, like one
at that trying hour, there arose one equal to
the task, Mr. Russell, of Washington as
founding all with the versatility Of his talent
and the powerful manner ofits display--eve-
nv mind and heart present being captiyated
with his beautiful imagery, patriotic and fer
vent appeals, pertinent and whitening re-
Dukes, his classic literature, his profound and
logical style OF reasoning, his happy manner
of disPosing of his opponents labored argu-
ments and his familiarity with the peoples
demands. Duringthe delivery of his speech
the audience maintained perfect stiffness,
except at the close of his touching, mastery
description of what he imagined to be the eff
feet of Mr.. SIS. former temperanr &c lectures
and his present unpleasant situation and his
we'll couched tribute to his opponents abili-
" &c, when the pent-up feelings of many,
forgetful OF legislative decorum. broke out in
applause. The home thrusts Of the orator
upon the giant from Dubuque evidently
made him eeiits whitening effect.
At the conclusion of this most satisfactory
speech the committee arose and agreed to
set again, when Dir. S. will make another
effort aud no doubt it will be worthy Of the
man
Immediately after the report Of the chair