Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1858-01-02

Vim. Penn. Clark, of johnson, is fair
worker, but likes Penn Clark as we'll as any
body. Is a dyedin- the wool " free soiler,
and would make n much better Senator than
some others of much more professions. lie
has the credit of living on middle or com
promise grounds in this elias, ifcation, though
bitterly hostile to the compromise measures
of 1850, but wouldn't oppose compromise
IL it were to make him Senator
Thorington, of Scott, late member Of Con-
Srcss, and in whose election to the latter
place.. very good county clerk was spoiled,
to make a very poor member of Congress.
| believe his claims are based upon the
grounds of his having been two years in
Congress without distinguishing himself,
and he claims the right to play out the farce
in a six years performance in the Senate -
He is deserving OF some credit for the libe-
rality with which he has recently patronzcd
the printers and post Office department, in
printing and mailing his Senatorial circu
lars to the members of the Legislature.
should have to say of Thorington, what the
Kentuckian said of the rolc-cat soup,-'' it
Just ,ciH do, and that's ail'
The next is Henry O'Connor, of your own
county, in allusion to whom ! may be par
doncd if speak in rather warm and iatter-
ing terms. Having known the man intimate
" for some time, s. speak that which
do know and for which no man is respon-
sible but myself. speak it with full
knowledge that Mr. O'Conner needs no com
piiments at my hands. His services in the
cause of freedom are familiar to every one
to the JOY of our own party, and the discom-
future of our opponents. We have all viewed
with pleasure and admiration his manly and
eloquent defence Of Republican principles
His unselfsh sacrifices for our cause, in the
darkest days of our party existence. His
sleepless lubors in the campaigns of 81, $50
and '577 are. among the brightest jewels in
the casket of our party's memory, and to do
him simple justice, is but to place him first
among freedoms noble champions of the
West. If the Senatorship was to be decided
upon the score of true merit, AID in virtue
of services rendered, Henry o 'Connor would
have no opposition. While express my
! self thus warmly of the man, and his devo-
ton to principle, must humb|y beg his>par-
don for doing so in this connection, know
ing as vel do, his aversion of praise or
the semblance of fattery and knowing too
his entire freedom from the faint Of Office
seeking and his Indifference to the empty
honors of Office holding To make Senator
of Henry O'Connor would be to elevate the
place, more than the place would elevate
him, for true genius can gain nothing from
place, while place is adorned and ennobled
by genius. The place that has so long been
defled by Jones certainly needs some puri-
flying influence.
The next man is our own Francis Spring
er, Of Louisa. To say that he is true man,
is to repeat what everybody knows. lie has
had considerable legislative experience, and
as President Of the Constitutional Conven-
ton, was considered model officer. | am
not aware that he has any pretensions to the
place, but if in the turn Of the political
wheel, Mr.. Springer should be elected, we
Of Louisa would Of course feel hattered, and
the party throughout the State could have
nothing to regret.
The next is his exec liency james W.
Grimes, of Burlington. In regard to his
claims upon :he party fer the Senatotship
if | should differ with some of my brethren,
do so as a matter of right, and his posi-
ton will not deter me from speaking my
mind freely. I regard the shot haste with
which! some Of onr party have endorsed
Gov. Grime> claims to that place. a. a mis-!
fortune, and to say that his elect would
be the practical defeat OF the Republican
party Of The Safe, would be to utter what |
honestly believe. | wifi give my reasons:
First. GOV. u. mes is more indebted to
tic Republican party than the party is TO
him, notwithstanding the ridiculous claim
set mp BY himself and echoed by his friends
that lie nude the Repudlicaa party. Now
| know that is not true as regards myself,
for was Il Republican IS soon if not before
Crimes and my case will Illus rate the con.
dition of thousands who are now in our par
ty. The Nebraska Bill made us Republic
cans, and Stephen a. Douglas did more to
make a Republican party than all the Gov
ernors in the nation. Upon the heels of the
Nebraska swindle, when politics were knock
ed into ''pi," and the members of the old
Wing and Democratic parties that could not
follow their traitorous leaders, had no pos /
litical home; it was then tnat 10, tune smiled |
on Mr.. Grimes, and by the efforts of men
less selfish than himself, he was elected to |
the first Office in the State of Iowa. 1t is
miserable fallacy to say that he took higher
and holder grounds than lie was obliged to.
We were all forced to take strong grounds.
1t was q bold play, the success Of which
was attributable to the united labors of all,
not to the superior wisdom, courage, or
prowess of one. We won; and from that
moment, the elements which now compose
the Republican party were held together by |
sympathy and affinity OF sentiment, ready to
take party shape whenever concert of action
could be had among the States. That time
was in 1856, when we ssuned the party /
cognomen VI Republican under the Con-
stitutiun of the Uniiei States as our charter;
the Philadelphia platform as our political |
sscontession of taith." I'm the gallant Col. |
Fremont rs our candidate for the Presiden- |
cy. The State was considered safe for our
side, not because she had a Grimes, but be-
Cause she possessed the necessary clements
of strength on the right side, Independent
Of the action or position ct any man. But |
it is asked did not Grimes do more to unite /
these elements and give Us a Republican
victory than any man in the State? ] an
swer NO! In my Judgment Grimes did
much less than many Others might name, 4