Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-02-10
D0INGs AT THE CAPITAL.

DeINGs AT THE CAPITAL.
SsnArE CHAxBsR, Desmoines,)
~ February 4th, 1860.
DEAn JouesAI:-The Senate, yesterday,
resolved itself into . COMMITTEES Of tho w hole
upon the Governors Inaugural. Upon
motion to refer so much thereof as refers to
Virginia, John Brown, &C., to the Judiciary
Committee, Mr.. Busy, Of Davis, moved to
amend ITO instruct the Committee to separate
the concluding sentiment (Jacksonian) from
the Message" which Immediately called out
Scott, of Story, who opened his battery upon
the Democracy, followed by Mcpherson, of
Madison, who threw hot and heavy shot into
their ranks, causing q general mastering of
forces. Mcpherson INDICATED the sentiments
Of the Governor, and insisted that the history
Of palties was true, that his premises were
correct, and his conclusions eminently just.
He charged home upon the "agitators," in .
very handsome and gallant manner, and
caused them to aoriggls as though they had
been touched very unpleasantly in tender
spot. Busy replied in very energetic
manner. His remarks, marked with all the
ability which his cause would naturally bring
to his aid, place him among the leaders of his
party. But he was exceedingly unfortunate
in his associations. He could not maintain
his position without perveyting the records of
the past. TWAS an uphill business for the
gentleman from Davis to apologize for the
violated pledges of Frank Pierce and the
Democratic party to the American people.
Mr.. Mcpherson placed the gentleman and his
party in Iowa in very unpleasant position.
Mr.. Busy ma de the assertion, during his
speech, that the Democracy of this State were
in favor of the principle of Popular Sover-
eighty, to.wit: that the people Of Territory
shall establish their own institutions unrc-
strained by Congress. Mr.. Mop. obtained
permission to read series of resolutions
recently passed by the Senate of Alabama,
with but one dissenting voice, assuming the
other position-sh Congress should protect
what the Constitution recognizes as property,
and sanctions and guarantees; and then put
the question home to the Democracy, aohich
was Democratic, and qoho was to determine
between the two factions? The Buck Africans
were nonplussed, confused, discomftted, and
knew not how to answer interrogatories so
pointed. Following these came the eloquent,
profound Wilson, of Jefferson, who threw
bombs of magnificent proportions and calibre
into the already scattered ranks of defeated
minority. With earnestness and candor, he
charged upon Pierce and his satellites the
violation Of pledges made in National, State,
District, County and Township Conventions,
to resist the agitation of the subject of slavery
everywhere. The Democracy quailed beneath
the perfect storm of fire from Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Bailey, (Granny,) of Van Buren,, under
took reply, which was so weak and lame
that scarcely anybody listened to him, until
hereached the point of answering Mr.. Wilson'S
interrogatories. He was asked if he would
support the Charleston Platform if it asserted
the doctrine of the right and duty of Congress
to protect slavery in the Territories, to which
Mr.. B. gave an emphatic No. Wilson then
inquired if the gentleman would support Mr..
Douglas upon such platform, to which he
gave the very satisfactory (?) answer, "IwiU
not support such PLATFORM" which was
applauded by the Buck-Africans generally.
The Committee of the Whole will sit again,
tomorrow, and further discuss the matter.
That portion of the Governors Inaugural
relating to failure of crops in the State was
referred to the Committee on Agriculture,
and Committee instructed to report bill
preventing future failures.
A somewhat animated and stormy debate is
now gong on upon bill providing for an
appropriation to Major Williams, and others,
engaged in the Spirit Lake expedition. Legal,
moral and other arguments have been ad-
vanced-motions to pass, to reconsider, to
postpone, adjourn, &c. The principal objec
ton to the bill is that it provides for payment
of claims to assignecs who have
specialized upon the wants of others--and
fear that there is something behind the screen
not brought to view. The bill has been laid
upon the table,
Mr.. Patterson obtained the passage of a
resolution instructing the judiciary Commit
tee to inquire into the expediency of repeating
the section of the Code requiring advance fees
to be paid District Clerk; also, as to the
expediency Of paying Clerk by fees instead of
salary; also, TO reduce fees Of Sheriff.
In the House, yesterday, the Negro
Nulatto-Indian question was indefinitely
postponed. Clagget, of course, made a time
killing speech. The balance Of yesterday
and to-day l,aye been consumed in discussing
bill providing for redemption of real estate
sold under mortgage foreclosures, giving one
years redemption from passage of bill.
Clagget offered a substitute Retrospective in its
nature, declaring the true intent and meaning
of the old law, upon which Interpretation the
Supreme Court shall act. He made two
hours speech in its support, this morning.
On Monday next, Joint Convention will
be held to elect Directors for the State Bank.
.- ZENI.
.s SENATE CHAMBER, Desnaoines,l
| February 9Th, 1860. 10
FRIEND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is a great
city, and undoubtedly was intended to be built
upon the medel Of IFS great prototype, the City
! IF Moonifcent Distances 1t is furthermore
the State Capital. 1t is a moral, aye! a
religious place - that is to say, religious
organizations are numerous They, of course,
. exert powerful influence upon the morals Of
permanent citizens, as we'll as Of transient
visitors. who enact laws for the protection and