The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-02-02
Correspondence of the Guardian.
From the Capital.
(HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES,

(HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES,
DIES MONIES, Jan. 90, go
MY DEAR Rich:
am, and have been, aware, for the
past two weeks, that 1 promised to write
you occasionally from this place but I
have not been able to fulfill this promise
until to-day, and it is extremely doubtful
whether shall be able to give you any
thing like a regular correspondence.
But when occasion serves my turn" l
may send you a hasty note.
The Eighth General Assembly is now
two weeks old, though it has apparently
accomplished nearly as much business
as you would naturally have expected
in that time. About 100 bills have been
introduced, and are now mostly in the
hands of the various committees. But
two or three, relating to the per diem Of
members, and the holding of Courts in
some of the Judicial districts, have as
yet passed. An important bill on usury
has been introduced by Mr.. CALDWELL,
of Van Buren,, and is to be discussed in
Committee Of the Whole tomorrow. The
County Organization question is to be
discussed in Committee of the Whole to-
day. The House is entirely sound on
this question. and will pass bill for the
enaasculotion Of the County Judges, and
for Township system but l greatly
fear its defeat in the Senate. The Sena-
tors all know that the people want this
change, but they are elected for four
years, and of course feel degree of in
dependence that men are strangers to
who are more Immediately accountable to
their constituents. Some talk of giving
us 'alfand- 'alf system. consisting of a
little of the County Judge, and a little of
the Township system, just enough TO
make both disgusting but it is most
earnestly to be hoped that this will fail.
If we cannot have Township system, as
a majority of our people desire. let US re-
tain the Judges, until we can have leg
islature that will carry out the universally
popular DESIRE
The mania of economy seems to
have seized upon the Democracy with
greater tenacity than ever before. They
opposed the election Of officers enough to
do the business of the legislature, TO be-
gin with, and have since been poking in
all sorts of resolutions, calling on the
State officers for all kinds of information
relative to State expenditures, DC. They
are OVERRIDING the thing, and running j.
into the ground completely. For in
stance they consumed time enough
CLAGGErr, BENNETT, ct id genus o0,ne-
over the election of an assistant clerk and
paper folder, to more than pay the sal
aries of both officers and SO they have
gone on, wasting the time in calling the
Ayes and Nays and making long-wind-
ed speeches, that ought to be devoted to
the important duties of legislation. But
they have begun, within the last three or
four days, to "pale their Intellectual
fires, and CLAsGETr has dropped down
from % to IL speeches per day If he
continues to grow decent quiet and rea-
sonable times may be anticipated in the
course Of the next ten days. Economy
is wonderful good thing. but the DEM
ocratic consumption of time worth about
So per minute, in calling ayes and noes,
and making long speeches on trivial mat
ters. somewhat approaches my idea of
real extravaganza. The Republicans all
manifest a strong desire TO proceed with
business, while the Democracy act upon
a principle quite the reverse. l hope in
the next campaign that the people will
remember who it is that squanders the
precious time at the capital.
Your senator, Dr.. HASTINGS, and your
representative, Mr.. BEMIs, are both al
ready well-kuown here, and highly es-
teemed. They are both men of acknow-
lodged merit, fine abilities, tried honesty,
and safe and judicious Legislators. Mr..
BEM1s, whom / oftenest see, is always in
his seat, and lis name has not failed to
be recorded whenever vote has been
taken, and always on the common sense
side. His record will be one to be point
ed to with pride.
You are already aware Of the election
of Senator HARLAN. He was nominated
by acclamation. and amid the most en-
thusiastic cheers. by the Republican eau
Gus. This exalted compliment was as
worthily bestowed as it is modestly re-
ceived. No state ever had a senator
more deserving OF such a thorough en-
dorsement. The distinguished Senator