Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-02-17
D0lNGs AT THE CAPITAL.
SENATE CHAxBsR Desmoines,
Fehtuary uth, 1860.

'ssmall bodies move slower" Since my last,
the House has again been in Committee of the
Whole upon the Governors Inaugural, and
Mr.. Clagget had a splendid opportunity to
relieve himself of speech Of only three hours
in length. His speech contained SIT Srs-
sevsn assertions to prove from documents
before him that Henry Clay, Daniel Webster,
and the Wing and Democratic parties 'eper
stood upon the platform Of Congressional
Intervention with the subject Of slavery -one
assertion that none but the native born, over
whose head, at the time of his birth, waved
the American flag, was entitled to the right
Of :elEgovernment.9. You will remember that
he was speaking upon the Governors Inaug'
ural, and yet he had spoken two hours and
fifteen minutes before he ever mentioned that
suSject! He charged the Republicans with
being Abolitionists, and, whenever he referred
to Clay, Webster, and others, to vindicate the
charge, and prove that they were adherents
to the doctrines of popular sovereignty, he
couldn't find what he wanted. The speech
was great bore. That is the criticism passed
by Democrats. @
The House have for the past two days had
under consideration the resuming Of the lands
of the Iowa Central R. R. Co. There have
been some animated scenes, some charges Of
corruption, and great many legal arguments !;
and, in this connection, cannot forbcar
abiding to the mastery effort ofMr. Williams,
of Dubuque, against resuming He has
proved himself more Of lawyer and states
man than politician. 1t was the ablest
argument that has been made during the
session, by anybody, upon any subject. His
argument was we'll arranged, premises legal,
deductions logical, language pure, and style
earnest and emphatic. twas really luxury
to listen to him, after having been compelled
to listen to such men as Hall, Kellogg and
Denison. Mr.. Williams is a young man, but
of much promise-his worst feature is his
fre-eating proclivities.
And here, trust, shall be excused and
pardoned by the gentlemen themselves for
referring to the Muscatine delegation. l do
50 as an act of justice to their constituents,
who should know the standing Of their Rep
resentatives at the Capital. Unjust "acknowl-
edge the corn" and take back all that said
in private way last Fall, to-wit: that it was
the true policy of our county to send men Of
mark, brilliant men, to our General Assembly.
Could those men in our county who, last Fall,
snsered at sending too plain farmers to
represent so important a city as Muscatine, 60
into the House, and day after day watch its
proceedings, the manners and demeanor Of
Messrs. Price and Shipman, they would be
fully satisfied of the wisdom Of their choice
1t is true that they do not call, "Mr. Speaker u
as often as Bennett, Clagget, Beale, Baker, OF
some others, yet, when they do call, they also
call the attention of the House, and, when
they do, they moreover obtain it. Mr.. Ship
man has probably occupied the floor more
frequently than his colleague. More than one
member regrets that the names of our Repre-.
sentatives are so near the end Of the roll
were 1t otherwise, their votes would more
generally be right. But it is not while in
session alone that their influence is felt They
examine critically every bill and measure
introduced, and their opinions are uniformly
and universally received with respect, and
confidence of their correctness With suck
men in our Legislature, the citizens of our
county may feel safe as to their interests. l
have no hesitation In saying that no county
in the State is more creditably or honorably
represented in the Legislature than ours. l
make these remarks as an act of justice to
each party.
Mr.. Caldwell has occupied the morning in
discussing the duty of the State to resume
railroad lands, afirmatively. l did not hear
the speech, but have heard it universally
pronounced as "tAe great speech of the
session." Even those opposed to him admit
the ability of his argument.
The Senate has been discussing a 800, 900
appropriation bill to the Insane Asylum. This
sum was merely inserted in the bill to bring
the subject properly before the Senate Col
Saunders gave history of the institution,
repealed the charge of stealing, &c. Wilson,
of Dubuque, Patterson, Bussey, Neal, Ham
mer, and Bailey have severally opposed the
bill and attacked the Asylum. Wilson, of
Jefferson, Scatt, Drummopd, Davis, of Polk,
and Bowen, have advocated an appropriation
of less than 100000. The result of the dis
cussion has been the appointment of a Joint
Committee to investigate the affairs of the
Asylum, with authority to send for persons,
papers, &C., consisting of Messrs Patterson,
Udell, Democrats and Mcpherson, (Rep.,)
of the Senate, and Hall, Taylor, Democrats
Merrill and Bemis, (Republicans,) of the
House. Occupying a very near position to
this Committee, shall be enabled to post
your readers Of the developments made.
The Code Commissioners have just reported
a "Code of Criminal Procedure" The Code
of Civil Practice will be before the Senate, on
Monday, for discussion.
The Joint Committee upon the sale of
liquors are preparing bill pro-
viding for stringent license law. 1t contains
one excellent provision, that of compelling the
seller to pay as penalty to wives, children,
Or those more nearly affected in domestic life,
all damages which they may sustain by reason
Of the intoxication of the heads of families.
will give my reasons for this opinion in
future.
would say to our attorneys that 1 think
he measure they have wished for-viz.
advance fees of Clerk-will pass.
[ also think Sheriffs' fees will be reduced
... s...... .. ZENI.
There was women's rights meeting
It the Cooper Institute New York on |