The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-01-20

Both houses met in joint convention thi
forenoon and elected james Harlan Unite,
States Senator for six years from the 4th o
March, 1861. His majority Was 2l--sufi
cient to stiffsn his backbone, il be needed
any stiffening, and to show to the "worlt
: and the rest OF mankind" that Iowa stand
firm, and intends to stand firm, in the from
ranks of the freedom loving States.
The Democracy complimented Augustus
Cesar Dodge BY giving him their votes, bu
he couldn't "come in" this time, and proba.
bly, never will again.
Both Houses are now in fair working Or
der, and are rapidly cutting out, systsnasix-
ing and assigning to the proper committees
the vast work they have to perform. The
subjects which will claim the attention OF
this Assembly are unusually numerous, COM
plicatsd and highly important. Besides the
| revision Of the Code, which is in itself q
herculean task for any one committee, there
are the various railroad schemes and inter-
ests to be attended to, the school system to
be revised and perfected, the public institn-
tions to be provided for, the conflicting
claims between the State and the General
Government to be settled, the system OF
county government to be overhauled, the
revenue laws to be improved, militia sys-
tenn to be inaugurated, 60. All these sub
jects require ample time for their investiga-
ton, and great practical wisdom for their
proper adjustment. Whatever may be the
result, it is certain that the Republicans feel
their responsibility, and are determined to
make this porhing session. And it 10
equally certain that the Democrats, or many
of them, of the demagogue class, --sslewd
fellows Of the baser sort,o like Clagett, and
Bennett Of Marion, for example, are de-
termined to spare no efforts to thwart and
perplex the majority, and make capital for
buncombe, il possible. As an instance, be-
fore the organization was fairly completed
in the House, Baker, (the last Democratic
Governor of New Hampshire, God be praised
only We wish it had pleased the Almighty
to keep him in New Hampshire), popped up,
las he is constantly popping up, in rivalry
with Clagett,- land offered q long resolution
calling for special committee to enquire all
about the present rates of printing, how
much has been paid and how much is due for
sundry jobs, &C., DC. The resolution had
to lie over, and when it came up in regular
order, it was SO amended, on motion of Mr..
Goodrich, as to extend the investigation into
the whole matter Of printing from the be-
ginning. Whereupon Mr.. Baker suddenly
concluded that he didn't want to serve on
that committee, and wouldn't agree to, until
he was badgered into it. His patriotic in
terest oozed out when the chance for bun.
comb Was squelched.
While think Of it, let me allude TO an.
other Democratic demonstration made yes
terday by Curtis and Bennett, Of Marion
who bitterly opposed the motion to employ
Father Scholts, of Pella, to translate the
message or Inaugural, or both, into the Hol.
land language. They were on record rs en-.
dorsing Soholte's fitness two years ago, in
the highest terms. But now it so happens
that he is not Democrat, and therefore be
10 not ft. Scholte was appointed.
The great event Of the season occurred
last night, when the "Lobby" took posses
sion of the Hall OF Representatives and pro.
ceeded to perform it's great work. The Hall
was crowded at an early hour with . mixed
multitude OF Legislators, officials, appointed
and disappointed candidates, citizens, out.
siders, boys and Lobby members. When i,
pleased him SO to do, sold Timber' stepped
forth, took possession of the Speakers chair
banged the hammer on the desk, commanded
silence, and proceeded to utter . most ex.
traordinary speech. Who is 'Old Timber!
All know Of him 10 that his wife lives on
homestead near Burlington, which he visits
semi-annually or enthusiastically, spend
ing the most of his time up the waters of th,
Des Moines, "a tall, wild, keen eyed, long,
bearded rover Of the prairies, "a sort d
peripatetic lawyer, following in the wake o.
his boon-companion, the notorious Judg,
Mcfarland, with whom he alternates th
time in drinking terrific tangle-foot and ad
minissering pro 70 nata law to the nasiOes
With striking appearance, flexible ant
sonorous voice, sharp, rude and ready wit
and many Of the graces Of natural borl
orator, he has an equal power to amuse an,
sway and convulse crowd, and speedil
disgust decent, sober and rejecting men,
lie 10, apparently, one OF those specimens 0
. naturally capable and noble nature whic
1t is melancholy to see wrecked on the shoal
and rocks of a difficult world.
shall not attempt sketch of his speech
Az 9 specimen Of the ludicrous, highfalutin
serio-comic and mockingly- dignifed, it eve
exceeded the general expectation, and th