Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-02-24
AT THE CAPITAL.
1SEsATE CHAMBER, Desmoines,
February 18th. 1860.


FRIEND JOURNAL: - The redemption of
mortgages is still occupying the attention Of
the House. Clagget is still insisting upon his
substitute to make the law retrospective. It
is astonishing that any man could ever receive
the honors which have been conferred upon
Tom Clagget, who possesses so many of the
qualities of rsckless tyrant. Heis determined
to see his wishes carried ont or let everything
$50 to hill" If the majority have any desire
to invariably do right, let them act in opposi-
ton to Clagget, and they need not fear the
result. The House, upon an average, sits six
hours every day. think it is safe to say
that Clagget has thus far consumed one-third
of the time with talk. He is is most intol-
cradle bors-evinces most inveterate hatred
for anybody or anything that halls north of
Mason and Dixon's line. He is, as Mr..
Caldwell charged, few days since, "troubled
with the 6ig-head, and has been from his
childhood, with no prospect of improvement"
Rosenkranz, in his speech, the other evening,
on the Governors Inaugural, said that a
Democratic friend of his had remarked, that
noon, that Mr.. Douglas would and could not
be the nominee of the Charleston Convention,
for the night before he had dream, and in
that dream he heard, with establishment and
surprise, that Tom Claggst had received the
Democratic nomination! The Republicans
and some Democrats take especial delight in
teazing the old fellow. One member, whose
name, l believe, is Mosier, from Taylor county,
is constantly on the alert to catch Claggst
from his seat in the act of addressing the
House. 1t annoys the old man very much.
But the best thing came off yesterday. Mr..
Winslow, Superintendent of the Insane
Asylum, was dragged into the discussion.
Clagget denied that Mr.. W. was Democrat.
| He didn't like the name-it came over in the
! Mayaower-he didn't like nything that came
over in it. No Democrat ever came over in
the MayHower. Gov. Baker arose, and, in a
somewhat stern manner, took Thomas to task,
and wanted him to understand that the
descendants of the Mayhower passengers
would compare favorably with the people Of
any other State, not excepting Maryland; and,
moreover, he would have the gentleman from
Lee understand that there were other States
in this Union besides Maryland. Clagget
thereupon undertook to give his meaning,
and said he respected the people of New
England so much that he went to Massachu-
sets to get his wife. To which Gov. Baker
very pertly replied, che was glad there was
one decent person in the family" Now,
Gov. Baker is whole-souled, generous, gen.
| tlemanly fellow. Had it not been for false
step at the commencement of the session, the
Governor would have been the universal
favorite, and am not so certain that he would
not have been the leader of the majority.
Since the first week, I do not think he has
occupied the time of the House with speeches
an hour and half all told. He will not take
an insult, either direct or indirect, without
resentment. Gov. Baker and Mr.. Curtis are
gentleman who are willing to give an opponent
the credit of honesty of opinion. They will
not stoop to low, scurrileus abuse, and because
| they are able and high-minded 1 call them
the leaders of the minority. l understand
that Mr.. Bennett feels very much aggrieved at
my criticism upon his speech, and yesterday
and to-day has made diligent inquiries as to
who Zeni is. By calling upon me he may
learn.
A bill, exempting every 40-acre tract of
land on which 5 acres of timber may be
planted and cultivated from taxation, was
defeated by large majority; also, bill
exempting sheep from taxation was lest.
| There is movement on foot to exempt all
personal property from taxation, and tax only
the lands, in order to reach nonresident
land holders and spectators.
Nearly six weeks have passed since the
commencement of the session, and no import
mt measure has yet passed. At the rate
these bodies move, they cannot be expected to
move towards home until the LIST of April, and
more probably the 18th. A long session may
be looked for, at great expense to the State
Next Fall, the Buck-Africans will be heard
over the State bowling about Republican
extravaganza. They will put on their long
phylacteres, and tell the people about unnec-
essary legislation, lengthy sessions, appropr
atoms, &C., &c. But not word will they
say about the buncombe speeches of their
own party. They won't tell the people that
three weeks Of the first six of the session were
passed by the minority over trihes-in attacks
upon the Governor, Republican party, major
ity, extravaganza, calling yeas and nays, and
other matters of no Importance to the people
They will forget that Democrat moved and
the entire Democratic force voted an appro-
pration of $500 for "Flag of cur Union"
They will forget to tell how much it cost the
State for Tom Clagget to pronounce his SIT
Sirs. Oh! no-those are incidental to Dem.
ocratic) legislation. And right here l want
to give the Republican majority of the House
piece Of advice: Meet at least twice every
week i'll caucus. Canvass thoroughly the
merits of every important measure. Deter
mine upon your line of policy. Go into the
House, take your stand, and stand firmly to
your convictions of duty, and choke dozen all
buncombe speeches by calling the "Previous
Question" Pay no heed to the powerless
threats Of the minority. For four successive
elections the people have rebuked and con-
demned them. Let them hooNdo your duty
and next Fall the people will say to them,
hoaol on. Gentlemen, you lack nerve-back-
bone; you are too easily frightened at the
threats and intimidations of false hearted.
unprincipled minority. "Stand up to the
rack, fodder or no fodder" ZENI.
H.