Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-01-10
washington co2RESP oND ENcE.
WAsuINoroN. ID, c., Jan. 2. 1856:


''Should old acquaintance be forgot" Mr..
Editors l promised myself, when left
Muscatine six weeks ago, for this American
Mecca, to write 10 the JOURNAL,
but then the best laid schemes will
sometimes fail, and good intentions fire.
ouently die in the bud-all of which has
been brought to mind by the doings of the
Iowans in Washington last evening, and
which, it has occurred to me, other lowans
west Of the Mississippi might be interested in
reading.
pursuant to notice" all the Iowa appoint
ces in the various departments here, met in
nv room at 7 o'clock-25 of us. Mr.. Graf,
from Glenwood, was called to the chair, and
Mr.. S,reeblin appointed Secretary. The first
bus ness in order was notice read by the
Secretary that the low. soldiers, now lying
wounded at Sedalia, were in want of some
thing to make them comfortable, and that the
ladies' of Keokuk, Burlington, Muscatine and
other cities were doing all they could to fur
ish relief The question for us 10 decide
was, "Shall we help them along?" Subscrip-
tons from ourself and friends, to the amount
of seventy dollars, is the answer. That much
and pcrh ps moro, will find its way to our
gallant sufferers in Missouri.
The chairman then turned our thoughts to
the Immediate object of the meeting. 1--WE
have met to. night" said he, ito pay our re-
spects to gentlemen whose name no lowan
can mention without strong respect and sin
ccre regard, the Hon. John A. Kasson. and
it is proper that some one of our number be
chosen to speak e,ninen,ly the sentiments we
feel deeply, and IS Mr.. Ingcrsoll has been
long identified with the press of Iowa, sug
gest that he be selected to perform the agree
able du:y." Mr.. Ingersoll was then selected.
This gentleman is best known to the Musca-
tine public rs "Linkcnsale," and by his lee
ture on Edgar A Poe. liz is fanil arly called
"I.ink," not euphonious but terse, ana if you
should buy him for fool you would soon
want your money back, His valuable serv-
ces Mr.. Chase has been so ortunate as to Sc
cure for the treasury.
Out We marched into the binding dust,
flying and whirlng as only Washington dust
can--our cavalcade embracing representa-
tive man from every section Of the State,
from Buncombe county to Lee and from Pot
towattomie to Muscatlne,-Mr. Jackson, Of
Louisa county, acting as Marshal; the orator
Illuminating over soeH prepared ex empora-
neous speech, full Of ilson's Greek and Bel
mont, Hawkeyc State, national flag, &c, &c
Fifteen minutes walk brought US to the Rigby
House where we were ushered, each man
with his "peck Of dirt" into the commodious
parlors and received {. OH Mr.. and Mrs Kss-
son genuine Iowa welcome-a welcome so
absorbing that Links eloquence found no
place.
| The parlor was decorated with flags and
every man was expected to bow low before his
countrys emblem. The entertainment pro-
vided was not more ample than elegant and
the winning grace Of the hostess was almost
equalled by the marvellous courtesy of the
host.
And, do not think that so much tact and
alniabity exist in our host at the expense Of
more vigorous qualities, for there are few men
here whose official posi- ION and reputation are
more ehyiah!e than his For thirty years
past, ESQ say those who know } there has been
no such First Assistant Postmaster General.
no man who has so thor ughy mastered the
details of his department OF administered the
affairs with more energy--no man whose
intercourse with all has been so uni
formly atfable. The man who can do so
much and do it so we'll lisa rare man. Iowa
needs no excu-c Tor being proud Of Mr.. Kas-
ION. 1t was with such feelings S these that
our delegation left his presence. after two
hours de ightful enjoyment speech
all unsaiu-but every body we'll satisfied
that We had had better time than anybody
in Washington, and we'll satisfi d that if the
glories Of Wilson'S Greek and Belmont had
not been rehearscq, the brave men who suf-
lered there had been more substantially re-
membere, by US.
But am admonished by the shores of my
Yankee room mate that it is getting late. and
must cl Sc, without saying a word Of ouI
Christmas evening call on Senators Grimes
and Harlan and Representatives Vandever and
Wilson, and without mentioning our morn
ing call on the President and the Heads OF
the Departments. These and sundry rumors
ofw: rs and rumors Of politics, l reserve for
future record. j. U. W.