Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-06-20

by but nine Representatives in this bod
and by four Senators in the other branch
Cong ess. Ten years have added 1880, %
persons to the population. increased the nur
Der Of Senators to eight, and the next Co
| gress will find the number of Representative
, increased to eighteen. The increase h,
been rapid, marvellous. Nothing in the hi
tory of this or any other country exceeds
service of our common country, to aid
crushing this atrocious rebellion, almost .
many men as she had voters in 1850; me
than whom none more true, none mo-
brave, none more gallant ever encountered
foe on the field of battle. The bloody tielt
of Pittsburg Landing, Fort Donelson, Be
mont, Wilson'S Creek, and Plue Mills, a
attest how well and nobly the gallant volur
teers of Iowa have done their duty. o
every occasion they have heaped honors o
their State. and gathered ha,vests Of glor
for themselves.
The second amendment proposed by tn
committee relates merely to the time IN
place for holding the terms Of the circu
court for the district Of Iowa, and authorize
one additional term Of the district court i
that district. The amendment is altogethc
LEGAL in its character, and Of course will NEE
with no opposition. l. is necessary tina
there should be two terms OF the distrc
court held each year at the capital of tn
State, and this is all the amendment will &C
complish.
| The great importance of this bill secui et
| for it most careful and impartial investiga
ton in the committee. All interests involved
have been canvassed fairly and candidly, will
no other object than to arrive at determi
nation which should be just and equitabl,
towards all sections and interests concerned
and the committee believe that the passage
of this bill is demanded by the highest con.
siierations of public interest. The judcia
department Of the Government is N W most
lily adjusted to the wants of the country, and
must remain 80 until we discharge the high
trust devolved on us by providing for re-
adjustment by the passage of some such
measure as the one We are now considering
Should this bill fail to receive the sanction Of
the House, We can hope for the success Of
no similar measure at the present session,
perhaps not during this Congress, ard We
can make no calculations as to what action a
future Congress may take. Defeat now may
result in preserving the present unjust and
inadequate organization Of the judicial cir.
cults for many years. hope no such result
will be rendered possible By the action Of
this House, hut that it will concur in the
peniing amendments, and then pass the
bill.
Mr. Wilson reported on the same DAY from
the same committe, bill declaring certain
persons ineligible to Office" The bill excludes
croy,, INV, of{;oo oc horor ,,,do, &ho Horo,,
ment of the United States any person who
has ever voluntarily borne arms against tho
Governme 1t, or given aid, countenance, coun-
sci or encouragement to persons engaged in
armed hostility thereto; or who has ever
sought or attempted to exercise the functions
of Office under any authority hostile to the
United States, &c. &c. &c.
The full purpose of the bill give in Mr..
Wilson words:
Now, sir, the sole object of this bill is to
keep out of Office under the Government of
the United States men who have taken up
arms against the United States, and who have
endeavored to destroy the Government under
which we live.
in some degree. against this rebellion. We
haye not been able to pass any thorcugh con-
fscation or emancipation act, or anything of
the kind, so far. This bill is very plain in
its provisions and for the purpose Of deter
mining whether the House is disposed to enact
any measure which shall deal with these
rebels as they should be dealt with, | demand
the previous question on the third reading
of the bill
There was considerable opposition to this
bill by the Democrats and border State men,
but under the prompt and firm management
of Mr.. Wilson the House was obliged to face
the proposition square, and the bill was
passed by 7S to At.
So you see there is strong probability
that some day or other the Dred Scott de-
cision may be re-decided, and no probabil-
ity that any rebel will hereafter hold Office !
Amen.
may as we'll take this opportunity to say
that Mr.. Wilson is regarded by his compeers
as sagacious, reliable man, and his being
on the Judiciary Committee is in recognition
of his decided ability. 1 need scarcely add
that he is in the front rank of those who op-
pose slavery, and he don't care who knows
it. His personal appearance gives fair idea
of his mental peculiarites. He is sturdy,
square shouldered, and little above medium
height, with head of hair Of the stiff, stand
up. General jackson sort; and healthy face,
and wide-open eye; and nothing bilious or
cadayerous about him. He makes his
speeches without poetical quotations, and
uses good English and stubborn facts, in
stead. Socially he's just as good as they
make 'em. j. 0. w.