The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-07-29
Correspondence ofthe Gate City.
A Dull Ctty..Herrors 81 vacation--
Some Thlngs your m enabers dla ~
CoDgress--IoWn with the Nation al
GovcrMmcns- Judge MtAcr.-Gcn.
HrrrOn ETC. Etc.


Govern IN cn.--J Judge N1tllcr.-Ecn.
Hcrron--Esc., Etc.
WASHINGTON, July e, 1862.
Yesterday. the anniversary Of the bat
tle of Bull Run, being the commence
ment also of the first week after the ses-
sion. was the beginning Of Washington
ian horrors-the worst in the world.
What with hot weather, flies, mas9uilos,
dust, few locusts, pollywogs in your
lemonade, charcoal sketches in your ice
cream. and dirt in everything, it we're
better to listen to the endless raw
ings of Mr.. Senator Davis or the cheap
wisdom Of Mr.. Wickliae. than to endure
the UNRELIABLE miseries Of Washington
vacation. The cityof Keokuk, when suf-
fering the worst nisfortunos Of the col
lapse of 1857, was, when compared to
this city in vacation. wedding to
funeral, a Paris to an Amsterdam. Grass
grows in the streets, and moss sprouts up
all over the roofs of houses. Even most
of the clerks 60 away to avoid the heated
term, and the Departments have forlorn
and unhappy appearance, like the ban
auet hall deserted of which Moore and all
the young ladies sing. The only organ
grinder in town who had monkey has
migrated to Baltimore The hotels are
deserted; the 'busses have few customers
and the theatres ale about to clo.e-it is
most dismal place.
should be false to my name of Hawk
eye were to allow the occasion of ad-
journment to pass by without paying a
passing compliment to your Representa-
tive here-Mr. Wilson. Of reserved
manners and constantly modest de-
meanor; having come here without pub
lie reputation beyond the limits Of his
own State; without having made what
the orators call "regular set speech"
during the session. it is nevertheless true
that Mr.. Wilson, before the session closed,
was universally regarded here as having
attained position of influence and use
fulness such as has been very seldom at
tanned by any new member for many
years. ltwas most emPhatically a session
of uork- constant canvassing Of friends.
studies and examinations in committee
rooms, deep reflection touching new
measures, and careful ponderings over the
very words which should be adopted in
the framing of bills the like Of which had
never been called for by national necessities
since our nationality was achieved. A
vast deal of work was done-no Congress
ever did SO much, nor half SO much, dur
| ing its whole existence as has been done
during this one session. The country has
reason TO rejoice that speeches were not
much in order and that legislation was.
That your readers may see that my
judgement of Mr.. Wilson is not mere
panegyric. will give hasty accoun.
necessarily imperfect) Of his connection
with some Of the principal measures Of
the session.
MR.. WILSON'S RECORD.
Early in the session Mr.. Wilson intro
duced resolution having in view the
passage Of an additional article of war,
making it grave offense for army officers
to assist in any way in the return Of
fugitive slaves. This was was accom-
plished, and Mr.. Henry Wilson Senator
from Massachusetts. at first got the cred.
it Of is
| Next he introduced bill for the repeal
OF " nat / call the old law for the benefit Of
public thieves, by which your democ ratio
patriots, like Floyd and Thompson, we're
enabled to escape the penalty due to their
crimes, simply because they had testified
before an investigating committee Of
Congress Mr.. Wilson's righteous act is
now the law.
Then he had a fine running debate and
keen encounter with Frank Blair, which