Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-03-06
Correspondence of the Daily Journal.
FROM WASHINGTON

LIE Grand Byington on q Cavorte - III
National Currency Bill passed - Bss
Butler again-Etc., etc.
| WASHINGTON, Feb. 81, 1868.
There is no man so thoroughly debased a
not to have something good about him. Ber
edict Arnold was a bold man, an accom-
plished soldier James Gordon Bennett ha
the grace Of meekness, and will consent t
be horse-whipped rather than partake witt
you OF coffee and pistols-especially pistols
Even Fitz John Porter sat horse very well
particularly when he rode off from Gaines
Mills. LIE Grand Byington once tool
Clement L. Vallandigham by the coat cola
and thrust him from the platform Of an Ohn
Democratic State Convention. 1t was goot
deed ir naughty lite-a flash of light IN
night Of gloom. Byiugton is to be respected
for collaring Vallandigham and making hin
dry up, incon inent, as aforesaid. l d.
respect him accordingly. lie also o-hooee
when Douglas died, which was well, for sor
row is sacred feeling, but he got over i
before it struck in on him. Then LIE Crane
has really some sense, and, take him ali iI
all, is better and cleaner man than Clay
Dean. He read \ speech in Congress the
other day, as contestant of Mr.. Vandever's
seat and the House then let him walk Span
ish out in the cold by more than two-thirds
vote. He took nothing by his motion, and
his cavortings here may now be considered
as ended.
Whilst think Byington had no shadow Of
claim to the seat, must candidly admit that
his speech was very ingenious and credit.
able performance Nor can any air-minded
man help condemning Col. Vandever for
practically depriving the largest constituency
in the United States from representation in
the popular branch of Congress. There are
a thousand and one things to be done here
by member of Congress which franking
secretary cannot attend to. The people OF
Northern Iowa, in short, have GOOD cause to
complain of the Colonel, and 1 happen to
know that they do it with considerable
energy. But his motives were unquestioll.
ablylgood - he has not received pay except
in one capacity and his error was one of
judgment merely. He has fought well for
his county, is devotedy attentive to the
welfare of the brave men who serve under
him, and, generally, is fairly entitled to very
high praise as soldier: Had he resigned his
membership in Congress, and permitted
thereby an election de nOuo, as was done
under similar circumstances in the First
District, have no doubt he would this day
wear better epaulctte on his shoulder, and
stand very much higher in the personal
esteem of the rousing thousands who sent
him to Congress.
The National Currency bill passed the
House yesterday afternoon, by o vote of n
yeas to 81 nays The yeas were all by
except eight classed a. "Union''
men - Plair, Of Virginia, Calvert, Casey,
Clements, Hahn, Leary, Maynard and Segar.
Fifteen Republicans voted nay, among them
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa. l understand that he
was in favor of National currency, but
upon such plan as would authorize the
Government to emit notes directly, without
the machinery of banks, as provided in the
bill just passed. Whilst may be permitted
to question the wisdom of his vote on this
do cheerfully bear witness to the
general correctness of his record, which is,
in fact, as near to unexceptionable as that of
any member of the House. There cannot
help being differences of opinion upon ques-
tons of this sort among the warm friends of
the Government, and 1 confess that the
measure in question received larger support
in the Louise than l had supposed it would
receive. 1t is the Senate bill, precisely,
being the embodiment of the plan suggested
by Secretary Chase in his last Report, and so
ably sustained by Robert j. Walker in the
atlantic Monthly. and his famous pamphlet.
1t is well understood by the people, therefore,
and need not Qe discussed here.
Some time ago made mention of General
Butler, expressing fear that he would not
soon be given command. Before my letter
was printed you had telegrams which seemed
to contradict me, but Butler is not yet on his
way to New Orleans. Banks IS left there,
bowlpg the knee to Baal, and destroying the
fine reputation he had won, in such way as
to make the faces of his friends tinsle with
shame and Indignation. Butler, the best
genius in the service Of the country, is max
ing splendid war speeches, for want Of
whereby to advance the cause of
the Union toward the hearts of its enemies.
Mr.. Secretary Seward and Mr. Squint-eye
Reverdy johnson are down on Butler that's
what's the matter. 1t may be some time
before this miserable opposition may be over
come. Meantime the reports that Butler and
Fremont both are soon to have active com
mands are rather hoped to be true than
con6ded in by the friends of Vigorous war.
A paragraph in your paper of few days
ago, however, does Fremont injustice. He
mas often informed the powers that be of his
earnest desire to take the field, and the
powers that be have as often coldly thwarted
him. The Commander-in-C Chief is under
stood to be deeply prejudiced against
Fremont, as he is against every General not
a pro-slavery hound. On this very account
he has prosecuted Gems. Curtis and Warren,
Of our State, with that meanness of spirit
of his nature.
have plenty of personal matters about
Iowa folks, this week. J. h. Stanton, of
Washington, VIM. w. White, of Burlington,
and John G. Culbertson, of Iowa City, have
been confirmed Paymasters, each with the
rank of Major; Joseph A. Green, of Musca-
time, l.. G. Noble, of West Union, N. j.
Rusch. of Davenport, ard j. Warren Clark,
of Iowa City, Assistant Quartermasters-
r INK of Captain; and David Remick. James
Vandeventer, John R. Morlege and Hugh
Maxwell, Commissaries - rank of Captain.
l specially rejoice at the good fortune of
Culbe:tson, Green, Noble. Rusch
and Remick - all of whom, to my own
knowledge, are tip top men, and will make
excellent officers. l say nothing, good or
bad, of the others.
DR.. Bowen, of Iowa City, made an
eloquent speech at a Union meeting in 9th
street, the other evening He is frst-rate
talker, and good man all around, even to
the making If an admirable Adjutant Gen
eral in peace times. He stirred up great
deal of enthusiasm on this occasion.
S. G. Stein, Esq, and daughter, of your
city. have been spending few days here
1t did me great good to see them.
j. P. @. Poulton, Esq, Of Fairfield, who
writes spicy letters from here to the Wash
ington Qowa) Press. has received an
appointment to clerkship in the Agricul-