Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-12-25
Correspondence OF the Muscatine Daily Journal.l
FROM WASHINGTON.

F1kOM WASlAI\lGION.
Birds Eye V,ep of the Iooa Delegation Il
Congress.
WASHINGTON CRY, Dec. 10, 1863.
The old settlers Of Muscatine, or of am
other part Of Iowa, have vivid recollection
of the whilom Democratic delegations in Con
gress, the most prominent of whom wer
Gen. Dodge, Gen. Geo. w. Jones, Bill Thomp
son and "Gus." Hall. Dodge was the luck
lest man in the batch, because, | reckon, b,
was the most undisputed nincompoop. Fl,
was, personally, an excellent man, a goot
neighbor, never got drunk, and never pu
his vote in the market, if he knew it. My
re'pect for him as 'tclever fellow" make!
me regret exceedingly that for pure want o
brain he should have developed into cop
perhcad. George Wallace was cut out on
different pattern. He was got up during
that happy era when men were made out O
clothes Oratory TO hun was only "demni
ton bow-wow." lie had just about as fine
appreciation of craftsmanship as a pig has O.
Paradise Lost, or Pennsylvania politician o.
honesty A conscientious regard for absolute
justice compels me to admit that in the mat
ters Of whisky cocktails and mint juleps, Mr.
Jones was pumpkins. Also in dancing. II
is my candid opinioa, in fact, that dancing
vas his f5rte. Old Bull on was not more
distinguished for his tenacty and his egotism
Henry Clay for his personal influence and
his eloquence, Judge Douglas for his pluck
and mastery powers in a running debate
than was George Wallace Jones, among the
fashionable elite of this national capital, fol-
his case, and grace, and superb style gener.
ally in..the ''Terpsichorean art" think they
call it. And if man can't use his brains
or don't have any to use, what is there in
the Constitution preventing II free and easy
use Of his legs and his heels, should
like to know? In the great politico-econ-
omic problem Of the division of labor, there
fore, Gen. Jones happily performs his part
but, as,Senator from Iowa, he was standing
j Ike upon the State Bill Thompson always
was and is yet clever man, but the world
will never burn up if he has to set it on fire.
So with Hall, though, poor fellow, he did
manage to burn himself up--with rum. ssa
Thus the State went along for years, with.
out gaining particle of reputation abroad by
reason of the talents and craftsmanship of its
public men. presume there are not five
bundled persons out of Iowa, today, who
know anything of A. q. Dodge or q. W.
Jones, except that the latter was once put
into prison for treasonable expressions, and
you might travel everywhere without finding
ANYBODY who had ever heard of Thompson
or Hall. -, ESQ.,. .....t .-..
How different it is with tne men whom
Republican Iowa has sent to represent the
State in Congress. Mr.. Grimes has a repu
tation over the country, and power in the
national legislature second to no man in the
Senate. Mr.. Harlan, not so noted as legisla.
tor, is we'll and favorably known all over the
county as an orator and most upright states
man. 1t is admitted on all hands here that
no State in the Union has two such men in
the Senate as has Iowa--a just admission !;
and a great compliment, when it is remem.
bered that Maine has Fessenden and Morrill,
New Hampshire, Hale and Clark, Massachu.
setts, Sumner and Wilson, Ohio, old Ben.
Wade and Sherman. But enough of the Sen.
ators. -.f ..
Mr.. Wilson, of the First District, was to-day
made Chairman of the Judiciary Committee
One of the most important positions in the
House. Ability of high order, skill in law
much legislative experience or fine Legislative
tact, are required to fill it. Mr.. Wilson
will undoubtedly do the position honor, and
reflect credit upon the State. Mr.. Price, Of
the Second District, was made Chairman Of
the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. II
is honor for any new member to be made
Chairman of committee, but cannot helE
thinking that Mr.. Prices peculiar talents
would have been better recognized had he
been placed on the Ways and Means. Mr.
Allison, Of the Third District. was put on two
commttees-Public Lands and Roads and
Canals. Mr.. Grinnel, of the Fourth, is or
the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads
Mr.. Kasson, of the Fifth, is assigned to thu
Ways and Means, Judge Hubbard of thu
Sixth, to that on Foreign affairs. Four o.
these Committees are among the most i'm.
portant, and one of them, the Judiciary is in
many respects the pre-eminent committee
in all legislative bodies, and at the head O
this stands an Iowa member. Those of my
readers who are acquainted with the manner
in which legislative business is done. (almos
exclusively through the standing committees
will understand me when | say that Iowa ha.
carried off lions share of the honors. Hel
voice will be heard, her influence felt, in tn,
the legislation Of the country in such way al
was not dreamed OF only few years ago.
AS ! sit here in the Reporters Gallery, le
me take bird d's-eye view of our members, fo
the benefit of such of your readers as hav,
not seen them. I do not think much o
phrenology, but the physiognomical scienc,
is pretty correct. At any rate, I woult
rather trust the judgment of fair view of
man, than that Of the fingers feeling tn,
bumps on his skull.
Take the case of Wilson, down in the hal
there. He is solid looking man. Nothin.
snowy about him. Well rounded in form,
good sized head, erect hair, stiff as so many
little pokers, keen eye, a smooth, expires
sive face, capable Of showing earnest indigna
ton or jolly good nature, watching th'
business Of the House like hawk; yo,
would know that strong common sense, OBJ
stinate perseverance in carrying out his pur
poses, skill in adapting the means to the end
excellent reasoning powers, were the chic
elements of his strength. Mr.. Wilson is a,
expert parliamentarian, a ready and effec iv
debater, but not an eloquent orator. He vii
always secure the attention of his audience
and their hearty respect, but he will neye
send the fiery thrill of enthusiasm through
their whole natures. He wasn't intended fo
that ephemeral lsort OF work He is looked
upon here as very, superior man, and re
garded by most as the leader of the low,
delegation in the House. uHl-T @
Mr.. Price, of your own district, you al
knew like book. Modest, positively dis
trustful of his own abilities, he will assured
ly not 60 up like rocket to come down ,lils
the stick. But he will gradually wiD his way
to public favor, and, doubt not. to a nation
al reputation. Lam not ashamed to say tina
I think as highly Of Hiram Price as Of any
man in Iowa, and there are many men in tina
glorious State before whose talents and patri