The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1864-03-23
FROM THE CAPITAL.

tion-Mc Gregor route -Eastmdn's speech
to the 4th Intantry-Democralic Mayor
IN Des Moines-Erpuision Of the Legis
lattice Post Master-Senator Hunt on the
Lager question-H.ldreth's conscience.
DEs MONIES, March IA, 1864.
Dear Times: Another week is number
cd with the past, and so far as the Legisla
ture is concerned, it can at last report pro.
gress; as both Houses have concurred in
resolution 10 adjourn on Tuesday, March
Goth, it will take very active work for
the House to catch up with the Senate in
business so much time having been taken
up in the discussion of Railroad matters,
There are various little affairs that come I'D
apparently when least wanted, that appear
to have wonderful effect in retardine leg.
islation. One fruitful source of discord for
weeks past has been Mrs. Wittenmeyer's
report. Early in the session the Govern
or was asked to furnish a report of the
Sanitary Affairs Of the State, to which he
replied by special message, that he was un-
able to furnish full report, as the materials
for such statement were in the hands of
Mrs. Wittenmeyer, who would render
iull and correct account Of all receipts and
disbursements made by her. Shortly af-
ter this Mrs. Wittenmeyer's accounts were
sent in; examined by committee who
were satisfied they were correct and the
report was ordered printed, and further, the
special message and the report were order
ed to be stitched together, to which Mrs.
Wittenmeyer objected, and, together with
her friends, has been working to separate
them, and to good purpose, as the other
day the Senate insisted on its original or
der for printing the reports alene, by a
vote Of thirty five to six
This may net be interesting matter for
the readers of the TINES, but, as Major
Jack Downing used to express it, 1.-THE
wheels Of government have been clogged"
for some time now, and it is hard to work
up an item Of interest. The great clogs
have been sumption-anti-resum
conditional resumption and no resumption
at all. 1t was thought last Thursday that
resumption had reserved its death blow
but stimulated to the last by the Old Des
Moines River Improvement Co., it appeared
hydra headed in the House the next day:
and it was late Saturday evening before the
monster would quiet down, and had it not
been for the steady fight Of northern men
it would have been victorious. Under the
present order Of things q resolution has
passed the Legislature requiring our men,
bers Of Congress to favor Land Grant for
the McGregor Western r. r. Co., and Mr..
Allison writes from Washington, that the
committee to whom the matter was referred
ale unanimous in its favor.
During the week past We have had bit
Of military reception. The 4th Infant.
ry, commanded by Col. Williamson, having
re enlisted, came home for good time, a
short visit, another good.by to wives,
sweethearts and friends, and return again
to the tumult and strife of other and more
bloody campaigns. This regiment, one Of
the bravest Iowa has sent out, is composed
of as good looking, well behaved set of men
as | ever saw under arms. On account Of
the illness Of Gov. Stone, Lieut.. Gov East.
man welcomed the Veterans homeland
did it in such a manner as make his best
friends hang their heads for shame. Van,
ity over the result Of the last election, and
desire to abuse somebody, ovcrburdencd
the Lieut. Gov. in his speech, and entirely
destroyed the effec! Of the reception. As
we'll as to say what he did, Mr.. Eastman
might have said: IF you wish to see the
most popular man in Iowa, look at me-:
received more votes than was eyer cast for
any other State Officer in Iowa." anu after
torrent of abuse on "copperheads," he re.
tired, having succeeded in producing most
lasting and unfavorable impression on the
minds Of both political friends and foes.
It seems very singular to me that the bur
den Of every political speech made by
Republican is an attempt to prove every
man who cannot agree with him in political
opinion, "copperhead p and as such
worthy only Of persecution and death; as
their motto is death to all traitors. just
at this time it is refreshing to read Wilkes
on the Government. Wilkes was good au-
thority last summer, so l suppose we can
place implicit confluence ia what he writes
now, and he boldly charges the President,
and Cabinet with political corruption,
which he says sis the meanest kind of trea-
son." Is Mr.. Wilkes loyal man? But
enough of this, for l must write you Of a
little affair that occurred here last week,
which tried the ingenuity and patriotism
of the members Of thu Legislature to the
utmost. Now as wrote you in my last,
the Des Moines people had a spirited con
test over their city election, which resulted
in the choice of a Democratic Mayor, ow.
ing in part to disaffection among the
German Republicans, who were dissatisfied
with Mayor Leas for having prosecuted
them for selling liquors. Every body in
town who could possibly squeeze in vote
was required to do it, and among the num-
Der were several clerks and the P. NJ. of
the General Assembly, who had been just
60 days in towns. g., counting election
day. Election day passed quietly enough,
but the republicans were chagrined over the
result, and set themselves to work smelling
out the kind Of ticket each man voted. and
succeeded in convicting Mr.. Burrhus the P.
NJ. of the Assembly, (who is spirituously
inclined to lager beer) Of the awful crime
Of scratching Mayor Leas name from his
ticket, though he stoutly denied having
written the opposing candidates name A
committee was appointed to investigate the
affair, and Mr.. Burrhus was acquitted OF
any Intention to vote illegally, for some of
the faithful were in the same boat, but a
resolution passed both Houses, after de
bate Of half a day, expelling Mr.. Burrhus
for casting half copperhead vote. One
vote more in the Senate would have saved
Mr.. Burrhus, as the majority of our nor.h.
ern members were too sharp to make for
themselves such an Infamous record. In
the discussion on the resolution Mr.. Hunt
said that "the same evidence produced
against Mr. Burrhus would not convict a
man of stealing Shanghai chicken worth
two bits and if it would, he was not for
expelling Mr.. Burrhus on the ground OF
scratching Leas' name. He had as loyal
German constituency as any man on this
L. l. l.. IL