Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-22
OUR CAPITAL CoRRE Sp0NOeNcE..
{ LEGISLATIVE HALLS, DEs MoISEs, I

DEAR JouRNAL:-Severe illness is my rea-
sonable excuse for failing to ful6ll my en-
gagement and write you touching the organi-
zation, &C. I can tell you nothing of the
inaugur alton except such as have heard
from others, as the day was passed in my
room. Of the personnel Of the assembled
wisdom can speak only from outward ap-
pearances. am prepared to say, however,
that in this respect it is in advance of any
former body Of the kind elected in Iowa. -
The only difficulty in the House seems to be
want of experienced members, but while
blunt Sam. Russell, with his original cut of a
moustache, can wend his way to the Hall, or
Moir, of Hardin, with his frank, open coun-
tenance, and clear, sound head, or plain, I'M
assuming, but prompt ard well posted Rus
sell, Of Jones, can answer to roll call, the
wheels of legislation will not be blocked. OF
the new members of the House l am pro-
foundly impre ssed with the faces of Magill.
Of Clinton county, Finkbine of johnson, the
Scott county members, Stiles of Wapello and
Gilchrist Of Clayton. predict they will be
the leading members of the House, but this
prediction must t OF be taken as conclusive,
as 1t is based on first impressions only. l
must not be understood as designedly
emitting the ntmc of BERGMAN of Henry
county from the list of veterans. From his
experience and unquestionable ability l am
fast enough to believe he will be Chairman Of
the judiciary. / knew him four years ago,
when he was thorn in the flesh of Clagett.
And there too is Paulk, of Alamakee, a quaint
but good genius. Elected upon the Ohio
platform, he MUST feel strangely. Yet to-day
he voted, with five others, against James w.
Grimes for United States Senator. Psulk is
good egg, aside from his adherence to very
bad party. said he voted against Mr.. Grimes,
but the representative from Davis county.
elected by the Butternut family in that coun.
ty, could not stand the increasing pressure Of
public opinion, and when his name was called
in Joint Convention, astonished his Union
colleague in the Senate by promptly respond
ing James W. Grimes. When in the history
of any State, was its Legislature so unanm.
ously of enc political mind as is this?
The Senate officers were elected without q
dissenting voice, and the same is true of the
House officers, with two or three exceptions.
In Joint Convention to elect a Senator,
Printer, Binder and Warden of the Peniten.
tiary the opposition marshalled all their forces,
and at roll call six persons responded.
Let the proud and exultant Unionists Of
Ohio, New York, California and Maine look
to the picture Iowa presents. AS Governor
Stone in his Inaugural truly states, that no
important battle has been fought and lest in
the western departments where Iowa's boys
were present, and no important victories
achieved in which they did not participate
her people at home have uttered no uncer-
tain sound, when asked to give the govern
ment their moral support. Who but era
van and coward is ashamed of the record
our State has made during this terrible war
An expensive, but a glorious history is
Iowa's
The Inauguration was a success At an
early hour the Hall was densely packed with
beauty and chivalry. The walls were ga'ly
decorated with flags and inscriptions. The
bate hymn Of the Republic ar d some other
songs were sung with spirit and ECLAr. The
inaugural is strong enough to stand alone and
speak for itself. 1t is an earnest, thorough
going, wide awake, up-to the-,imes State pa
per. The timid grew bold, the weak became
Governor proc eded. Dignifed Judges clap.
quiet and unassuming members of devout
minds, exclaimed Amen and the Hall echoed
and re-echoed with loud huzz,s. The address,
viewed as an English compost on strong and
irrefutabe logic, broad and statesmanllke
ideas of public questions, or stirring clio.
quence, will stand as monument to the
car acity and fitness of Gov. Stone to the
position with which he has been honored.
, OF Gov. kirkwood's outgoing message,
can only repeat what is univer- ally said, irres-
pective of party, that it is plain, unvarnish.
ed tale, and has no need of special commen-
dation. 81 like its tone, its sugges IONS and
it's unanswerable arguments" said Demo
crat to me, after its reading was finished -
Of course every mean sneak who hates Kirk
wood, because he can't appreciate sterling
worth, talent and integrity, will denounce and
find fault with it. Wallace won't like it any
better than will Thayer. But they will be
very poor s,raws in the wy of Kirkwood's
friends desire to see him IN the Senate Cham.
Der. I express no preference upon this point
when I say that low a has done hundred
fold worse than electing Ex-Gov Kirkwood
Tn ted States Senator.
The Joint Conventions are over, the Stand
ing Committees appointed and both branct es
afe at work. Some work is already blocked
out. think another Judge will be added t.,
the Supreme Bench, and that the present sys-
tenn of county government will give way to
the Commissioner system. ZENI
WxAVVA E(NgMU ,HUrESnJy