The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-12-31
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
The Vacant senatorship from Iowa.

WASHINGTON, CRY, D. c., &,
Dec. IS, 1865.


Dec. Is, 1865.
EprroRs OF THE GATE CRY As the time
for the meeting of the Legislature approach
es, and since the public announcement of the
fact that Mr.. HARLAN will consent to serve in
the Senate If elected for the term commen-
cling March 7th, 1867, the subject of that
election seems to occupy pretty largely the
public attention
No doubt the members of the Senate and
House of Representatives, upon whom that
election devolves, are glad to see and hear
the matter generally discussed for while they
must be anxious to select the best men that
can be had for the two places TO be filled in
the Senate, and at the same time to give ex-
preston to the will of the people whom they
themselves represent, they have had but little
light on the latter subject, and must naturally
desire more.
1t is probably quite safe to say that until
Mr.. HARLAN S name was brought forward in
connection with the Office, no man had been
mentioned, who commanded anything like a
general assent 10 his claims 10 that place the
number Of candidates and the eagerness of
their friends was proof Of this.
Can this be said any longer? l have no
knowledge of the feelings of individual mem
bers Of the Legislature, nor to what extent
they may have committed themselves by
pledges to particular persons. But ] feel
quite sure am not mistaken when | say that
since it has become known that Mr. HARLAN
will consent to serve there again as their rep
resentative in the Senate, the people of the
State. the voting masses, have indicated in no
doubtful manner what is the prevailing desire
among them.
To any one at all conversant with Mr..
HARLAN s long and strong hold on the masses
OF the State from the time he ran 2or Super
intendent of Public Instruction to the present
hour. This is not at all strange.
In opposition to this current of popular
feeling some feeble arguments are offered by
the friends Of those gentlemen who see their
hopes OF seat in the United States Senate
thus postponed; but no one has ventured to
deny eithermkis pre-emitent fitness for the
place, or that his election would be crafty
ing to the great majority of the people Of the
State. These being conceded. it is difficult to
perceive any solid reason why this wish of the
people should not be gratifed.
One these falacious arguments, oftener
urged perhaps in private, is that Mr.. HARLAN,
in accepting the Office of the Secretary Of the
interior, impliedly left his place in the Senate
open to the honorable competition of his po-
liticsl friends, and should not now interfere
his own name in the contest. If there was
anything in such an idea, the implication sure
ly cannot be said to extend to renunciation
forever of right to accept a reelection to
that body. 1t can 90 no further than All inn
piled disclaimer of re- election for the term
which he resigned. For any term after that
he is surely a. free to permit the use pf his
name by his friends as any other mani No
one proposes 10 elect him for that term.
Again, it is said that his services 10 the
Cabinet are more valuable than they ran be
in the Senate. This may be doubted as being
true at.any time.
But after Mr.. HARLAN shall have served
two years in the Cabinet, and have thuseiven
the full benefit of his talents, his integrity
and his we'll known political influence in
shaping he earlier course of Mr.. JoHxseSs $
administration, / think he will have. done
about all the good his prsssat position
psomises- He wiz by that 4lns have also
leoAssd the Inteziee Deg ~ ofthe odiuu
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