Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-04

bhC udlueuipS anu pEIfdIiDDS vi d AlOhtiO1
life have rendered Mr.. Davis tough; but,
gentlemen, is this time to cavil at tough
ness? Is this time to be fastidious con-
corning trifies? Is this time to dispute
about matters Of paltry significance? No,
gentlemen; bulk is what we. desire-sub-
stance, weight, bulk-these are the supreme
requisites now-not talent, not genius, not
education. [ insist upon my motion"
Mr.. Morgan (excitedly). "Mr. Chair
man. do most strenuously object to this
amendment. The gentleman from Oregon
is old, and furthermore is bulky only in
bone-not in flesh. I ask the gentleman
from Virginia if it be soup we want in
stead of solid sustenance? if he would de-
lude us with shadows? if he would mock
our suferings with an Oregon spectre
| ask him if he can look upon the anxious
faces around him, If he can gaze into our
sad eyes, if he can listen to the beating of
our expectant hearts, and still thrust his
famine stricken fraud upon us? | ask him
if he can think of our desolate state, of
our past sorrows, Of our dark future, and
still unpityingly foist upon us this wreck,
this ruin, this tottering swindle, this
gnarled and blighted and sapless vaga-
bond from Oregon's inhospitable shores !?
Never" [Applause.1 III
The amendment was put to vote, after a
fiery debate, and lost. Mr.. Harris was
substituted on the first amend ment. The
balloting then began. Five ballots were
held without a choice. On the sixth Mr.
Harris was elected, all voting for him but
himself It was then moved that his elec-
ton should be ratified by acclamation,
which was lost, in consequence of his
again voting against himself.
Mr.. Railway moved that the house now
take up the remaining candidates, and go
into election for breakfast. This was carried.
On the first ballot there was tie, half
the members favoring one candidate on
account of his youth, and half favoring
the ether on account of his superior size.
The President gave the casting vote for
the latter, Mr.. Messick. This decision
created considerable dissatisfaction among
the friends OF Mr.. Ferguson, the defeated
candidate, and there was some talk Of de-
manding new ballot; but in the midst of
it motion to adjourn was carried, and
the meeting broke up at once.
The preparations for supper diverted
the attention of the Ferguson faction from
the discussion of their grievances for a
long time, and then, when they would have
taken it up again, the happy announce
ment that Mr.. Harris was ready drove all
thought of it to the winds.
We improvised tables by propping up
the backs of car seats, and sat down with
hearts full ofgratitude to the finest supper
that had blessed our vision for seven tor
turing days. How changed we were from
what we had been few short hours be-
fore Hopeless, sad-eyed misery, hunger,
feversh anxiety, desperation then-thank-
fulness, serenity, joy too deep for utterance
now. That | know was the cheeriest hour
of my eventful life. The winds howled,
and blew the snow wildly about our prison
house, but they were powerless to distress
us any more. liked Harris. He might
have been better done, perhaps, but I am
free to say that no man ever agreed with
me better than Harris, or afforded me so
large a degree of satisfaction. Messick
was very well, though rather high. favored;
but for genuine nutritiousness and delica-
cy of fibre, give me Harris. Messick had
his good points--I will not attempt to
deny it, nor do ! wish to do it--but he
was no more fitted for breakfast than
mummy would be, sir-not bit. Lean
why, bless me land tough! You could
not imagine it-you could never imagine
like it.
"Do you mean to tell me that"
Donot interrupt me, please. After break
fast we elected a man by the name of Walk
er, of Detroit, for supper. He was very
good. wrote his wife SO afterward. He
was worthy of all praise. l shall always
remember Walker. He was little rare,
but very good. And then, in the morning,
we had Morgan, of Alabama, for break
fast. He was one of the finest men ever
sat down to--handsome, educated, refined,
spoke several languages tluently; he was
a perfect gentleman, and singularly juicy.
For supper we had that Oregon patriarch,
and he aoGs fraud, there is no question
about it old, scraggy, tough - nobody
can picture the reality. l finally said,
Gentlemen, you can do as you please,
but will wait for another election" And
Grimes, of Illinois, said, ssGentlemen, I
will wait also. When you elect a man
who has something to recommend him, I
shall be glad to join you again" 1t soon
became evident that there was general dis
satisfaction with Davis, of Oregon, and so,
to preserve the good will that had pre-
vailed so pleasantly since we had Harris,
an election was called, and the result of
it was that Baker, of Georgia, was chosen.
He was splendid! Well, well. After that
we had Doolittle, and Hawkins, and
McElroy (there was some complaint about
McElroy, because he was uncommonly
short and thip), and Penrod and two
Smiths, and Bailey BAILEY had wooden
leg, which was clear loss, but he was
otherwise good), and au Indian boy, and
an grinder, and gentleman by the
name of Buckminster-a poor stick of a
vagabond, that wasn't any good for COM
pany and no account for breakfast. We
were glad We got him elected before relief
came. ze,.s5 . E
"And SO the blessed relief did come at
last p" so @
"Yes; it. came one bright summer
morning, just after election. John Muir
ply was the choice, and there never was
a better, am willing to testify; but John
Murphy came home with us in the train
that came to succor US, and lived to marry
the Widow Harris
"Relict Of" s-<ll =
"Relict of our first choice. He mar
ried her, and is happy and respected and
prosperous yet. All, itwas like novel,
stopping place, sir l must bid you good.
bye ANY time you can make it conyen-
lent 10 tarry a day or two with me, l
shall be glad to have you. I like you, sir;
have conceived an affection for you.
could like you as well as I liked Harris
himself, sir. Good day, sir, and pleas.
ant journey"
He was gone i never felt SO stunned,
SO distressed, so bewildered in my life.
But in my soul l was glad he was gone.
With all his gentleness of manner and his