Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-09-09
The aOyv;l Legislature of 1860.

A late issue of the Western Month
ly contains biographical sketch Of
Gov. Merrill. In it is embodied q
lengthy and interesting reminiscence
Of the Legislature of 1860, which we
present below.
The Legislature to which Mr.. Mer-
ril was thus elected is remembered in
Iowa for the unusual number of men
of marked ability among its member
ship, its extraordinary political de-
bates, and the quantity of Legislative
work done. In the Senate there was
Cyrus Busscy, fine parliamentary
speaker, afterwards distinguished AS a
Union general; there was VIM. L. Cool
baugh, uncommonly clear and adroit
in debate, now distinguished among
the eminent financicrs OF the country,
the well known President Of the I'm
ion National Bank of Chicago; there
was Alvin Saunders, large man with
a small voice, since successful Gov
ernor of Nebraska; there was James
f. Wilson chairman OF the most inn
portant committee of the body, now
famous as the late Chairman OF the
Judiciary Committee OF the House of
Representative at Washington; there
was Thomas Drummond, descendant
of Pocahon,as, rs straight and impla-
cable as an Indian, who became a
noted officer OF the regular army, and
was slain by nearly the last bullet Of
war, just before the surrender OF Lee
to Grant; there was L. J.. Ainsworth,
known in Iowa for his resemblance to
Abraham Lincoln, III human beauty
and storytelling, now a prominent
man in the party OF the minority; there
was John Scott, who overwhelmed
every opponent either with wit or
with scripture, and who has since been
Lieutenant Governor; there was Ran
ken, Udell, Anderson, Neal Thomp-
son, Bowen, David S. Wilson, Nc
Pherson, Duncompe, and others since
prominent in the military history or
the politics of the State. Over the
Senate presided Nicholas j. Rusch a
German, whose want of complete
knowledge of parliamentary rules was
more than compensated for by the ex
haustlcss store OF his sparkling wit,
and the cliivaaric courtesy OF his de-
mcaner. In the House there were
still more men of SURPRISING talent
Clay Caldwell, now judge of one of
the United States Courts, then a
young lawyer of astonishing powers
of debate and of legislative work;
Thomas w. Claggttt, without whom 1t
would be difficult to imagine how the
Democratic ship in Iowa could be nav
igated at all, even to the inevitable an
nual shipwreck; J. g. Hall, "thc father
of the House." than whom there is no
man more distinguished in the legal
annals Of the State; A. II. Bcrcman,
afterwards the undoub,ed leader OF Il
subsequent House;M. Y b. Bennett, the
ablcst dehater the Democracy has sent
on to the Iowa hustings Benjamin +.
Cue, since Lieutenant Governor, then
practical and influential member;
Nathaniel B. Baker, who had been
Governor of New Hampshire when
Mr.. Merrill had entered the Legisla-
ture of that State, and who, like Mer-
rill, had been elected to this Iowa
Legislature by couaty opposed to
him IN politics; Ed Wright, who knew
all the rules OF parliamentary law like
the alphabet, who has since been
Speaker, and is now Secretary Of State;
Rush Clark, who has also since been
Speaker, and came near being rep
resentative in Congress; Stewart Good
rell, ''the prince of log-rollers and OF
good fellows" John ID. jennings, the
most scholarly and cultivated Of Iowa's
prominent Democrats; Charles Paulk.
the father Of the supervisor system of
county government; Zimri Streetcr,
the wa9 Of Iowa Legislation. These
and others, no doubt, whom l do not
now recollcct, made this great
House. John Edwards-"Ilonest
John'-was the Speaker. This Legis-
lature, thus crowded with men OF tai
ents, accomplished vast deal of work.
Besides the usual legislation tor car
rying on the municipal affairs OF tho
State, it passed a new code of laws for
the adminls tration Of justice, known
rs The Revision of 1S60'-a volume
OF more than 1000 octave pages; pro-
vlded an entirely new system OF coun.
ty government; established new sys-
tenn OF educational affairs, and new
charitable institutions. 1t had many
lively debates in general politics. The
reelection of Senator Harlan occurred,
and 1t was by this Legislature that the
Ilon. +. w. Palmer, now represen-
tative in Congress of high reputation,
was first chosen State Printer. 1t was
during its sittings that Governor Kirk
wood refused TO grant the requisition
OF Governor Letcher, OF Virginia, for