The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-04-21
The Closing Hours Of the 18th
General Assembly.

| UcVCr6l ASSSI1Wly.
In accordance with q joint resolu-
tion passed near two weeks ago, both
Houses oftho General Assembly ad-
journed sine de at IL o'clock, noon
yesterday. As usual bills were put
through ON tho last two days in
double quick time, Or were uncerc-
moniously killed with equal dispatch.
The House was very much behind
tho Senate, and multitude Of bills
were lost 10 that branch ofthe Assem-
bly, because they could not be reach
cd and some Of them of q very morit-
orious character. Tho Senate being
much smaller body in numbers, did
its work with dispatch, while the
House BY reason Of its many, and
some of them very lengthy speeches,
lcgislatod slowly. Tho last two
hours Of legislation in tho House was
taken up in the discussion Of rcso-
luton pertaining to certain lands
belongingto the Dcs Moines Valley
railroad, and finally avotc could not
be reached for want Of time. This
discussion prevented tho passage Of
several very important bills. The
bill submitting tho claim of Lt..Col.
Caldwell to the Census Board, ID be
passed upon by them, was squeezed
through in the last few minutes OF
the Session. tpasscd the Senate on
Monday last and went into the
House, but was not then reached un-
til about thirty minutes tcforc IL
o'clock Wednesday, and came back
into the Senate, was enrolled and
signed about ten minutes before ad-
journment. This is very impor-
tant matter to the Colonel, and he
was quite lucky in getting It through.
Complimentary resolutions were
passed in both branches, having ref
erencc to the officers thereof, and a
beautiful Tea Sctt given by the mem
bers Of the Senate to Lieut.-Gov.
Walden. Tie presentation speech
| was made by Senator Fellows of
Allamakee county, and was u model
in sentiment and beauty of diction.
The Governor responded briefly and
fcelingly in few we'll chosen words.
Senator Fellows is a democrat. We
however but speak the universal
sentiment, when We say that he is
ono Of the very best practical legis-
lators on tho floor Of the Senate
This beautiful testimonial given
OK Governor Walden, was but an
expression oflhc heartfelt and sincere
friendship and esteem of Senator'S
towards their presiding officer. All
recognized the fact that the Governor
had displayed unusual tact and abili.
ty in the discharge of his dnties, and
had uniformly been courteous and
impartial. The Senate also voted to
him the chair he had occupied
during the session.
In the House Speaker Cotton was
leaned also tho Chief Clerk, Mr.
| Aldrich, and testimonials given also
| to the assistant clcrks. But the gal.
lantry of the House, as we'll as the
bestowal Of a very moritorious pres
ent, culminated..in tho presentation
Of an elegant Silver Tea Sett to Miss
Spencer, tho Engrossing Clerk. The
presentationspeech was made in very
appropriate terms by the gentleman
from Clinton county, Mr.. Rogers
The young lady's reply, though de
livered with somewhat Of tremor II
her voice, indicating no little embar
rassment was distinctly enunciatcd
and entirely audible throughout thu
Hall, and was rich in pointed senti
ment. Many might suppose tha
Miss Spencer is forward end bold il
her manners, inasmuch as sho assn
. med tho position she did in the Lcgis
lature. This view, however, is on
tirely erroneous, as she is quite tn
reverse, possessing as should Judge
in good degree, those cxccllcn
womanly qualities Of head and hear
that please and captivate. The Hon
Charles Dudley, Of this county, wa
elected yesterday ono of the Stat
House Commissioners, and willthere
fore have finger in that Capito
ME