The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1870-04-28
The Capitol Bill.

We notice that some of the Re
publican papers; as is their right
tho unquestioned right Of every
journalist who owns himself and his
paper-have joined in with the
Democrats in their protest against
the Republican party following the
Jacksonian precedent. The Gate
eity, Of Kseluis, 10 sssorry that tho
Rcpublicansin the Legislature should
fasten upon the whole Republican
party OF Iowa u policy so narrow,
selfish and illiberal." The Gate
City knows, and IN its article states,
the reason why all the Commission.
ers were chosen from the Republican
party. There was to be one mem.
ber ot the Commission from each
Congressional District, and the mem.
bers Of the Legislature from each
District, following the universal
practice Of politics, went into caucus
and selected their candidate. All
admitted that they thought two out
of the six to be selected should be
Democrats. But when it camc to
the election, the trouble was to find
q District willing to take a Democrat
as its choice. Furthermore, the
Democrats themsclves-although, in
every instance, in a hopeless minor
ity-failed to agree in their selcc-
ton, thus adding to tho causes con-
tributing to the result. The Gate
City knows. but did not state in its
article, that the Republicans Of the
First District, of all others, should
have met the issue with that grace
which the Gate City complains was
not exhibited. 1t was but natural
that the District whose Legislators
were instrumental in having secured
the passage of the bill providing for
the Capitol, SHOULD want their
friends placed upon the Commission.
The Gate City will please remember
that but one Republican member of
the Legislature from the First Dis
trict made a straightforward support
of the Capitol Bill. Senator Bennett
was the only one in the whole Dis
trict, that stood by the bill and advo-
Gated its passage. The support it
had from that District was from the
Democratic members, and if any
District should have consented to a
Democratic Commissioner, il should
have been that. Therefore, if the
Gate City has any more thunder to
illuminate, it should direct it upon
the Republicans ofits cwn District.
| That paper should remember, too,
that its own record on the State
House question, is not such as TO
warrant 1t in too swiftly calling lis
fellow Republicans to account. 1t
was its present editor--Mr- Clark
who wrote the famous third resolu-
tion which was called the doom ol
the proposition tor anew Capitol
He introduced it in the Lee county
Republican Convention, and that
body adopted il. Mr., now Senator
Howell, then the editor Of the Gate
Citu-with Mr.. Clark rs associate
made Of himself q courier to carry
the resolution to the Republican
State Convention. Getting upon
the committee on resolutions he su .
cccded-against the protest Of thl
chairman OF the committee, eX-Gov
Kirkwood, not with his help, rs has
been generally asserted--in forcing
it into the State platform Of th'
party. But for this resolution, th,
Capitol Bill would have met no or
yanized opposition, and would hav,
passed by a three-iourths majority
After the Convention, the Gate CT
still followed on the chase, and up t.
the time of the assembling OF th
Legislature, was, with the Buriing
ton Hart Eye, busily engaged il
manufacturing anti Capitol scnti
ment. When the Assembly conveu
cd, however, the opposition of tn
two papers ceased. Why the leat
crs abandoned the forces they ha
rallied, is not our province to inquire
!, aud is mono of our business. Th
fact we recall merely to remind thos
! whom they concern, that it is ne
;. the best policy to call others to a
cou until they got of the thin it
themsclves.-Register.
Twenty one Democrats in Il
b Ohio Legislature voted against Il
a resolution Of respect to the memol
i Of General George IT, Thomas. +