Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-06

the laws of nature, the politicians and
leaders Of the dominant party in this
state, who had been ambitious to con.
stitute themselves the Solons, Justin
ians, and Napoleons of the age, by
conceiving and bringing forth that
most remarkable production, the Code
Of Iowa, would have displayed these
feelings and sympathies which are
natural by standing by their infant
production under the very melancholy
circumstances in which it is new plac-
ed. 1t is amusing to see with what an
air OF injured innocence they go about
the work of backing water. You
can't say We did it; it was no party
measure; it was only an experiment.
THE general tone of the papers
wears a decidedly anti-code appear.
ance, but there are symptoms in GER
tain localities, of disposition to give
the thing kind of qausi party rec
ignition; to patch it up, and try to
make something of it. In this county
for instance, we see that a Mass
Meeting of Consolation of the Demo.
cratic party of Wapello county, is to
be held in Ottumwa on the 10th of
May next, to consider the changes ne
cessary to be made in the Code of
laws, etc.
This is an important meeting, call
ed On strict party principles by men
who have had large experience in such
things, and have important purposes
we doubt not to accomplish by it. 1t
will most likely result in fixing the
Code all right and satisfactory. The
ability is here to do it. The time is
or ayyf Tot CT = -,
large bodies move slow. The matter
is now agitating the brains of our wise
Solons, whose political plan perhaps
may be made or marred by it, and, I'M
less inflammation supervene, we may
look about those days for magnifi-
cent prospectus of New Edition of
the Code of Iowa, bound in calf, with
additions and Improvements. We will
leave the matter entirely in the able
hands who have taken the manage.
ment of it, trusting and believing that
the result of the consultation will bear
such marks of origin and paternity,
as never hereafter to be matter of
question"
Previous to the War.
During the years previous to the
war for the union there was great con-
troversy over the many questions per-
tanning to the slavery question. Dur
ing this decade it was a question of
great concern to all the Legislators at
the national capital. At the time the
great compromise bills were being
passed, strong arguments were being
brought forward by the members of
both houses of the national legislature
ThOnph fharn m If q M rfh h
ern members of congress who oppos-
ed the compromise bills yet there were
those who firmly believed that the
laws which had been passed by the
national congress should be faithfully
observed and enforced. During the
first days of April, 1852, the question
OF enforcement of these laws was be-
ing considered by the members of the
twenty-third congress. Concerning one
of the questions that was discussed at
that time, the Courier of April %,
1852, has the following account
After loud and stormy debate,
resolution introduced by Mr.. Jackson
of Georgia, two weeks since, was
| adopted, together with an amendment
effected by Mr.. Hillyer
"The resolution recognizes the bind
ing ellcdcy Oh lne compromise ana says
we believe it to be the determination
of the people generally, as we believe
| it to be ourselves, to abide aby such
compromise, and to sustain such laws
as are necessary to carry out the pro-
visions for the delivery of fugitive
slaves, and the act of congress for that
purpose included, and that we depre-
cate all further agitation of the ques-
ton out of this act of last congress,
known as the compromise act, and of
questions connected with the institu-
ton of slavery, as necessary, useless
and dangerous.
"The amendment of Mr.. Hillyer is
as follows:
Resolved. That the series of acts
passed during the first session of last
congress, known as the compromise. is
regarded as firm adjustment of the
questions embraced, and should be
sustained and executed as such. The
vote OF the adoption was 101 to Ca"
Howe This?