Hon. J. F. Wilson

We are glad to say a word in commendation of the worthy representative to Congress from this District. He is working his way surely to a position of honor and influence in the House before the country. While many representatives since the opening of the present session of Congress have yielded to the blandishments or menaces of the Slavery influence, which still predominates in “good” society at Washington, Mr. Wilson has pursued a straight forward course – evidently neither afraid nor ashamed to stand up for the principles of humanity, loyalty and justice. He originated the measure, which is now a law, forbidding the return of fugitives [sic] slaves by army officers or men. He was chiefly instrumental in exposing and defeating a scheme for building railroads in Southern States at the expense of Government, and for the subsequent advantage of communities now in rebellion. In connection with Mr. Bingham, of Ohio, he reported a bill confiscating the property of all rebels and emancipating their slaves. He has also drawn a bill declaring that no person shall be eligible to any office, civil, military, or naval, under the Government of the United States, who may have heretofore held office under either the General or State Governments, and who has held or may hereafter hold any office, civil, military or naval, under the pretended Government of the self-styled Confederate States, or either of them. Mr. Wilson regards treason as a crime, and he believes in crushing it in the most effective and thorough manner. – He has no reverence for Slavery and no fear of its advocates or apologists. We are quite sure that nine-tenths, perhaps ninety-nine-hundreths [sic], of those who voted for Mr. Wilson will cordially sustain him in his support of the vigorous and patriotic measure above alluded to. Our Representative has some admirable qualifications for a statesman in these times. He has back bone, he is a ready and logical speaker, a hard worker, and an honest man whose head and heart are in the right place. He has before him an honorable and distinguished career. We do not doubt his ability to maintain himself and to meet the expectations of his warmest friends. – {Oskaloosa Herald.

– Published in the Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Wednesday, April 9, 1862