DES MOINES, February 15, 1862.
To-day the House has passed the Federal Tax Bill which came from the Senate a day or two since. It provides for a levy of two mills on the dollar in order to liquidate that part of the federal tax which is not cancelled by our claim upon the General Government. This levy will perhaps bring a greater revenue than is needed for this purpose, but there are many warrants in the hands of private citizens which the State is bound to redeem. The levy is none to large to meet the necessities of the State at the present time. The bill was opposed with much earnestness by the Democrats and some of the Republicans. A strong effort was made to amend it and place the levy at one mill and a half; but it did not carry. Among the opponents were Dunlavy, Kellogg and Fairall, and most of their Democratic friends; while Curtiss and a few other Republicans sided with them. Mr. Bodoin, chairman of the committee of Ways and Means, labored with his accustomed zeal in behalf of the measure. The joint committee of the two Houses had agreed upon the bill and did not wish it to fail. He desired a levy sufficiently high to enable the State to pay her indebtedness to private individuals who had come forward in our hour of need and loaned the State money to buy clothes and arms for our troops. He felt that the credit of the State was at stake, and that to refuse to raise a tax large enough to enable us to pay these claims was to act in bad faith. He deserves much credit for the earnestness and ability with which he engineered this bill through the House. He saved a half-days useless discussion on it by the determination with which he opposed every attempt to adjourn before settling the matter.
Mr. Lane and Dr. Fuller, among others, supported the bill with much earnestness. – They argued that the people were ready and willing to pay any tax that might be required to help put down this rebellion, or that the credit of the State might demand.
Yesterday, the bank note bill, as amended by the Senate, came back to the House, and its opponents embraced the opportunity to give a second exhibition of their hostility. – Jed. Lake made a long speech in opposition to it, but the bill passed, and is now a law. The notes of our banks can be received until the first of January, 1864. The necessity for the measure may have passed by that time.
Last evening, the resolutions instructing our Congressmen relative to the conduct of the war were discussed. Messrs. Gibson, Young, and Hudnult, occupied the time. The hall was full.
Mr. Gibson is a no-party man, and did not speak long. His speech was mostly in favor of harmonizing the loyal parties. He deprecated all strife, and desired to have such resolutions passed as should meet to the cordial approbation of all parties.
Mr. Young, whom I have noticed as a radical man and a man of ability, met fully the expectations of his friends. His speech was one that did credit to its author. It was ultra, and perhaps impracticable. Such at least would be the judgment of the great majority of our statesmen. But it was a bold, manly and faithful expose of slavery as our great national sin, the cause of all our troubles, past and present, and the black stain that curses us in the sight of God and humanity. He argued that, to settle our present difficulties and leave slavery untouched, was to leave the cancer still eating at the heart of our government, and corrupting its life blood. He considered this the golden opportunity to eradicate the evil, and that, if this opportunity were allowed to pass unimproved, the sin of slavery would rest upon us in the future.
Mr. Hudnutt pretends to be a Republican, but I looked in vain for a trace of Republicanism in his remarks. He attacked the party in the House and censured their action while he commended the course of the Democrats. He tried to prove what every man knows to be false that freedom of speech was tolerated in the South up to the outbreak of this rebellion. No apologist of slavery could have spoken more falsely on this subject; and for the condition of the slave, he gave a sophomoric declamation which was not at all flattering to its author. The Republicans looked ashamed, while the Democrats were jubilant. It is said to see a man place himself in such a position is to call for the shame of his friends, but some are weak enough to do it.
A bill has been introduced in the Senate for the location of a State Arsenal at this place. Such a measure must meet the approval of our Legislature. Our State arms – so we all hope – will not be needed much longer in service and there should be some suitable place to keep them. The bill provides that the building erected for that purpose shall not cost more than $5,000. This sum ought to be sufficient to pay for the erection of a building to meet our present wants.
Gen. Baker has returned, and is again attending to his duties. A large number of copies of his arrangement with the Ill. Railroads for the transportation of sick and wounded Iowa troops returning home on furloughs are to be printed, and a sufficient number sent to our absent soldiers to apprise them of the arrangement.
J. R. C.
– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Wednesday Morning, February 19, 1862, p. 1
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