(Correspondence of the Hawk-Eye.)
DEAR HAWK-EYE. Another week of the allotted time of the
Ninth General Assembly has passed away, and the session is evidently drawing to
its close. From all I can glean, I
conclude that it will adjourn on or about the 1st or 2d of April, though
circumstances may arise to prolong the session another week.
The main question of
interest during the past six days has been the defeat, in the House, of the
bill for the relief of the securities of James D. Eads. His bill originated in the Senate, which body
it passed by a fair majority; but it was doomed from the start in the
House. As heartily as a majority would
have been pleased to relieve the necessities of the unfortunate individuals who
were “wheedled in” by that great scoundrel, they did not deem it safe to
establish the precedent of relieving the securities of the defaulting public
officers. Once establish the fact that
such relief can be had at the hand of the General Assembly, and where, pray,
will the practice end? There is in fact,
hardly a county which does not contain men who have abused the confidence of
their securities, and once establish the precedent that they are to be released
from liability when their principal proves himself a thief or a rascal, and the
Legislature would find its whole time engrossed in that field of charitable
occupation. Better, in my opinion, hold
every man and his securities to a strict accountability – even if in some
instances the State loses the whole debt.
The bill for the
protection of sleep from the ravages of dogs, passed the House to-day by three votes
more than the required constitutional majority.
In its general features it is almost an exact copy of the Massachusetts
law on that subject. It is very
stringent on the canine race. “Male dogs”
are taxed $1 per head, and “female dogs” $3.
Each owner of a “dog” is required to have the same “registered” and “collared.”
– Juvenile “pups” under the age of three months are exempt from the provisions
of the act. Dogs which are caught
without their “credentials,” will be treated like heretics in the days of the
Inquisition; in fact, “a price is set upon their heads,” and their luckless
owners are to be mulcted in heavy damages for neglect of duty in the
premises. The bill now goes to the
Senate, and what its fate will be there remains to be seen, though I think it
will go through.
A goodly number of
bills have passed both Houses during the first week – some of them of a local
character – some providing amendments in the Revision of 1860, and some for
filling up little rat-holes and gaps in the Supervisor system; but none of them
are of sufficient importance to justify elaborate elucidation.
The coming week
promises to be one of deep interest. The
ball is opening for the biggest railroad fight yet. The different questions at issue were
presented in my last letter and need not be stated again. The various interests outside of the General
Assembly have marshaled their clans; the last thunderbolt has been forged – the
last appeal poured into ears detained by persistent “button-holing” the
columbiads of the press have hurled their last paper bullets of the brain,” and
the best oyster supper has been digested.
Now comes the tug of war up- [here the bottom of the newspaper was cut
off during microfilming] interest is “Lay on MacDuff,” &c. But for one or two reasons, Hawk-Eye, I would
tell you exactly how this fight will come out; First, the thing is considerably
mixed up, and it would be really a stretch of prophecy which your most veracious
correspondent hesitates to indulge in least perchance, he might be mistaken;
and second, if I did make such a venture at this time certain good folk would
say that the Hawk-Eye or its correspondent, was “bought up” by that party to
which he seemed to incline. Hence, I will
only say that believing to some extent in Pope’s assertion that “whatever is,
is right,” I believe that the questions at issue will be settled in a way that
the people will cordially endorse.
While newspaper
correspondents are praising various men with a seat among the “assembled wisdom,”
I desire to bestow a few merited words upon the House delegation from your
county. – Just hold your breath a moment, while I “fire at the heap.” I can most cordially congratulate the people
of your county upon the admirable choice they made at the last election. It would be exceedingly difficult to find
three men more thoroughly useful or attentive members. Mr. Wilcox is the chairman of the Committee
on Domestic Manufactures, and a member of one or two others; Mr. Williams is
one of the most useful members of the Committee on Ways and Means, and also of
the committee on Public Lands; and Mr. Jackson is a member of the committee on
Expenditures, Public Buildings and Property and Des Moines Improvement. – They are
all practical, honest and experienced men – belong to the “wheel-horses” of
Legislation – who, without ostentation or display contribute in a large degree
to the prompt and proper dispatch of the business, seldom occupying the floor
in debate, and never inflicting purposeless speeches upon unwilling ears, they
are among the hardest workers in committee – where good legislation is hammered
out and shaped – and have striven by every meads in their power to perform
faithfully the work before them, and adjourn at as early a day as the interests
of the State will admit. Each one has introduced
important bills, which I doubt now will find their places upon the Statute
book. That their published record, their
arduous labors, and their sound and consistent action generally, will meet with
the hearty approval of their constituency, I have not the slightest doubt.
Gov. Kirkwood,
together with the gentlemen who went down to look after the wounded at
Donelson, have returned; but with health so impaired that he has not yet been
to the Executive office in the Capitol.
A big pile of bills awaits his signature.
The remains of Weeks
and Doty, the brave boys who were slain at Donelson, will arrive
to-morrow. The funeral which will take
place on Tuesday at Ingham Hall, will in every respect be a fitting testimonial
to the high worth and noble service of the fallen brave. The oration will be delivered by D. O. Finch,
Esq., who as a fervid and impassioned orator, has few equals in the State.
In my hurried resume of the business of the past week,
I forgot to state that the Railroad bill of Hon. T. H. Stanton, (the young
printer member from Washington county, whose spicy “specials” were lately so
eagerly devoured by the readers of the Hawk-Eye,) also passed the House, and is
now under consideration in the Senate.
It prescribes the privileges and duties of such corporations, and will
be found to be a complete code upon that subject – what the State has long
needed.
Speaking of Stanton,
allow me to say that he is, (as the Hawk-Eye knows) one of the most talented
and promising young editors west of the Mississippi – wide-awake, always “posted,”
and as energetic and untiring as a steam-engine – and possessing a mind highly cultivated
and well balanced – he bids fair to occupy one of the highest places in his
honored and useful profession, in which (with a single exception) is centered
all his hope and pride. The great end
and aim of his life is to become an excellent journalist – and no one who knows
and appreciates “the boy” has a single doubt that he will attain the object of
his hope. Such is the estimate, not only
of appreciative “dry goods,” but every body else.
DACOTAH
– Published in The
Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 15, 1862, p.
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