Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/355



as their names were called. Clifton, Conlee and Huner all voted for McCarthy, but to the surprise of all, a stanch Whig, Fullenwider, cast his vote for Mitchell, thus defeating McCarthy’s election. The vote stood, McCarthy twenty-nine, Wilson twenty-eight, and Mitchell one. It required thirty votes to elect. As Huner, Conlee and Clifton would under no circumstances vote for the regular Democratic candidates, their election was impossible. As Fullenwider would not vote for McCarthy, and the three Lee County Independents would support no other Whig, it became evident that the Senators could not be elected. With the aid of Conlee and Clifton the Democrats adjourned the joint convention to January 5, 1847. The next day, December 19, the Legislature also adjourned until the same date. Before the time fixed for reassembling Mr. Conlee died.

Senator Huner now determined to become a candidate. He divulged his plan to Clifton. The votes of these two members added to the entire Democratic strength would elect. As Huner and Clifton were Democrats, they believed the Democrats might accept Huner as one of the Senators, rather than fail to elect Senators and Supreme Judges. But when the scheme was proposed the Democrats declined to accept Huner in place of A. C. Dodge. They proposed, however, to drop Dodge (to whom Huner was hostile) and elect in his place Verplank Van Antwerp. But Huner refused to help them elect any one unless he could be one of the Senators. Rather than submit to such a disreputable bargain the Democrats determined to prevent the reassembling of a joint convention and allow the State to remain unrepresented until the meeting of the next General Assembly. Having a clear majority in the Senate, they were able to defeat all efforts of the Whigs of that body to again meet the House in joint convention and the Legislature adjourned without electing Senators or Judges.

The salaries of State officers were fixed as follows: