Page:History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century Volume 1.djvu/368



Democrats, and J. B. Howell, who appeared for the Whigs. During the discussion the poll books disappeared. It afterward appeared that Israel Kester found the books on the floor and put them in Hall’s valise. Hall did not discover them until he reached home. Miller contested the election of Thompson before Congress and made a search for the lost poll books, but they were not found. Congress declared the seat vacant.

The Democrats elected a majority of the members of the Second General Assembly, which met at Iowa City on the 4th of December, 1848, and organized by the election of John J. Selman, President of the Senate. In the House, Smiley H. Bonham was chosen Speaker. George W. Jones appeared as a candidate for United States Senator against Judge T. S. Wilson, who was the nominee of the Democratic party two years before, when they were unable to elect. A bitter contest ensued between the two Dubuque candidates. Jones secured the caucus nomination by one majority.

There was no opposition to A. C. Dodge in his own party and he received a unanimous nomination in the caucus which nominated Joseph Williams for Chief Justice, and John F. Kinney and George Greene for Associate Judges of the Supreme Court. The Whigs nominated Ralph P. Lowe and William H. Wallace for United States Senators, and Stephen Whicher, James B. Howell and Timothy Davis for Supreme Judges. At the joint convention held on the 7th of December, the Democratic candidates were elected, as that party had a majority of nineteen on joint ballot. The Democrats now had control of every branch of the State government and there was great rejoicing in the party over the sweeping victories.

The Auditor’s report for 1848 gave the total value of the taxable property of the State at $14,449,920, from which a revenue of $36,129 had been derived on a tax of 2½ mills on the dollar. The State debt, exclusive of the bonded indebtedness, was reported at $22,651.62. The