A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, 1857-82-HaS PASSED SINCE THE ASSEMBLING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION-THAT ADOPTED OUR PRESENT MAGNA CHARTA AT IOWA CITY IN 1857-AND THE MEMBERS THEREOF GATHERED IN REUNION LAST WEEK, 1882-A QUORUM PRESENT-NINETEEN OUT OF THIRTY-SIX-ADDRESSES, MUSIC AND A GOOD TIME-BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-THE CONSTITUTIONALISTS REASSEMBLING OF SURVIVORS LAST WEEK, DES MOINES, JANUARY, 1882.

ANUARY 19th, at ten o'clock quite a number of the surviving members of the Iowa Constitutional Convention of 1857, assembled after an adjournment of nearly twenty-five years.

Shortly after ten o'clock Hon. Francis Springer, of Louisa County, called the members to order, and Alderman J. J Williams, on the part of the City Council and the citizens of Des Moines, gave formal welcome to the members of the Convention.

Mr. T. J. Saunders, Secretary of the Constitutional Convention of 1857, being present, was called to act as Secretary of the meeting.

President Springer then called for a call of the roll, which showed the following result:

PRESENT.-Francis Springer, Columbus Junction, Louisa

County; Timothy Day. Winchester, Van Buren County; David Bunker, Richmond, Washington County; D. P. Palmer, Bloomfield, Davis County; Geo. W. Ells, Davenport, Scott County; W. A. Warren, Bellevue, Jackson County; Thos. Seeley, Guthrie, Guthrie County; R. L. B. Clark, Washington City, D. C.; D. H. Solomon, Glenwood, Mills County; D. W. Price, Council Bluffs; Edward Johnstone, Keokuk; S G. Winchester, Eldora, Hardin County; J. C, Traer, Vinton, Benton County; J. F. Wilson, Fairfield, Jefferson County; Amos Harris, Wichita, Kansas; H. J. Skiff, Newton, Jasper County; J. A. Parvin, Muscatine; A. R. Cotton, Lyons, Clinton County; H. W. Gray, Sutton, Nebraska; Lewis Todhunter, Indianola, Warren County.

ABSENT. Jeremiah Hollingsworth, Richland, Keokuk County; Wm. Patterson, Keokuk; John T. Clark, Postville, Allamakee County; M. W. Robinson, Des Moines; John H. Peters, Delhi, Delaware County; A. H. Marvin, Monticello, Jones County; W. Penn. Clark, Washington City; John Edwards, Washington, D. C.

DEAD. Squire Ayres; J. C. Hall; Geo. Gillaspy; Jas. A. Young; H. D. Gibson; Robert Gower; J. H. Emerson, and Alpheus Scott.

Letters of regret, at being unable to be present were then read, from Gen. Jno. Edwards, now at Washington; Wm. Penn. Clark, also of Washington; Jeremiah Hollingsworth, of Richland, Keokuk County; Jno. T. Clark, of Postville, Allamakee County; A. H. Marvin, of Monticello, Jones County, and Wm. Patterson, of Lee County.

M. W. Robinson, of Polk County, was reported as dangerously ill and unable to attend.

Hon. Geo. G. Wright made the welcoming address. After giving an interesting resume of the history and data of Iowa's early political life, he continued in substance as follows:

"They met, thirty-six of them, January 19th. 1857. The oldest of their number was Squire Ayres, of Van Buren, aged fifty-six, now deceased, and not many years younger, fifty

three, was that man of honest convictions and untiring industry, his colleague, Timothy Day; the youngest, Sheldon G. Winchester, of Hardin (aged twenty-six years), both of whom (Day and Winchester) have been spared the State, and are able to meet with many of their old colleagues and friends on this occasion of so much interest to all.

"The ages of the thirty-six averaged about forty years, and hence all, if now living, would average sixty-five. Wm. A. Warren, of Jackson, had the honor of being the longest resident in Iowa (twenty-three years), while Geo. W. Ells, of Scott, and A. H. Marvin, of Jones, had been residents but two; the residence of all averaging about ten years.

"The Convention was composed of ten merchants or tradesmen, twelve farmers, in which class I find its presiding officer who, though a practical agriculturist, was, as we know, an able lawyer, and one of the best nisi prius judges the State

ever had.

"The remaining fourteen members were from that profession, the law, so seldom found in official positions; but when so found, if true to themselves and the teachings of its grand principles, are ever safe and active custodians at least of legislative power.

"Ten members of the Convention were from what we style the Southern States; from New England, six; while the remaining twenty were from that great belt of Middle States, starting with New York and stopping with Indiana. Ohio, in this instance, modestly sharing the honors with New York, each of those States furnishing seven.

"It may be noted as a little remarkable that no citizen of foreign birth was of their number, a fact which can be said perhaps of no other legislative body in this State, whether before or since.

"Politically the Convention was divided into fifteen Democrats and twenty-one Republicans. On the side of the majority those most prominent in debate were the three Clarks (W. P., Jno. T., and R. L. B.), while Wilson, as well as

Edwards and Parvin were not by any means silent voters. Of the minority that man of generous heart, among the leaders of the bar in early days, J. C. Hall, took a most active part, often seconded most ably in the debate by one whose presence graces the platform to-day, as it does everyone wherever he may be, Judge Johnstone, as also by Geo. Gillaspy, and by my ever ready friend, Judge Harris, now of Kansas, and others, not omitting the young Virginian, D. H. Solomon, and D. W. Price a few years older, of Kentucky stock, who, as I think, with Judge Harris, exhibited their good sense by remaining in Iowa.

"Of the thirty-six, twenty-eight are said to be still living, those departed being Squire Ayres, of Van Buren; J. C. Hall, of Des Moines; Geo. Gillaspy, of Wapello; Jas. A. Young, of Mahaska; H. D. Gibson, of Marion; Robert Gower, of Cedar; J. G. Emerson, of Dubuque, and Alpheus Scott, of Clayton. And even as I speak it is found that one more, that man of strong, vigorous common sense, who often conducted well the affairs of State, Moses Robinson, is passing to his long home.

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Many members of this Convention had filled before, as they did afterwards, the most important places in the State and Nation. From the list we selected the presiding officers of our assemblies, the judges of our District and Supreme Courts, as also our District Attorneys, our legislators, those filling important executive positions at Washington, members of Congress, and one of them, as you know, has recently been promoted to Senatorial honors, and all of them are among the most active and useful men of the State.

"What of their work? did they do it well? I answer, yes, just as Iowa men should and can.

"This fundamental law stands to-day, gentlemen of the Convention, substantially as it passed from your considerate hands on the fifth of March, 1857. It is true a few changes have been made. But these have resulted from that National upheaval-the baptism of blood which old lines had rendered