Senator George W. Jones

JONES, HARLAN, GRIMES, CILLEY, GRAVES

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 12/6/2014 at 20:29:33

Lyons Mirror, Lyons, Iowa, February 18, 1858

Senator Harlan has presented to the Senate James W. Grimes' credentials of election as U. S. Senator of this state. The latter will have an opportunity to vote on the Lecompton Constitution in accordance with the instructions of our Legislature to Gen. George W. Jones, who made a merit of disobedience and declared he would disregard them. We rejoice that the time is so near when Jones will not be permitted to occupy the position in which he has so long misrepresented the people of our State. He will not again have the opportunity to scorn the instructions of his constituents and cry "Down with the will of the majority." His party loathe him, they would not show the last shadow of approval of his course. They would not show the least shadow of approval of his course; they would not even give him the usual complimentary vote before balloting for a successor. They could not hope to elect a Democrat; but they chose to show their sympathies and preference for a man who had avowed himself opposed to Jones' position on the Administration's Lecompte policy.

Jones' career has been an eventful one. Je was a delegate from Wisconsin twenty years ago. He was a friend to Mr. Cilley in the dual with Graves and it is said his thick headed mismanagement contributed to the fatal assault. In 1845 he was elected Senator from Iowa when the State was first admitted. Being the son-in-law of one and the brother-in-law of another Senator, he was re-elected to a second term. He has made no figure in his public career, save on two occasions. In 1840 he made figure one in the census of Iowa and in 1850 another one on the same work. In 1856 he read a speech in the Senate, written for him by Henry Clay Dean of Iowa, then chaplain to the Senate. Mr. Jones has not had much ability to take care of; but he has paid attention to the cultivation of a good address. He is quite a society man and altogether very nice.. It is said he has been the envy of Washington ball rooms for nearly a generations. He is a "love of a fellow, with such curls!" Good age to him.

(Jones County was named after Gen. George W. Jones)