Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-12-12
ALEXANDRIA,:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 70, 1915.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT AT WASHING.

Friday, December III.
"Enough has already been given away
and if we are so lavish much lougen away
will go all the public land" -
This was the excellent. homespun, brief
remark Of Mr.. Desha yesterday on reso-
luton, the ultimate object Of which was, 10
grant bounty in land to the soldiers who
enlisted twelve months previous to the late
war, and 10 the heirs and representatives
OF those who were killed in battle and died
in the service of the country, which resolu-
ton Mr.. Smith Of Maryland, not only sup
ported but wished to extend. | distinguish
this resolution from the multitude which
might mention, but cannot think OF load
ing your paper with, merely to say few
words upon that prodigious impotence
which some of our politicians disclose to
get rid of those troublesome acres that be-
long to the republic; and which will be
found, on some future day, 10 have been
in many instances most improperly wasted.
Not an acre of them ought ION many &C
counts) to be parted with, hut upon some
very urgent and critical national emergen-
cy. Whatever those gentlemen may think,
those lands are as much the chief iounda-
,ion.stone CT our credit this moment, as the
bullion deposited in the vaults of our public
banks are the guarantees of their solvency.
In my opinion law ought to be passed,
interdicting the sale of them for century
+, instead Of which they seem to be regard
ed in light something like that Of an cleo
pioneering butt of beer in pot-walloping
borough in Great Britain, where every man
thinks he has right TO draw horn aud
give it to the mob about him.-The ex-
preston of Mr.. Desha went home to the
understanding of the house; for the resolu-
ton was instantly lost.
The correspondence between Governof
Rabun, of Georgia, and Gen. Jackson, has,
OIL motion Of Mr.. Storrs, been called for, to
be laid before tue house.
A debate arose upon bill for regulating
the admission of cadets into the academy
at West Point. A prominent provision of
this bill was, that in all applications for ad-
mission, the preference should be given to
the sons OF officers and soldiers who had
been killed in battle, and died in the mi
litay service of the United States, in the
late war. Another was that a still further
preference should be given to those least
able to educate themselves, and best quail
fed for the military profession. Against the
last of these, Gen. Smith raised his might,
declaring at The same time that they were
the only exceptionabe part OF the bill
Gen. Harrison justified the clause, because
the first respect should certainly be paid 10
those best qualified for military life. This
assertion of the generals called up Mr.. Stro-
Their, who poured forth volume Of clo-
quence, in rcprobation of the measure,
which contained some fruit Of good sense !;
! but so shaded and concealedby a pOfusion
! Of glistening words, that it was difficult to
! perceive it, or 10 catch it when perceived.
t He considered il as one more indication,
! additional 10 many others afforded OF late,
that we were marching by rapid strides to
military arstocracy, which he deprecated,
and though convinced that the bill proceed
ed from heart warmed with gratitude to
the soldiery, he could not allow that to be
a justification for proceeding which went
TO exclude so large portion OF the people
from their participation in a national bene-
fit! The sons OF men in civil life, whose
energies supported the country and gave it
the great palladium Of its liberty, were sure
ly as worthy as those of military men-and
he ccnsured severely The idea of the house
legislating exclusively for the military.
When Mr.. STROLLER had done, Mr.. Clay
rose aud said he had listened very a,ten-
lively TO the variety Of sentiments and OPT
Mons which had been uttered on the occa-
sion, and was certainly uery mach amused
by some of them. A military aristocracy
was, to be sure, not very new but TO make
amends for that, he must own that il was
the first time he had heard Of an arislocra-
: cy Of poor things. On the whole, he tho'1
that no sort Of good could arise from tn
resolution, and that it would be best to leave
the admission of cadets 10 the academy tc
the secretary OF war, who would not fail
lie was convinced, in the execution OF the
trust, to conform TO the views of the bill, as
far as might be practicable, and to do what
ever was proper, as much from his owr