The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-12

exposed and remedied | make these charges. and
! hope that the Military and Naval Commitlees
Notwithstanding their other arduous duties will ex-
anime into these outrageous abuses of the public
treasure. Of the 81 commanders Ia only are on
duty at sea.
We are, TO be sure, gloriously blessed with
marine band twice week, TO play sweet wholesome
music for the handles and the wisksrandoes,
and the members Of Congress, IN the public grounds
near the Presidents house. Who provided such
thing for our glori6eation, or for the amusement
OF peculiar classes in Washington eityl By what
law Is II authorized Ii better that they were
playing Yankee Doodle in the city of Mstamoras
than tickling our ears with their tuneful notes here
and would be better that these lazy captains and
commanders OF the army and navy should be de-
tending their country there than idling life away
mere. You may order them off soon as you
please; Il Will be weeks-nay, months, land in
stances IN proof can be eted) before they will
on their destination. They love their homes and
their habits too well. These are abus % that may
be wlnked at. But they exist nevertheless; and l.
al faithful representative, designing to do my
duty IN the face Of dlsPleasure and frowns whence
soyer they may arise, proclaim these facts TO nv
constituents and to the country, that they may know
that there is at least one man here who will do his
duty iearlessy | regret that my aged friend,
the venerable gentleman from Massachusetts
INT ADAMS, and others have taken so de-
eided an interest IN resolutions, Bringing the
| tenlIon Of the House and the country to certain
deserters shot, al Is said by the command OF Gen
| Taylor. do not know what gentlemen design TO
do with the information they called for; but they
pressed Tor It with great deal OF Zeal and bitter
ness. l regret that a gentleman OF the venerable
age and experience Of the member from Massachu-
sets should have had any part in these resolutions
l, not being half as old, nor knowing fourth as
much as that gentleman, may be wrong, and he ma
be right. speak according to my Judgment; and
undertake to say that the very fact OF the intro
dueuon Of such a resolution here, indicated a dis.
trust Of the conduct Of the military commander,
which was the very last thing thai should have been
DONE because, II you intend, by any resolution of
That KIND, 10 pass vote Of censure upon him for
doing what he believed TO be his duty-especally in
shooting deserters-you place him in situation not
| very enviable.
Mr.. GIDDINGs. Does my colleague intend to
be understood as jusufying the shooting Of any
man, being either IN the army or citizen, without
| a trial.
Mr.. SAWYER. | do.
Mr.. GlDDlNGS. Very well, that is all One
question more. In time Of peace, or any other'
Mr.. SAWYER. | do, most emphstically-
whether our own or any others.
Mr.. GIDDlNGS And do you regard that as
the democratic doctrnel
Mr.. SAWYER. Yes.
Mr.. GlDDlNGS. That will do
Mr.. SAWYER. Not only as the democratic
doctrine but as the patriotic doctrine and believe
God smiles on the act. Shoot down all traitors,
say |. If you have army to command, and your
men are TO be permitted to walk off-to desert at
peasure-to convey, It may be, intelligence to
your enemy-lf they are pursued and refuse to
return to their duty, or to be taken, what
are you to doi Are you to let them go' | heard
my colleague, the other day, on this floor advocate
the principle Of shooting down men who in
pursuit OF negroes sustaining them in the Of
the knife and the sword to defend themselves. Am
wrong
Mr.. GIDDINGS Ysu have heard me advocate
he FKhI If -HaEan all. Il.
ny to any human being in Ohio the right Of sefde-
fence, where he is charged with no crime'
Mr.. SAWYER. My time is about to expire |
cannot yield the floor any more.
Mr.. GlDDlNGS Then do not put questions, if
you are unwilling to have an answer.
Mr.. SAWYER. advocate the doctrine Of Old
Hickory, vhs set good example, as Washington
would have done If he had found traitor in his
camp-take him dead alive Ii is Just; it is cor
rect. The result Of any other course Of proceeding
must be mutiny, and we all know what follows
them.
was regretting while ago that there were hon.
orable members here, and in the other end Of the
capital, who advoca the OF the enemy against
that of their own country, and who continue to throw
stumbling blocks in the way Of the successful ter
mination oft. We have evidences of that to-
day, and we saw them yesterday. We have heard |
arguments justfyng the Mexicans in shooting |
down soldiers and attacking our army, because
it is said we have title to the territory in which
that army is encamped And Sunday last, the |
force Of the pulpit las the in the last war
was brought to bear-to gag the mouths of the |
friends OF the country-to cry downa war in de. |
fence of the outraged rights of the nation Such a
sermon as that, | say, was preached in this city |
Gentlemen will to know to whom refer. The SER |
mon not preached in this hall The Ashburton |
treaty was taken up; "a sermon was preached IN ia
vor of the Godke Of the position he has taken; and
against the party that is opposed TO him and his
principles. |
Mr.. Chairman, have given but a hasy glance at |
matters as they exist. There is another bill on our
tables which | have been anxousy trying to get
Mr.. GIDDINGS desired to make an inquiry as |
to the sermon alluded to. He wanted his colleague |
TO do the clergy justice, |
Mr.. BRlNKERHoFF. think he has done it |
Mr.. SAWYER. My colleague will know to |
whom allude and the persons present at the church
know. |
Mr.. GIDDINGS. was not there but wish to |
make inquiry
Mr.. SAWYER. suppose my colleague is not |
the defender Of the clergy Of this city. If he will |
say that he comes here their advocate, will an
swer his inquiry. |
Mr.. GIDbINGs. merely wish to know
Mr.. SAWYER, (continui1g) There is an
other bi for the removal of other abuses in the |
government, in which feel deep interest. | fear
will not be reached. But | give notice that so
shall have got through with bills of more |
direct importance, touching preparations for |
war; intend to be very troublesome until get that
bill up have prepared from high authority va |
riety of statistics by which intend to show
of the outrageous abuses existing in the army and |
navy and in the distribution OF Offices more fully
than have yet shown them. That is all.
Weare compelled to postpone the remainder of
this days proceedings for want Of room
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, |
Tuesday morning, IL o'clock, 18th May, 1876.
GENTLEMEN 1t is due to myself and to my con- |
sttuents, through your paper, to account for my |
absence from the House when the vote was taken |
for placing at the Disposal of the President the
means and supplies necessary to the present emer
gency in which our country is placed. 1t was ne
cessary for me to visit Philadelphia on important
business, and left this city on Friday evening The
news Of hostiities our frontier only reached this
place Saturday evening. On hearing it in Philadel
phia, I FASTENED back and reached this city this
evening before o'clock but too late to take any
part in the important proceedings arising out Of that
news and giving my aid and vote for raising the