The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-03-09
TO THE EDITOR DATED WASHING.
TON, ID. G..

TON, ID. G.
Feb. "a, 1853.
The Homestead Bills "dead duck" for this
session, so far as the action of the Senate is con-
cerned
All has been done that could be done, by the
friends of the measure to convey it through the
Senate, but, important Bills have bean crouded
so thick upon each other, that some of them
have had to give way,-and, hence the loss of
the Homestead Bill for this session. The meas
ure, Of itself, has so much to commend it to
Congress, in lis wise and beneficial nflu-
ences, it will have on the prosperity of the
States, wherein the public lands are situated,
that have no doubt but, that the Bill will be re-
vived for the action of the new Congress, that
will assemble on the LIST Monday of December,
1883, at very early day.
The Pacific Rail Road Bill, important as it is
for the entire country, as well the Atlantic as
the Pacific slope, has shared the fate of the
Homestead Bill, for 12 months at least This
great measure, has been killed outright, by the
kindness of some of its friends.
friend to the measure, gave the Bill the first
thrust, which, caused it to founder, and, after
Keeling few times under amendments, the
measure began to droop, and finally became a
"dead cock in the pit. 1t is only defeated for
season. This measure, let me call the Bill by
its proper name, this most smagnfcent i'm
provement Of the age" cannot be defeated
Hereafter, it will bear down all opposition !;
for, the interest of all the States are more or
less interested, in the completion Of this great
work.
There was spirited debate in the Senate on
yesterday, the subject of Withdrawing from
the Military Establishments at Harpers Ferry,
and Springfield, the Military Supc r;ntendants,
and restoring the Civil Superintendants of the
Artisans and Mechanics employed therein
Our Mechanics, complain of the Military regu-
lations and well they may, for most of the
Officers have but little feeling for them, sym.
pathy for their prosperity comfor, :-and, the
sooner the Civil superintendent takes the place
of the Military the better.
Judge Douglas, well observed in the debate,
that the military would soon usurp the control
Of all the improvements of the nation if not now
nipped in the bud at once, by the Senate passing
the Bill as it came from the House OF Repre-
sentatves. Judge Douglas defended the
Mechanics Of the country, in most able and
convincing argument, and Gen. Rush, of Texas
made two speeches on the same side of the ques.
fion Con Rush ;s one of tb, fret J,h,,ar, -,
the Senate, and, he is too much of a Republic
can ever to tolerate measure that savors Of
tyranny and oppression to the American Ne
chanic
Judge Butler, Gen Shields, and Mr. Bell, Of
Tennessee, done their best to defend the military
side of the question and, regret to record
that they advanced sentiments not at all congo
NAL with the improvements of the age. All
three of the gentlemen went for military decp-
line being extended, to contract the working
those who knew nothing Of mechanics, or me-
chanical operations, should have the supern-
tendency of the armores. Rather than this
shall be continued, SO far, as | understand the
armories, and let the mandatory of "fire arms"
be given out and extended by government to
private enterprise. The debate showed one
thing pretty plainly, and that is, that there are
excresences in the Army-entirely too many
Officers. WE'LL if there are, dismiss them; let
them not be appointed to swagger and buster
over the free mechanic. Better the Army were let
out "by contract than, to encourage a sys-
TEN, that, is detrimental to the public happi-
ness and prosperity of the sons of toll and
usefulness. But, the peoples representatives
will see to their interests i'll the premises.
had the pleasure of seeing the President
Elect to day. He looks well, but, seems, as if
he would rather please his friends than please
himself His t,oo first formed Cabinets have
been scattered to the four winds 1t is difficult to
form an opinion just now, but, from what hear
around me, the following gentlemen, or some of
them, will form the Cabinet of Gen Pierce,
that will be sent to the Senate on the 9Th prox-
mo, for confirmation. Recollect, Messrs. Edi-
TORS that do not say, 1t sot be the Cabinet, but,
Yankee lke,"J guess they will. viz:
VIM. l. Marcy, Secretary of State Mr..
Guthrie, Secretary Of Treasury; Jefferson Davis.
Secretary of War J. G.. Dobbin, Secretary of
Navy; James Campbell Secretary of Interior;
Gov. McClelland, Post NJ General; Caleb
Gushing, Attorney General.
Your Obt Sev't