The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1853-01-12
Washington correspondence.


W.sHIscros, %. CO. Dec. 81, 1852.
II is more than even chance, that the Sc.
nate will pass, this Session, the Homestead
Bill, as passed by the House of Representativ
es last session by such large majority.
Gen. Dodge of Iowa, some days ago, gave
notice in The Senate, that he would call it up ior
the action oflhe Senate, and will press tito de.
cision.--Mr. Walker is an able advocate Of this
humane measure, to give to the homeless a
small pittance of land, which, from the numbe
of. Railroad schemes before Congress il the Bill il
not shortly passed, fear it will be lost in the
vortex ofrail road sch mes, and, no land will be
given to those who are now awaiting the action
Of Congress on Ibis wise and beneficent meas
ure, Of which Mr.. Andrew Johnson, of Ten, is
the wise projecser.-We however, have strong
hopes, that the Bill will yet becom. the law of
the land
The Senate have admitted Mr. Oxen to his
seat in the Senate, ayes q rays l6 The con
test grew on, OF the vacancy caused by the
death Of Mr. Clay Mr.. Merriwether was ap.
pointed to fill that vacancy but, the Legislature
previously elected Mr.. Dixon, where there was
no vacancy, but TO fill a promised vacancy, the
the resignation Of Mr. Clay, which resignation
never took effect, being cdncelled by his death
Now, am lawyer, to decide thess nice
questions of the contested seat from Kentucky,
yet, if the contingency never did arise of he re-
signation of Mr.. Clay, it does seem problemati-
| cal to an unsophisticated mind, that Mr.. DIXON
has taken possession Of seat in the Senate
that is, in the minds of some persons very
questionable right for him to occupy.-But the
majority Of the Senate haging admitted MIR. Di-
xon, it matters but little, whether there was a
vacancy or not, at the time ofhs election.
The past week, the resolution of the Clemens
of Ala. creating Gen. w. Scott, Leutndnt gen
eral, in the Army of the U. States passed tic
Senate aeys "a, nays l2.-At the death of Gen.
Scott, the title voted to him by the Senate, d es
with him-This is singular vote for Senators
to record, in the face Of all the gallant spirits OF
the Army, but, we presume, that Gen Scott
was defeated by the people for the substant ]
Office of President of the u. States, Senators
think it no great harm to tickle his ranity, by
the military desposi'ism of Europe. Army
of the u States henceforth, will be in the hands
Of Lieutenent General, long as Gen. Scott
survives this life; but when Elijah is called
away from earth, there will be no Elisha left to
receive the niaatlc.
Gen Scott deserves the plaudits and graft
tude of his country; and, no friend to that dis
tinguished Officer, can say with truth, that he
has not been we'll repaid by this greatfnl coun-
try.-hs military man we all know, and will
ever know him for his noble qualities and his
Sallant bearing in many well contested field;
but This vote of the Senate would place him far
in advance of every other Officer, and would
imply, that General Scott, and only Gen. Scott
is worthy to enjoy title they have voted him to
receive.-lf being COMMANDMENT Chief, is not
distinction enough for ony one man to enjoy,
am really at loss to comprehend, how the title
of Lieutnant General can add to the prerogative
of command. But tits a title, yes, it isa title,
and | am sorry to say, Messrs. Editors, that
there are toe much cpeins after titles borrowed
from European despotism, in many minds, in
this plain republican country-But, the Senate
L,ye voted the baable, and presume that out
Of courtesy to the Senate, the House of Repre-
sentatives will also vote the baubie tile 10 Gen
Scott We'll, let them do it, it will not
alter my opinion on The subject of titles
now OF hereatter.-And, | hope further, that the
people will watch with jealous scrutiny, this en-
tering wedge of titles in the person of Gen
Scott If not nipped in the bud, the time is
not distant, when more imposing titles than
l,eutnant general will be proposed to BE en-.
'erafted iG ard upon our Institutions.
On Thursday last Senators Mason & Cass
delivered very able speeches on tie foreign pol
| icy of our country. Mr.. Mason spoke largely
of Cuban matters, and said the annexation Of
Cuba was inevitable that it was "only a ques-
ton of time when Cuba would be incorpora-
ted in this family Of States. He further said,
and much like his lofty bearing, and genuine
Anerican spunk, ''that the combined powers Of
Europe could not prevent Cuba from falling in
to our possession This is pretty bold, but it
i, declaration which the people OF the United
States will see fully carried out, if there is any
interferelce Of European governments in this
6naIity of the Cuban question. Gen. Cass
spoke to the same purpose, but gave the gov
ernment of Great Britain passing notice for
.her duplicity on certain questions of conquest
and bloodshed Both speeches are much ad-
mired in this quarter, and have no doubt they
will be equally SO by the people, when they
read the noble and patriotic sentiments therein
expressed.
Senator Hunter, of Virginia, left this city on
Thursday last, for visit to the President elect,
at Boston o. Concord, it matters not which
! This visit rs enough to form data from which
the Cabinet Of Gen. Pierce is to eminate. There
can be no question ef the fact, that Mr.. Hunter
is prudent, cautious adviser for MIR. Pierce to
consult. Mr. Hunter is also gentleman of fine
taleuts, and on the subject of finance and COM
me,ce, it is doubtful if there is his equal in the
United States, Robert J. Walker, on the above
questions, always, and with all men of the pres
ent age, excepted.
The visit Of Mr.. Hunter, know to be, by
cpecidt limitation. Hence, all speculation as
t3 the Cabinet Of Gen Pierce, may cease from
this day. The reality will be in the breast of a
few, and, therefore, we will leave the solution
to those who know more about the persons Sc
leeted than do. We have two rurnors, one Is
that Mr.. Hunter will assume the duties of tie
State Department.; the other is, that he viii
NOT take office, but is required only to aid the
President, in selecting his Cabinet advisers.
do not know the truth of either report; yet, it j:
evident from the requirements of Mr. Hunter
that he can take Office if he desires office The
very invtation to him, justifes this conclusion
If ANYTHING tangible this subject comes to
my knowledge, you shall hear from ME again
Yours, LEWIS.
AN .ExcIrEMEsr.-ln the Ohio Legislator re
there mas been an attempt made to expel the
Clerk Of the House of Representatives named
Nlahon II. Medary, brother of the editor o.
the Statesman. II seems he has been giving
his trotherthe printing Of the journals in viola
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