Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-01-28
VAsHINaroN NEWS AND GOSSIP.

WAhoaJ VASnoe, eoueeuoou Dy court Mar- |
Iial to be dismissed, but the sentence was miti-
gated BY the proper authority to years sus-
pension without pay. When about half the
term Of bis suspension had expired, he received
orders from the Secretary of the Navy for tenn
porary duty as witness. The officer obeyed,
and then claimed his pay for the whole time
after compliance with the order, on the ground
that after performing that duty, he did not re-
lapse into q suspension, but that, like fur
Tough, the suspension was totally terminated
by the order and service under it. Itwas held
that the officer was entitled to pay while ac-
tually on duty by order Of the Secretary; but
lat the 42d article of the act of April %, $780,
for the better government Of the Navy, had
placed the power Of pardon and remission of
the balance Of the sentence in the hands of the
President alone, who had not directly exercised
it, and that the order of the Secretary could
not imply the exercise Of that power by the
President. Pay was, therefore, denied for the
remainder of the suspension.
An Officers Pay Under Certain Circum-
stercz..-It is held in the Treasury Depart
ment that an officer of the Army OF Navy, who
is taken sick on his journey, in compliance
with orders to attend Court Martial, is en-
titled to his per diem allowance for the time
he is detained by sickness.
Senator Truman Smith.-We understand
that in the spring, this distinguished gentle
men eontemplates retiring from public life, re.
signing his present position in the National
Councils. We regret his determination, mas
much as gentlemen of his experience and real
public spirit can ill be spared from Congress
Though as decided and emphatic political
partizan as any man who has been in public
life for many years past, Mr.. Smith enjoys
the respect and personal confidence of his
political opponents in high degree, for no one
is more straight forward in all he does His
official residence in Washington for some years
past has made him hosts Of friends among our
fellow citizens.
The MeDonough Will Case has been the
leading topic Of excitement in we'll informed
circles here, for two days past. 1t has been
in the hands of Messrs. Brent and May, of
Baltimore, Mr.. Benjamin, Of the United States
Senate, and Mr.. Randall Hunt, of New o.
leans, than whom perhaps four more brilliant
men were never before pitted against each
other in suit before a court of law in any
country. There are three parties to this case
Nessrs. Brent and May representing the Bal
more interest, Mr.. Hunt, the city of New Or
leans, and Mr. Benjamin, a third interest. The
crowd attending the court room during the
consideration of this case, has been very great
and we have failed to hear the first spectator
express himself otherwise than as grati6ed
highly with the sbility and legal learning dis.
played by all the counsel engaged.
Despatch Of Business before the House. Con
looking over the House journal we find that or
Thursday last all the standing committee,
were called through. We mention the fac
because when such an event last before oc
Cured at 90 late period Of a long session
| as calling all the committees for reports in
single day, no one recollects, we fancy. Tht
House deserve great credit for this achieve.
ment, which, if persevered in carries in it.
train the certainty that every measure, public
| or private, which majority may be willing to
oon,ider, will surely be reached and disposed
| Of ere the session ends. We have before re.
marked that, with the exception of general
appropriation bills, and in time of war, all
army bills, anything standing on the calendar
| in Committee Of the Whole on the state of the
Union, may be passed over, at the discretion Of
q majority in committee, to get at a measure q
majority Of those present may desire to take
up. The House have only to persevere in say
ing NO to applications to consider bills out o.
order to crafty individual members, to dispose
Of at least twice as much actual business al
has ever before been done by House of Rep
resentatives, within our recollection, at least
A Roorback.-The Baltimore Snn's in.
| tensely anti AdministratiOn Washington cor
| respondent, who Processes to be a Democrat, il
sweepingly wrong in telling stories about the
determination of the New York and Ohio Dem
ocrats in Congress with reference to the
Nebraska bill. This gentleman, to the con-
trary, we assert as O fact we'll known to U.S. that
in their consultations upon the subject, these
gentlemen have come to no conclusion, nor
have they taken vote among themselves upon
any question involved in the bill in contro-
versy.
Errors.-A correspondent Of the Now York
National Democrat assumes to divide the
Democrats of the Virginia delegation as sym
pathiziDg between the New York Hards and
Softs, giving the former nine, the latter three
and calling the remaining member doubtful
After inquiry, we have satisfied ourself that
this calculation is but mOonshine. We know
that no more than q single member of the
Virginia delegation ia a Hard" as the term
is understood in New York and in W ashington.
We arc also sure that however much all the
rest of that delegation may prefer the former
position of the Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson and
his friends on slavery questions to that Of Mr..
John Van Buren, and his Immediate friends,
not man Of them are prepared to take ground
against the course of the Administration with
reference to New York affairs. We are writing
- from the card in this connection.
New Cutters.-We learn that the House
Committee on Commerce have agreed to report
= bill for the construction of four new revenue
cutters. 1t is well understood that their ser
vices are requisite; pressingly requisite