The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-05
which was considered BY unanimous consent, and

Inform the Senate what amount been paid the
tractors Gilbert and Seco and what is yet due 10
said contractors Of the floating balance dock
basin, and railways at the nayyyard Pensacola and
whether the said dock basin aud railways have been
completed according and accepted by the Uni-
ted States what the condition OF said DOCK ba
conrsci have been dispensed with, and il 20, wha,
were the stpulaons go dispensed with, and The reasons
therefor and that he be requested communicate TO the
Senate copies OF all reports the that have
been appointed examine the said dock basin, and rail-
ways and also copy Of the contract entered into by the
Navy Department with the said Gilbert and secor for the
construction OF the said dock, basin, and railways
BILL INTRODUCED.
Mr.. MASON, in pursuance OF notice. asked and OBJ
tanned leave to Introduce bill Is 304) to amend an act
claims OF The State of Vrgnla" which was read the st
and second times by consent and referred TO
the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.
CADETS AT WEST POINT.
On motion by Mr.. SHIELDS. the committee resumed.
as ~ committee OF the whole the consideration 0i the JOINT
resolution from the House OF Representatives explana-
tory OF the law regulating the number Of cadets 10 be
pointed al the Military Academy at West Point
Mr olUARi asked 'hat II might De read ana u was
sid Mr. STUAKf barely want TO make suggestion to
the honorable senator from Illinois, without interfering
with the PROVISIONS of this joint resolution at all that II
should not apply TO cases where upon new enumera-
on, the number OF representatives to which State Is
enled is decreased II is known that the policy has
been TO keep the number OF representatives about same
permanently and the consequence is, that the old States
lose in proportion the increase their mum
ber According to the provisions OF this resolution, we
to increase the number OF cadets, although the mum
Der OF districts may be diminished think II should be
amended IN that respect #at#at asa
Mr.. SHIELDS. The honorable senator's objection
seems 10 be very proper but have examined that point
particularly and no legislation is necessary because the
original law dimnishes the number if the number OF dis
rcts is decreased.
Mr.. STUART. But, Mr. President, the senator will
that the effect OF this joint resolution Is this l IN
the reorganization of The districts in State, district rs
formed within which there IS no cadet at this time THIS
| pi,t,n ~ Inl haua tad
trae my meaning; Suppose, in State which had hve
districts, that upon new arrangement OF Districts, the
number is reduced to four, and il still shall happen thai
there OF the four which there resident cadet,
The Stale would get additional cadet although II lost
district That certainly cannot be the intention OF this
resolution II is to provide for the where there is an
additional district formed and there is no cadet IN III at
least that ought 10 be its provision .#.saa. ..s E
Mr.. SHIELDS The object OF this resolution is to
have cadet from every district In the case which the
senator presents TO the Senate II district was made va
cant by auangeRent, although there would be a
dimnulion OF the number of districts the resolution
would give cadet for that district until the next appoint
ment but al the next appointment the number OF cadets
would be diminished This Is only temporary arrange
men and at the next earangement the proportion VIII
| be re established
Mr.. STUART So understand; bu, submit, as q
matter OF prudence, that the number OF cadets III State
should no, be increased where the number OF congFes-
sional districts is diminished DO say TO the senator,
that If my own judgment were TO prevail should not
like the resolution at all but do not Intend TO object 10
its application where the number OF the districts in State
shall be increased, and shall be found without ca
dei Yet the resolution certainly should be amended
10 provide that shall apply 10 any State where
the number of districts Encouragement shall be d.
minshed. II might happen very well that all the cadets
in State would be thrown into one district under re-
and sull the number OF districts in The State
would be reduced and yet under this resolution there
might be several additional cadets from that very State
/ Mr.. SHIELDS II the honorable senator will permit
NE, will state that that does not alter the case in one
ioa he general law provides that every district IN the
United States shall be entitled to one cadet By the new
hafh Al n4In thA h4F
lrics in State increases the number, does mol alter
the principle happens that at this time there some
districts left without any cadets have inquired INTO
the matter since the case before the Senate last and
I find, by memorandum which have before me, that
the difficulty arises consequence OF the apporloDment
OF the different States in conformity 10 the census OF
1880, leaving more districts vacant than there are vacan
ces IN the Academy at the present time but, IN max
the appointments Tor the following term, must OF
cessy conform TO the act that is, at the next appoint
ment there will be Only for each district; conse-
qtenty, this is only to give remedy To temporary de-
rangement, as il may be called, which has been
stoned by the rearrangement of the districts My own
opinion s that the War Department, ought 10 have acted
upon the primo pie suggested by the honorable senator
where the number was diminished and increased alike
that is, to apponon the cadets among the new districts
without reference 10 their residence but they have not
done They say that the law is obligatory and that
they compelled 10 con6ne the cadets TO the districts
in which they reside That leads to the difficulty; but
the thing rs done, and we cannot undo H. The other dis
es have cadets, and the general law, as 10 them, 10
failure The object Of The resolution is 10 let those dis.
,rcs tina, have no cadets appoint AT the next term all
will be rectlbed; each district will have It's cadet and
there cannot be two cadets in any one district
! Mr. ADAMS. do not know that understand this
resolution exactly According TO the present law, each
Stale IL enuied 10 number oil cadets equal 10 the Der
OF congressional districts cadet TO be taken from
each district. Under the apportionment, under
any act oil the legislature redlscung the State, may so
happen that two three oil the cadets will be included
in one district while other districts will have none.
This resolution is intended to remedy that inequality
but still you allow the State 10 have two three cadets
in district who perhaps have Just entered the insti-
uuon, and will remain there three four years and then
you give the Stale the additional number that will be
created BY the Encouragement OF the districts by the egs
laure Now see no necessity for The purpose Of
distributing the cadets among the States 10 increase the
representation OF any Stale beyond the number 10 which
| II is entitled
! Mr. SHIELDS The honorable senator is correct in
regard 10 the law The general law says that each dis
lrc shall have Cadet who shall reside in the district
Now, by the arrangement two or three cadets may
be thrown into district, and some OF the new dis.
trics will be without cadet and IL is TO supply that
| deficiency that this resolution "a offered.
| Mr.. STUART. For the purpose OF carrying out my
wishes ~ regard TO this resolution, shall offer this
| amendment; ...#
"PJopdsd, That this resolution shall not apply 70 any
be diminished"
Mr.. BROWN. You might as well not pass the reso.
luton al all.
Mr.. STUART Well, IT, my anesdment has the ef
iect defeat the resolution, sub mil TO the Senate that
il ought TO be defeated The general law Is based upon
the principle that each congressional district shall be el
titled 10 one cadet al the Military Academy Now, III
the effect Of this law shall be TO increase the namber Of
cadets 10 any State upon the rearrangemen Of the ds
trlcs not IN proportion to population, proportion
TO the number OF districts. but in proportion to the mum
Der OF accidents by which new districts may be left with