Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-01-09
c.rr,speudsaes Of the Gasstts.

4
| Con9rss and ~ koiidsys-NeS Rornty Ian
!, Ls~--Four rssimeais - b adder . u
I Arnss- -lscresse Of the eeset pay (lticers q
I.rm1 .; fAseossnd innorassoas--D emecrc
6, ri patronage Board to settle csai,ns--io
! ua Seassorial siecsion--lous deteSdtscn-
&nator Dod9e--J icsss. Coos d Iiean Q
he House.
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. LIST, 1888.
On tomorrow, the assembled wisdsm 9
the nation will resume the business OF the
county in good earnest. The time honor
ored custom Of spending the holidays IN
pleasure or private bushes, has so thorough
~ insured into the force Of law, that no,h'
ing Of importance is ever attempted IN Con-
gress during the festival season, and mem
| bers merely meet to comply with the Con-
stitational provision which prohibits an adj
isurnment for longer period than three
DAYS. Two temporary sessions were held
here last week, and although barely quo
rum present, much uacontested business
was disposed Of Congress, however, be-
tween The nrst day Of meeting and Christ
mas. chalked out very large amount Of We
~ important business, which will soon be
taken up, discussed, and passed into laws.
The provision, intended Tor the benefit Of
all, who had been omitted in the previous
laws grant pensions and bounty lands, to
those who served their country in War, has
dawn together in this city, a number Of the
veterans of 1919. The bill reported by 5 m
ator Broadhesd, proposes to give l6o acres
Of land to all whs engaged in any OF our
wars. and served % days. Tais oslterates
the determinations of the present laws OF
20, so, and 100 acres, founded upon the
length Of time served BY the applicant. This
new law will cover many meritorious cases
which were excluded. and will give to all
who were entitled to but 40 or 80 acres, an
additional amount sufficient to make their
quota 100 acres. Had Congress consulted
these old relics of our second Revolution
ary war; those unjust distinctions, as to tn 9
time OF service would have been embodied
in the bounty land laws. These old sol
diers have informed the committee OF many
daring deeds Of bravery, and the endurance OF
much suffering by men, who. in the per-
Torrance of their duty, were cut down, or
honorably discharged before they had bsen
- day. ia the service, and wha hsve Of
course been denied the bounty OF the coun-
try. 1t is supposed the committee will
30 modify the bill is to meet every de-
serving case.
Tho bill reported by the committee on
Military affairs, proposes to increase the Ar
nv by an addition OF four regiments and the
c. mpe nsation of the officers. This 10 com
mendable on the part Of Congress, and no
one will object to it. But it is worthy Of
remark, that the democracy never move in an
Important work, unless they can blend the
ornamental with the useful. During Mr..
Fillmores Administration, he called Tor
two additional regiments, under the most
pressing Of all pressing necessities, to main
tain our treaty obligations with Mexico, BY
preserving the peace on the immense from
tier acquired from that Government. Mr..
Fiilmore's Administration was Wing, and a
democratic Congress refused to place the
patronage of two regiments in his hands
The obligation in that treaty, has sine teen
abrogated, and our Government relieved
| from that onerous duty. Yet in the face OF
this diminution in the service, and without
any increase Of frontier, or territory, the
democracy comes forward and kindly offers
TO place in the hands of President Pierce,
the patronage of four rsgiments But there
are features embodied in this bill, which
have created much alarm and distrust, on
the part Of those directly affected by it. /,
proposes to re-organizs the ordinance and
artillery arms Of tho service, and to break
up the military bureaux here, presided over
and superintendent by experienced officers
and send them into the line again. Even
all this might be tolerated, but it is said by
| distinguished gentlemen conversant with
the subject, to confer upon the President, in
carrying out this rcmodeling plan. On arbi'
trary power to disband any of these officsr'
at will and to ill the vacancies from the
ranks of political partisans, or subalterns il
the line. Under the very laudabe pretex
! Of governing the promotions BY merit, it pro
poses to abolish the present system Of pro-
no,ien by seniority, aud give the Presiden
the power to designate who shall fill va
cancy. have net seen the bill in its de-
tails, and cannot speak with accuracy as t.