The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-01-23
WASHINGTON LETrRR.
The Senate and she Nasal Board The House
Smith Of Higfnia.
coRassrosDEsc1 or THE DIsrArcH


WAsnISGToS. Monday night, Jan. q.
s.on to-day adjourned untFI Thursday. What gave
tons sro . ias . session was the presentation Of pe
whom the Board dropped, retired e. and n til.
uiafiy that of Lieut. Maury. The Seb.ts so,,,s.cs-
ed by Senators Bell Of Tennessee. MsiIorv ~
Carolina. and Brown. Of Mississipni 80 y n0uan
.ell1ea oy good temper and an evident des;re -
DO justice to all parties The board WAS No. 80. -
sa5ed sur ~ any one though il seemed 70 be Admit
was finally submitted to Committee n viii 49,
questiona6ly prove fruitful theme and provoke !
protracted debate in the Senate There l. scs,ss
y one among the officers in any way iuiuriously
oy tne late proceedings who has not friends
and Innuenee enough to secure for him hear No
while some OF them possess friends influence
wealth and abilities of the first order Cotnmodorss
Stewart, well on 10 eighty years old, has written
an sI a0le ana eloquent remonstrance. Lieutenant
Maurf, whose rank in the service has about as
much to do with his worldwide fame a. Sir wal.
ter Scotts sherifalty had to do with his has made
stand against the Board from which he win not
be easily moved
1t is not popular at this moment to opnosa tho
law creating this Board or the action of the Board
under that law but feel It to be my duty To ON,
pose both. Every member Of that Board was in
terested In the removal from the line of promotion
OF ms brother officer. The action of the Board
was OF a judicial character, and those thew pro.
scribed were SO prescribed because of alleged in.
competency or inattention, or because of moral or
mental disqualification. The decision of the Board
was OF the nature of . condemnation while the
accused was not permitted to cite witnesses to
speak In his defence, to appear in court-nay not
even to know that he was accused, much less to
confront his accuser; and the descendants of each
OF these men may forever wrthe under the scorn
OF the world. ignorant as to whether the misfor-
tune of mental disqualification or the disgrace Of
moral debasement, manifested in an exhibition of
habitual drunkenness robbery, theft or traduction
was the stigma that brought disgrace upon their
families. Were one of these officers, and con.
scious of being guilty of any one OF these acts.
would prefer to have it known, and to wear the
scarlet letter. on my breast, to being suspected
of them all
In the House today, the same old tune was
played, but with some variations. Mr.. Faulkner's
resolution of general resignation was tabled by
body OF men who are perfectly resigned to their
present unenviable positions, as most persons
knew that it would be. Mr.. Smith, of Virginia
was nominated by o member of the American
party, and received 20 of the votes of that party
and 18 democratic votes-47 in all The footing
up Of the votes in this trial showed that had the
Democrats all voted for Mr.. Smith, he would have
been elected by a majority of two. The Free
Soers allege that this Is offset to the Union's
charge that they alone are responsible for the un-
organized condition Of the House. because there
was time when they could have elected Mr..
Banks or Mr.. Campbell That some of this party
slipped out to effect this seeming to-day may be
true. without being demonstrable, though pre-
sune there were upon them the sharp eyes of those
who will make faithful report. A. b. C.