Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1862-03-29
SIOUX CITY, IOWA:
SATURDAY MORNING, 20 MARCH.
vANDEvER AND BYINGTON.


pondence Of the N. Y. Ecening Post, il
will be seen that the contested election
case from this State is attracting good
deal of attention. The real question at
issue is-can VANDEvER hold q seat in
Congress and at the same time command
. regiment in the army? We hardly
think that ELLINGTON seriously claims that
he was regularly elected, or that he could
have been elected, had an election been
regularly called and held in this District
last fall. Still, this does not entite VAN
DEvER to a seat which he has vacated by
accepting Colonelcy. What must the
taxpayers Of this District think of their
Representative holding two Of the best
Offices in the civil and military service and
regularly drawing pay for both. 1t is
downright imposition. We say this out Of
no i'll will or dsrespect to Mr.. VASDEvER.
He must know, and if be does not, the
most humble man among his constituents
does know that Mr.. Mr. VANpEvER ia no.
omnipresent He cannot be in Congress
and in the camp; look after the interests
Of his constituents in Washington, and his
regiment in the fields Of Arkansas at the
came time. But this is not oil. When
Mr.. VANEEvER is in Congress why in ad-
dition to his Congressional salary does he
draw the pay of Colonel for services not
performed, and when in the field, why does
he draw pay for the empty seat Of de.
serted constituency in Congress. These
are times we know when great abilities are
in high demand, still the Second Congress
ionsl District of Iowa is not 80 poor ia
intellect or experience but that it can furn-
ish worthy successor to Mr.. VASpEvER,
either in Congress or in the field:
The case Of Byington rersus Fandever,
which is now before the House Elections
Committee, will raise the constitutional
point Of the inability Of man to serve
bis constituents in Congress and his gov
eminent in the field at the same time. As
there are several gentlemen in the House
who are in the same position as Colonel
Vendever, the case excits much attention.
In nearly all the cases it is alleged that
the parties accepted colonelcies from their
respectives State governments, but the
fact that they ara paid by the general gov.
eminent for military service a. we'll as
legislative service makes the case q diff.
cult one.
Mr.. La Grand Bying.on was elected 10
Congress, as he claims, to fill supposed
vacancy in the Second Congressional Dis.
trict ef the State of Iowa. The vacancy
was supposed TO exist because William
vandever, legally elected as the represen.
ta,ive of that District at the last regular
election, last summer accepted the colonel
cy Of the Ninth Iowa regiment, under the
command Of General Halleck. Many i'm.
portant questions are involved in the case,
but the one which will chiefly interest the
country is, whether man can serve rs
Congressman and Colonel at the same
time, drawing pay for both Offices?
The Secretary Of War has furnished the
committee with the papers under which
Colonel Vandever was authorized "to en-
list organize and command regiment Of
volunteer infantry within the State of
Iowa. and his acceptance thereof. Per-
haps the most i'm portant evidence is that
which shows that Col. Vandever has re.
ceived double pay. The paymaster gener
al of the United States army writes that
"the name Of William Vandever appears
on the field and staff muster payroll for
October 81, 1861. He has drawn ray as
Colonel Of said regiment TO September 80,
1861" The Sergeant-at>Arms of the
House writes: have to state that the
Hon William Vandever has received in.
GLIDING certificate for second mileage.
which was issued to him in pursuance of
the decision Of the Speaker. 1854 60, as
compensation and mileage during the pres.
ent Congress-" General Halleck writes
from St. Louis: ~ sent no telegraphic or
other orders to Colonel Vandever to Join
hi. command. His regiment is now in
the field, and he will receive no leave Of
absence from me for the present. 1t is
quite possible that Mr. Ellington is not
entitled 20 be the successor Of Colonel
Vandever. il the latter should lose his seat,
Int it is admitted on all hands that the
time has come for the House to decide
Whether one Of its members can accept .
position in the army while drawing pay as
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