The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-07
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON.
Special kilograms 10 the Dispatch.
WASHINGTON, February 5, 1870.
u MIR. Seear.

The efidnvits, arguments, etc., in the
case of Mr.. segar representative at large
for Virginia) have been printed, and are
now before the Committee on Elections, and
will be considered next week. There is no
opposition to Mr.. Segar's claim to a seat in
the House upon any but the legal question
whether delegate at large for the State of
Virginia is authorized by law. <~
A plausible argument is made in favor of
bis right to seat based upon clauses in the
acts of the Virginia Convention, which, in
turn, derive their validity and strength
from sentences and sections in various acts
of reconstruction, and although the mem
bers of the Committee on Elections at the
outset were inclined to dispose of Mr..
Segar's claim adversely, upon reflection
they discover some well-sustained argu-
ments to authorize Mr.. Segar to take his
seat if the reconstruction acts and the pro-
ceedings of the State Constitutional Con-
vention shall be regarded as conclusive Of
the matter. But the general proposition
that there is no direct legal apportionment
of representative at large for Virginia
such as has been authorized in the State Of
Illinois, where representative at large is
provided for, is adhered to among members
generally as q settlement against MIR.
Segar. Outside of any strict legal con-
sideration. the disposition in the House is
to seat Mr.. Segar, because he has been
regularly voted for and chosen as repre-
sentative by the people Of Virginia.
Mr.. Segar has worked himself into bad
temper with those who are disposed to de-
liberate upon his case and be governed by
the low, but he makes O great mistake in
assuming that there is any malice at the
bottom Of this.
Alleged Sale of appointments TO West
Point.
The resolution in the House providing
for investigation as to the alleged sale of
appointments of cadets to West Point and
to the navy is likely to lead to some very
humiliating disclosures. For several years,
and especially during the rebellion, these
positions we're sold out to street brokers in
Washington for sums varying from $500 to
So 1000. The southern States being unrepre-
scented, the cadets that would have fallen to
their allotment were parcelled out among
the representatives of the. northern States,
and many of them were sold to the bro
kers, the latter dividing the money with
the members of Congress who designated
the cadets.
The trade has been kept up since the re-
bellion, and the new members of the South,
the carpet baggers especially, have made
good thing out of the cadet traffic. One OF
the South Carolina members, who was very
active in his opposition to the admission
of Virginia, and who was for imposing the
most illiberal terms and fundamental con.
ditions, sold one of these cadetships for two
thouEand dollars, agreeing to give the two
brokers engaged with him eight hundred
dollars, but pocketed the whole bonus save
three hundred dollars. Of course the bro
kers are after this high moral South Caro-
lima member, and intend that he shall rem.
der bill of particulars to the investigating
committee.
Death of Congressman Hoag.
Mr.. Hoag, member of Congress from
Ohio, died tonight at o'clock, of pneu'
monia.
| Press Entertainment.
Speaker Blaine entertained the members
of the press tonight in an elegant manner
at which were present about fifty repre-.
sentatives of newspapers-someo Of them
senators and representatives.
| WALLACE.
Associated Press kilograms.
Congressional.
| WASHINGTON, February 5.-The Senate
did not sit, and the House only had gene
/ raj debate. Mr.. Sheldon, Of Louisiana,
smoke of the finance and tariff, arguing
with facts and figures, for retaining the pre-
sent tariff on sugar.
Various Items.
WASHINGTON, February 5.-The revenue
receipts to-day were over $500, 1000.
Mr.. Cumback declines the Portuguese
mission.
The President has promulgated the
Chinese treaty.
Mr.. Hugh Ewing will be recalled from
the Hague.
The Senate Committee on Commerce held
meeting to-day and referred the Missis'
sippi levees question to subcommittee,
composed of Senators Bucking ham and