The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-04-28
WASHINGTON MATTERS.
SYPHERs IN AND OCr.

There was a performance in the House Wednes-
day as is not often seen in a legislative body, ana
such as the country cannot afford to have occur
Very frequently in the capitol. 1t grew out of the
election Of Sypher and st. Martin from the first
Louisiana district.
Both these persons claimed the seat from that
district and the election committee yesterday call
ed up the issue for settlement. Mr.. Stevenson of
Cincinnati and Mr. Burdett of Missouri reported
in favor of Sypher, the republican, while Mr.. Kerr
If Indiana, Democrat, reported in favor Of ST.
Martin, Democrat. The testimony shows that st.
Martin received 1G05a votes, and Syphcr $3.50, yet
in spite of the fact that st. Martin got more than
five times rs many votes as Sypher, the majority of
the Subcommittee gave the seat to the last named
gentleman. 1t was claimed that proper deduction
for irregular returns would leave Sypher but 30S0
votes. and ST. Martin but 15,407 votes. The essen
tal fact was that even in this event st. Martin
would still have more than five times many votes
99 Sypher and clear majority of four hundred
and forty-siN on the total registry. The country
may we'll ask not on what ground Sypher could
claim Il seat but on what principle of law or equity
,e majority of the committee could give it to him.
But the House voted to do so by vote of - to 49,
and then, just as Sypher stepped forward to be
worn in, 4 storm commenced. The scale turned
in hour and half to vote of 100 to 60 in favor
nf his rejection and for declaraton that neither he
st. Martin entitled 10 the seat, and that the
election was Invalid.
\ large number of the members of the Ohio Leg
stature We're on the floor by invitation during the
proceedings, and of their presence tended to
increase the noise, but the House ITSELF from first
10 last WIS Ill IL Slalp OF the SIpdleSl cOnllSlOn
which the almost constant rapping of the Speakers
mallct could not quell. Half the members were
on their feet and away from their seats, and in all
quarters excited groups were discussing the cause
ind the effect OF the various motions, while the
spectators i'll the galleries looked on in wonder and
talked of the chances on which legislation hangs in
holy that could make and unmake Il
member. For ii was noted that between the time
Ia, was seated by five majority and the time. an
hour and 4 half later, when he was unseated by
1hirty-one majority, no new facts and no new argu-
ncntS were preSented or, in other words, that at
the end, the on its merits stood exactly where
il stood in the beginning. Assuming that the final
decision, keeping the man out, was Just and right
one what shall hc said of that by which he
WAS admitted:
SOLDIERS BOUNTIES.
The question as to what class of soldiers are en-
Titled to the 800 bounty under the recent decision
OF tho nitcd States Supreme Court, is at present
exciting much interest throughout the country.
The following points have been submitted to the
second Comptroller for his decision: Under the
act of July %, 1861, soldiers who We're honorably
discharged TO accept promotion after having served
Two Years We're paid the 800 bounty. Why, under
the recent decision of the Supreme Court, are not
soldiers who We're not enlisted prior to that act,
and under the Presidents proclamation of May D.,
1865, entitled to 500 bounty. whether such service
was rs an enlisted man or otherwise? The con-
tract with the United States that they should
receive 800 bounty when honorahly discharged.
i not promotion an honorable discharge: The
Comptroller answers the above question as fol-
ioWs;
The decision OF this office against payment
IF bounty even in the eases arising under the act
of July %, 1861, on the ground that when one
party releases the other from the obligations of con-
tract for the benefit Of the latter there the end of
The agreement, for it would be one-sded law that
would hold one and discharge the other. But 81,
many payments had been made before the subject
brought TO the notice of the Urea ,ury Depart
mrnt. the practice not disturbed. In the case
now presented the decision was made in limine
ana payment of bounty to officers promoted from
The ranks, the government yielded the service it
had right 10 demand Under their contract of Ell
l>tmen, for the benefit of the officer, was held to
n inequitallc and illegal, and it is not sanctinne
by the opinion of the Supreme Court.
rHE NIRTUoUS BUTLER vs.. roLYGAMY.
\ short time since there occurred a debate upon
the better way to arrest Polygamy in Utah. and
cgl>ate for the better spread Of morals and Chris
tanity. The venerable Benz. +. Butler, saint leg
stating for the sinners of Utah, Benjamin spoke
OF the great Republican party being committed to
the moral move '1he trim relics Of baTbarism
si1cery 0Rd polygdmy, must die t0gether." So
avs Benjamin. Oh yes, and they die rich, and Ben
jtnin administers upon their Estates. recollect
when Benjamin in New Orleans his co-admin-
r-rator was j. Wilson Shafer, QuartermaSter.
QuHrtcrmastcring was goood business during the
war, and j. Wilson and Ben, haved on the Quarter
lngS. II was rich unto tatneSs. Now Benjamin,
who hi~ more influence L. S. q. than any
man in the country, has had j. Wilson appointed
Governor Of tab, and set foot the great moral
mos ement that further profits may accrue. There
is another Estate to administer upon and the two
arr ready