The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-11-13

u not only lawful put urgent ana necel
saly. A refusal TO make Il, under III
existing circumstances, would have sub
IeCted the Department 10 grave censurC
especially as the smallness Of the fore
engaged In the Indian war was the occa
sion Of the greatest delay in conguerinl
peace, and OF the death OF many brayI
officers ond men. This order for recruit
ing had been countermanded rs soon q
the emergency seemed to DO over, and nj
enlislnehts had been made since. Thl
impression that I've thousand men hat
been enlisted recently was an entire mia
take, growing out Of the miscopStruclioI
Of the Adjutant Generals telegram.
A supplementary telegram from tht
Secretary was also read, stating that thC
order for enlistment was made, mot By
himself, but by the General Of the Army
on the 9th Of July.
Mr. Banning, chairman OF the Commit.
tee on Military Affairs, also sent to the
Clerks desk and had read \ telegram
received to-day from the AdlutRnt Gen
eral stating that recruiting returns
showed l,023 men had been enlisted aimee
the frst Of July, the principal part oi
whom had been enlisted on the Pacific
coast BY authority OF the General Of the
Army, given the 9Th Of July 10 meet the
exigencies Of the Indian war.
Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York, a member
ol the Appropriation Committee, criLi.
ciSed the SecretAry's letter. He said II
there had been any mistake or misappre.
hension 1t was due TO coBcealment OF facts
on the part Of the Secretary Of War and
the officers Of the army and 10 their want
Of candor in stating 10 the committee the
facts OF the case. He then discussed and
denied the right asserted by the Secretary
Of War 10 authorize enlistments In ad.
vance Of appropriations, and claimed
that there was no such right on the part
Of the President. II the President had
that power It would be the concession OF
every principle Tor which the Anglo
Saxon race had struggled from the time
Of Charles the 1st 10 the present time,
In support Of his position Mr.. Hewitt
cited the imposition Of the ship money
tax by Charles the Isl; the rebellion Of
John Hampton and others; the bill OF
rights under William the Sd, and tho
declaration Of Judge Story that the con.
troll OF the people over the standing army
was absolute BY reason Of the power Of
the House OF Representatives 10 direct
appropriations.
Mr.. Garfield replied that the House
would compare the candor Of the letter,
just received from the Secretary Of War,
with that Of Mr.. Hewitt, in such way as
would not be unfayorable TO the secre.
tary. He wished to know II the gentle.
men thought that the President should
have dissolved the army because there
had been no appropriation made, or that
the army should be allowed TO melt away
by death and desertion until it should
become too inefficient to protect the
frontier. The whole regular army bill
had been passed without q dollar of ap.
preparation. 1t stood entirely separate
from the appropriation bill. Congress
could refuse to appropriate money, but
the army would sill stand. Tho Law
fixed the number Of the army at $4,000
men. In the great pressure Of danger
on the Pacific coast the gallant men had
gone TO the army headquarters to assist
in protecting their homes against the
savSges, and had been told that there
being no appropriation they would have
10 trust Congress for their pay. This
means that the country has been sayed,
aud was Aaunted in the face Of the Secre.
tary Of War. He was impeachable for
high crimes and misdemeauors. He
(Garfeld) did not believe that the major.
ity OF the gentlemen on the Democratic
side Of the House sympathized with that
kind Of talk. The country would set it
down as being made for the purpose Of
throwing obloquy on the gallant army,
which had done so much to save the
country from great perilH. 1t was as
uukind Us it was unpatriotic and cruel
10 the army. Congress might, OF course,
refuse TO pay these 1000 men, who had
been recruited, but the country would
then know whether Congress was the
enemy OF the army.
Mr.. Conger said that the country knew
the officers assailed; they needed no dc.
Tense.
Mr., Banning held that il the officers
aud men Of the army were without their
pay It was because the President had not
called Congress together before the end
Of the fiscal year as under the Constitu.
tion he should have done. He would
vote Tor the present bill, but not before
putting on record his opposition TO the
man who had violated ihe Constitution
by failing to call Congress together be.
fore the frat Of July last.
Mr.. Dunnell felt bound, he said, when
be heard the word "concealmentn ap.
piled 10 the Secretary Of War to vindi.
cate that official. No truer man than
Geo. McCrary was connected with the
government; a more honest man had
never been connected with the govern.
nent. Concealment was not part Of his
nature. BE was eminently q Just, fair
md honorable man. In conclusion Mr..
0unnell criticised the bill as magnify.
log too much the demands Of the Texas
frontier and bsliltling the wants Of the
Indian frontier.
The discussion closed and the bill
passed without division.
A large number Of bills were then in
Irodueed and referred, including bills to
amend the laws 10 relation to third class
matter; the existing bank lava;
designating the first Monday in January
rs the time for the meeting Of Congress;
TO reduce the number ot military cadets,
and for the payment Of all cotton seized
alter the 2oth Of May, 1906. Also to re.
tund the tax on raw cotton collected from
1868 to 1868.
By Mr. Hunter: To prohibit, by Con.
atitutional amendment the payment OF
all claims arising out Of the late rebel.
lion.
By Mr.. Buckner For the examination
Of the claims Of Missouri against the
United States; also, to prohibit the sale
Of policy OF lottery tickets in the District
Of Columbia.
By Mr.. Phillips: For the payment Of
import duties In legal.tender notes as
soon as they are quoted at par with the
coin ol the United States.
Many bills were also introduced and
referred for .hc.improvement Of harbors,
rivers, etc.
Mr.. Springer offered u resolution call.
log on the Secretary Of State for informa.
lion as to the indemnity by tho Spanish
Government on account Of the execution
Of Gen. Ryan and others, in Cuba, 10
November, 1875. Adopted.
The House then adjourned.