The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-12-28
Our Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec 25. 1877.
wish toput on record in your columns, so
that it may not be forgotten by your readers,
the substance of Senator Blaine's remarks at
st. Louis, when he passed through that city on
his way to Arkansas the other day. He said:
"The Southern people are not, in fact, recon-
ciled. They are playing policy, and their purpose
is to get possession of the government and rule
it as they did before the war; and then all the
established results of the war and reconstruction
would be set aside"
MIR. Blaine does not seem to understand that
this is government of the people, Tor the people
and by the people, and that no section or set of
men has any right to hold the government any
longer than their Plumbers or their ability secure
control in legal ways. He cannot rid himself
of the idea that the North, and not the whole
people, should carry on the government. He is
legitimate descendant Of the people who met
in convention and resolved
LIST. That the earth belongs to the Saints.
I'd. That we are the Saints.
The events of the last few years should have
taught him that vast majority of voters, out
side of few States, do not agree with him.
Mr.. Hayes, if we look at what are claimed to
be his good intentions, would at first seem to be
deserving of support from Southern men and
Democrats generally in his warfare against such
heresies. But upon reelection it will be seen
that he can make better fight without such
support than with it, and that the Democracy,
in undertaking to support him, may be drawn
INTO Inc support Ol measures anu pOltlcS Inat
are undemocratic, and into quarrels now I'M
thought of. Let as have peace.
The sending of General Thomas NJ. Vincent
to the Mexican border may have double signi.
iicance He is without question the most
efficient staff officer in the service, and better
posted in endless unwritten laws of the Army
Office than any other man. He has great sagaci-
| ty and GOODNESS, and was widely known in con
nection with matters preliminary 10 the Mexican
war of lS47. If the Administration were deter
mined to force n war with Mexico it could not
| do better than send Vincent there. The other
meaning given by some to this transfer is this.
| In his place in the War department Vincent has
stood like n rock in the way of all efforts by
| Congresses and Presidents, growing out of the
late war with Its enormous number OF volun-
ecr officers, to adopt different system of CON-
putting by leng, Ia ,fservice, The volunteer Cap.
tain who spent three months in raising his com
pany, naturally desires pay for that three months.
Under the rules prevailing in the regular army
he cannot get it. Vincent is the embodiment OF
the Army Regulations He fought against the
restoration of Runke. He saw in the restora-
ton of Drawer TO the Navy, after being out for
thirteen years, the destruction of the Navy. II
we conclude that the Administration desires to
give rehearing to Fitz John Porter, Buel, and
thousand Others, we can readily see that such
all intelligent and able piece of red tape ms this
would be in the way if still kept on duty at the
Department Hence, say some, he is sent away.
few years ago the enlistment of boys in the
Navy was authorized by law, they to be instruct.
ed in seamanship, &c. This was well in its way.
But an effort is soon to be made to extend the
system. This demands investigation. In our
Army and Navy the enlisted man has less chance
of being made an officer than the enlisted man
in the British, French, Prussan or Russian
Army or Navy. If it is designed to increase the
number of boys to be enlisted, and to make the
Navy fit place for citizens or the sons, let Con-
gress break down the bar that prevents merit
from receiving recognition in either the Army
or Navy. Let us not continue to be absurdly
more aristocratie in our Army and Navy than
Governments that have an excuse for aristocratic
learnings in such matters. SEMINOLE,