Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1878-03-07
Our Washington Letter

Mr.. Hayes did not return the
silver bill to the House yestcr-
day, as was expected, and his
final action on it is as much in
doubt as ever.
Senator Conkling yesterday,
assisted by Senator Blaine, al
tempted TO defeat small bit
of legislation which had evil
IDENTITY originated at tde White
House, but was unsuccessful.
There viii be good opportu:,l-
~ to quarrel when the nomina-
tion OF Beard, as Collector of
the port of Boston, comes be-
fore the Senate for confirmation.
This nomination seems to have
been made il defiance of every
rule OF civil service reform.
The fact that Ben. Butler is the
friend OF the man displaced,
however, will probably secure
Beads confirmation.
The great proportion of deaths
of coloIcd people TO population
i'll this District, were shown in
This correspondence last sum-
MGR. That colder weather docs
not work Il favorable change is
shown by later reports of the
Boar! OF Health. In Noycm-
Der The colorcd people died at
the rate of thirty per thousand
per anuum; Tie whites at the
rate OF sixteen per thousand.
In ID, cember, at the rate of
thirty-eight colored TO sixteen
white. The month of January
shows about TIE same rate as
NovemI or. These reports show
that the disproportion of deaths
between the races is greatest
among those under five years
of age and decreases as they
grow older, and that after reach
ing thirty years the negro has
as good a chance Of life here as
the white man.
The bill to pension all sur
viving soldiers Of the Mexican
War, and the widows Of those
who have died, was yesterday
again discussed in the House.
4 vote will be reached whencv-
cr the subject is up again. The
friends OF the bill have no doubt
Of its passage, ard yesterday
allowed its opponents all the
time that was set apart for its
consideration. The only OBJ
jections made yesterday were
on the grounds that the country
is now not in condition to pay
the money. There was yester-
day reported to the House from
the Military Committee, a bill
authorizing the re-opening Of
the case Of an officer who was
courtmartialcd and dismissed
The service in 1864. tits found,
on denomination of the case,
that the finding and the SEN
tcnce Of the courtmartial should
be set aside, then the officer
may DE on the retired list of The
army in his old rank, but shall
not draw pay. This is perhaps
the most illogical and in every
way absurd bill that ever origi-
mated anywhere. IF there is
doubt Of the Of officers guilt.
the country can afford TO give
him a ci."ncc 10 vindicate him.
self, and The re-opening of the
case will give hin. that chance.
If ne succeeds he shol:h have
such recognition as will ~ &
declaration On the part of tie
GovcInment, of his innocence.
To recognize him as an officer.
and then brand him AS unworthy
OF receiving what other officers
receive, is but to publish and
perpctuatc his infamy by legis-
station. Dr. Hammond. former
ly Surgcon-Gencral of the az
my, Is the officer. His case is
like that Of ten thousand other
officers who believe that inius-
lice was done them by hasty
courtmartial, and all of whom
are as much entitled 10 re-
hearing as DR.. II. is. If any
are TO have a chance give all a
chance. Special legislation like
that proposed, will lead to all
sorts of inconsistency and in
justice. Open the the doors to.
all if TO any.
A few years ago Senator
Hamlin introduced bill, which
was never passed, for the con-
struc.ion OF a double track rail-
road by Government, from Chi
cago TO the Atlantic coast, the
road to be used exclusively for
the conveyance Of freight, and
the rates to be very low. The
idea Of the bill was to get the
products of the West to the
scaboard at much less than the
cost upon other roads. The
multiplicity Of schemes now be-
ing presented for Government
aid, it is said, have induced Sen
ator Hamlin TO consider the