The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-14
NVTH CONGRESS- Second Session.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1878.

| Mr.. Matthews, OF Ohio, called up the mo-
ton submitted by him yesterday to refer
the communication Of the Secretary OF the
Interior in regard to timber depredations to
! the Committee on Public Lands and have it
printed in the Record. He said he asked to
have the document printed in the Record as
matter OF justice. The Department from
| which it emanated had been attacked in the
Senate yesterday.
Mr.. Blaine said it was asking an eXtraor-
binary privilege to have the document so
printed.
printing OF the document as setting bad
precedent, and not because the contents OF
# were so very creditable to its author that
he feared them.
After some further debate MIR. Matthews
read the reply Of the Secretary OF the lnte-
rior as part OF his remarks.
Mr Blaine spoke at length OF the action
OF the Secretary of the Interior, and during
his remarks said the Secretary did not hap
pen to be q native of this country. He could
not help that, and he (Mr. Blaine) did not
mention it as reproach to him. He was
born in the Kingdom Of Prussia, which was
$4,000 square miles less in extent than Mon
tana, and the Secretary perhaps, with in
stinct OF his boyhood, applied the land laws
of Prussia to Montana, and not the land
laws which had been used in settling the
United States.
| MIR. Blaine argued that The Secretary OF
the Interior forgot the magnitude OF our
country, although he was charged with the
administration of that department, which
should make him study it carefully, and
that the one dollar per acre stampage ex.
acted by him from the people OF Montana
was excessive. The woodland within sight
of the spire Of Trinity, Of New York city,
would not bring the stampage which the
Secretary OF the Interior demanded OF
the people OF Montana. 1t was thing
conceded by the Government that the
hardy pioneer who went forward to settle
the country should have the water, the air,
and the wood free. Referring to the aboll-
ton of the iuformer'S system in the customs
service. abolished few years ago, he spoke
Of the course Of the Secretary OF the Int
rior, then a member OF the Senate, and said
he Waxed wroth because the rich importer
was interfered with by detectives, but now
the lonely settler in Montana could be Wis
tied by spies and pimps. Pending discus
sion the subject was laid aside.
The West Point appropriation bill was
then taken up, and the several amendments
of the Committee on Appropriations were
agreed to.
Mr.. Blaine submitted an amendment that
the ten cadets appointed at large shall IN all
cases be taken from among the descendants
OF those who have served in. the army and
navy of the United States.
Mr.. Sargent thought it was not right to
amend the bill so as to cut off from ap-
pointment of cadets ut large those OF at least
one half OF the States Of the Union (refer.
ring to the southern States). He knew the
Senator from Maine did not mean TO do
that, but the amendment would have that
effect.
| Mr.. Blaine SAID he bad no such intention,
and he did not think the amendment would
i have such effect. He did not bring up the
question about Discrimination against one
| half OF the people of this country. It was
4 brought up by the Senator from California
LII he insisted upon that issue, then BIC
4 fBiaine) would say all right; let him take it
4 Those who fought for the Union deserved
4 the appointments.
& Mr.. Sargent said he tBlalne} could make
4 nothing at his expense by that kind Of ar.
q gument. His (sargent's) record for loyalty
to the Union and devotion to the Republl
/ can party was as good and as well known
q as that OF the Senator from Maine. He
4 kindly suggested that the amendment dis
4 eliminated against one hall Of the people
Il OF the country, and the Senator elaine
! need not talk to him in that style.
Mr.. Blame said that he tSargcntl ke ut in
~