The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-12-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Political influence Of West Point
n lively Debate I'm the Senate
appointment of censussuper-
yisOrs, etc, etc.
[From Our Regular Correspondent. /

passed with merely nominal reduc.
ton from last years appropriation
Notwithstanding the fact that the
rank Of our miniature army is out Of
all proportion to It's file; there is to
be no surcease Of the gorge with
which West Point has for years over
stocked its official corps. Few peo-
pie appreciate the peculiar political
influence of West Point The Eng
lish taunt our Republicanism with
tho remark that we too have a peer
age Of Judges and Honorables. But
the most potent and aristocratic peer
age is that which traces its ancestry
to West Point and the Naval Acade-
my. The cadets appointed by Mem
bers Of Congress, salaried from the
day of their naturalization tothe day
of their death, evince theirgtatitude
and wise providence by marrying
Congressmen's sisters, cousins and
aunts, thus securing influence which
means a sccurer hold on the public
treasury. Washington is the para
disc of the army and Navy officer
They masquerade in citizens clothes
and few realize what hosts of them
are here. Their rank, their educa-
ton, their accomplishments in all
arts-except those of war and navi-
gation-endear them to society and
facilitate those martial relations
which have been burdened the coun-
try with sinecures and robbed Con.
gress of its independence.
In the Senate yesterday there was
u lively debate on the resolution of
Mr.. Voorhees, calling for the appoint
ment Of a committee to investigate
the cause of the exodus Of negroes
from North Carolina to Indiana and
Mr.. WINDOWS proposed amendment
instructing the committee, in case
they should find the cause to be cruel
and unjust treatment Of the negroes
by their white fellow-citizens, to re-
port to Congress what steps should
be taken to secure them in the free
exercise Of their political rights, and
whether territory should not be set
apart for their exclusive use. The
debate, though animated from first
to last, was moderate in tone, and
characterized by becoming courtesy
and dignity on beth sides.
Congress adjourns to-day for the
holidays, having accomplished much
! in the,way of appropriations, On
Friday last the House passed the
Notifications and Pensions Appro-
priation Bills, the latter calling for
s32,4Q,O00. During the week Mr..
Warner has asked for information as
to what came of the bi-mctallic mis-
sion to the governments of Europe,
for which $4,000 was appropriated;
and Mr.. Morrill, for the effect on the
revenue of the repeal of the duties
on tea and coffee. Resolutions have
been introduced expressing sympa-
thy with tho Irish Nationalist in
their efforts for equal laws and self
government, and the hopo that they
may soon become owners of tho soil
they cultivated; and speeches have
been made over petitions for enrich.
ing the soldiers and sailors of the
civil war by the difference between
the gold value of the grccnbacks in
which they were paid and their nom
inal value.
The President has deeidsd 10 ap'
point an equal number Of Democrat
ic and Republican supervisors of the
census of each State. This decision
gives some dissatisfaction in Repub-
lican circles, and the President has
been urged to make all such appoint
ments from his own political party.
He, however, declines to do so, on
the ground that the law, as it now
stands, would not be fairly admins
tered if he appointed only Republi-
cans. c. A. s.
More Rebel Outrages.
The Rebel Brigadiers committed
two "outrages" in the House of Rep