Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-12-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Political influence OF West POInt-A
Lively Debate In the Senase-AP-
POlntment OfCensus sSuPerVIsOrs,ete.

Political influence OF West POInt-A
Lively Debate In the Senase-AP-
pOIntment OfCensus Supervisors, etc.
The military academy bill was passed
with a merely nominal reduction from last
years appropriations. Notwithstanding
the fact that the rank of our miniture army
is out of all proportion TO its file, there is
to be no surcease of the gorge with which
West Point has for years overstoeked its
official corps. Few people appreciate the
peculiar political influence Of West Point.
The English taunt our Republicanism with
the remark that we too have a peersge Of
Judges and Honorables. But the most po-
tent and sristoeratie peersge is that which
traces its ancestry to West Point and the
Naval Academy. The cadets, appointed
by members of Congress, salaried from the
day of their matrieulation to the day of
their death, evince their gratitude and wise
providence by marrying CongresSmen's sis
tiers, cousins and aunts, thus securing in
fiuence which means a seeurer hold on the
public treasury. Washington is the para
disc of the army and navy officer. They
masquerade in citizens clothes and few re-
alize what hosts of them are here. Their
rank, their education, their accomplish
ments in all arts-except those of war and
navigation-endear them to society and
facilitate those martial relations which
have burdened the country with sineeures
and robbed Congress of its independence.
In the Senate yesterday there was live
ly debate on the resolution of Mr.. VOORHEES,
calling for the appointment 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 IN
Just treatment of the negroes by their white
fellOw-eitizens, to report to Congress what
steps should be taken to secure them in the
free exercise of their political rights, and
whether a 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 both sides.
Congress adjourns to-day for the holidays,
having accomplished much in the way of
appropriations. On Friday last the House
passed the Fortifcations and Pensions Ap-
preparation Bills, the latter calling for
$32, 404 009. During the week Mr.. War
ner has asked for information as to what
came of the bi-metalic mission to the gov
ernments 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 sympathy with
the Irish Nationalist in their efforts for
eqnsl laws and self-government, and the
hope that they may soon become owners of
the soil they cultivate; and speeches have
been made over petitions for enriching the
soldiers and sailors of the civil war by the
difference between the gold value of the
greenbacks in which they were paid and
their nominal value.
The President has decided to appoint an
equal number of Democratic and Repub-
lican supervisors of the census of each
Stale. This decision gives some dissatis-
faction in Republican circles, and the
President has been urged to make all such
appointments from his own political party.
He, however, declines to do so, on the
grounds that the law, as it now stands,
would not be fairly administered If he ap-
pointed only Republicans.
Washington, b. C. Dec. 10, 1879.