The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-09-22

war requesting that no appropriation be made.
In SUPPORT of his position the secretary stated
that Cen. Sheridan had said that Il military de-
pot ut San AntOnSo would be merely place
for cUbwcbS. Gen. Hancock seemed to think
that all cndraVOrs to secure the appropriation
would be futile. lIe told Col. Williams that he
might as well return home as congress rarely
passed Il bill against the recommendation OF
any of the cabinet officers. He said
he had seen the Secretary Of War and did not
think anything could be accomplished by see
ing him again. Col. Williams replied that he
would stay and do what he could: Hancock
could do us he pleased. Then he started to
work liaN ing asccrtained that the Quarter,
master General was favorably disposed toward
the measure he wrote to him n letter in which
he set fort b the advantages of san Antonio as
site for depot and called attention to the fact
that ST. Louis and New Orleans were too far
from the Mexican border. In response tho
QuartcrmGstcr General wrote as favOraby rs
he could of the plan and sent his letter to Col.
Williams ACCOMPANIED by mans and carefully
compiled; statistics. The whole received the
appreciation OF Gen. w. r.. Sherman. Armed
with it Col Williams sought an audience with
the Secretary Of Var. \ former rebel and now
a Democrat, ne met with an ungraciOus rccep-
ton. The secretary refused to listen to him
and intimatcd that the document would be
tilcdaway in some receptacle for vaucless mat
ter. Rebutfcd though he WaSCOl. Williams was
not discouraged. He discontinued urging the
making OF an appropriation and spent his time
acquiring friends. Al last, near the close of
the session, when the Sandry civil bill was
about to be passed from the house to the senate
Williams persuaded Senator Morgan Hamil-
ton to submit two amendments, one appropriate
OO,ON fora military telegraph and the other
100000 for military depot. The amendments
were considered by committee of the Senate
and recommended for passage. The Senate
did pass them. AS the end OF the session was
very near, the amendments, when they were
sent to the House. were ut once given in charge
of Ia cNnmittc of conference. At this junuturo'
Col. Williams requested ten. Hancock to as
certain If there was any serious objection to
the measures. and if there was, to have the
military telegraph proposition dropped in or
der to facilitate favorable action with the
other. The proposed military telegraph ap-
preparation, Col. Williams knew, could be
passed the next session. as it was. Gen. Han
cock did as requested and the bin appropriate
ing SlOO,C0O for the depot became a law Yet
there was more difficulty encountered. The
4crctary of War had been and was still
strongly opposed to the measure. Now, in
fact his opposition seemed greater than before.
He declared he would never draw rcquiStiOn
on the treasury for the appropriation and
would prevent the building of the depot. He
did not draw d rcquisitiOn that year, During
the next ne endeavOred to render the law u
a nullity by securing the passage of bill enl-
towering him to use the money apprOpri-
ated for the depot as he might, see
fit, anywhere in the state of Texas
bill Col. Williams made argument before the
| military committee. The bill, was rejected
During the same session, despite the continued
opposition of the secretary of war, Col. Will
| liams. unaided by Gen. John Hancock, succeed
| ed in having the term of the appropriation ex-
| tended to prevent it from lapsing. During the
succeeding year the asccndancy of the Demo-
Gratis in Congress had such marked effect on
| the Secretary of War that he withdrew what
was practically veto to an act of Congress,
and the money was used for the purpose for
which il was appropriated.
Such is the hitherto unwrittcn history OF
three events of great Importance to the state
of Texas and the nation. If there ne alIght in
il thai reflects uncommon credit on Gen. John
HanC eek let him claim that credit. The IIGIII
will not rob him Of that little which he may
claim.