The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-05-27

until recently, when Il was consolidated
with the Marquette office. Nearly all
of the valuable public land in Michigan
has been settled and put under cultiva-
ton long since Gradually the land Of
fees In all Of the western and north
western states are being closed The
time has practically gone by for sing
Ing the once popular song; "Uncle Sam
is Rich Enough to Give Us All a
Farm" The star OF empire has gone
westward, and there is no longer an
undeyeloped frontier.
Congressman i'm the Army.
The question whether senators and
representatives who accept commissions
In the army shall retain their positions
in congress has lately been agitated
here great deal. The constitution
provides that civilian and military Of
fees shall not be held at the same time.
But the wording of the constitution is
capable OF more than one construction.
TWO or three representatives of the
house In former years have forfeited
their seats for holding commissions in
the army. The first of these was John
+. van Ness, whose name has become
historic In the District of Columbia.
He was elected to congress from what
was apparently the Eighth New York
district in 1902. The termination Of his
career in congress is thus referred to
In Ben Perley Poore's list Of members
or the house and senate: Forfeited
his seat Jan. II, 1903, he having ac-
cepted and exercised the office Of ma
1or of militia under authority of the
United States within the territory of
Columbia"
The next case was during the Mexi-
can war, and has been looked up by
Major General Joseph Wheeler Of Ala
bama, because 1T is thought to be parallel
to his own-that of Representative
Archibald Yell Of Arkansas in July,
1886. There is no evidence that Major
Yell resigned, but Mr.. Thomas w. New
ton was elected to fill the unexpired
term" Major Yell resisted this method
OF ousting him from legislative halls,
and contested election case was the
result Hon. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine,
afterwards vice president Of the United
States, was chairman Of the elections
committee that reported on the contest.
Every Member a Colonel.
In his report Mr.. Hamlin made the
supposition that every member Of the
house was a colonel. If such a thing
should happen, Mr.. Hamlin argued, the
president, who is commander-in-ch chief
Of the army, could appear on the floor
and order each member to return to
duty at once, under penalty
for disobedience of orders. Under such
Mr.. Hamlin thought the
lower branch Of the legislative depart
ment of the government would have no
Independent existence whatever. Along
the same line he argued that a MEM
Der of the house, holding a commits
sion in the army, could not freely crit
sise the policy of the executive with
put danger of having to answer for
speaking unexpectedly of his COM
The house voted to
lnseat Major Yell, and while that gen.
tleman served his country on the field
If battle. Mr.. Newton served in a legis-
alive capacity
vallandigham's Resolutions.
Quite different treatment was shown |
he members of the house who held |
in the army at the begin |
ling of the civil war. The records of |
he Thirty congress show that |
IN July u. 1861, Representative VAL !
andigham of Ohio offered resolutions |
n the house inquiring into the quail /
lcations of several members to retain |
Ecir seats. The resolutions recited that |
he following members of the house
veSa reported to be holding army COM
Mss 20: Representative Gilman
derston OF I,xeter, n. H.; James E.
<err'Can of the Fifteenth New York
district Edward Mcpherson of Gettys-
~, r. Charles j. Biddle Of Phila-
e.l..i6, a.. ~umuel r. Curtis of Iowa.
There was only brief debate on Mr..
1clandi~ !,ara's resolutions, but some
litter things were said, Representative
)Wen Lovejoy, the abolitionist, sug-
esting that Mr.. Vallandigham could
veil examine into the validity of his
wn credentials. Mr.. Vallandigham re-
orted warmly that he would have no
with that gentleman on the
oor but If he wanted a controversy
\ any other place, he had only to ask
or it, He said he was assured of his
wn qualifications, but intimated that
e was fully prepared to follow the
ag of the country. Some of the gen.
emen at whom the resolutions were
lined spoke in their own behalf to the
fleet that they held their commissions
rom the governors of the states. Rep
sentative Curtis of Iowa declared
hat he was state officer, who had
cen loaned" for service in the United
tates army. Representative Vallan-
igham made the point that these Off
ers were nevertheless paid by the
-nited States, and that they were in
aality officers of the United States
rmy.
Served Out Their Time.
Representative Kellogg of Illinois
loved to lay Mr.. Vallandigham's reso-
,tions on the table, and the motion
as carried-yeas 80, nays 81. Repre-
,ntative Curtis resigned Aug. fol-
wing, but, according to Ben Perley
GORE. the others served out their time
congress.
1t is said at the Capitol by men who
,member the war events there, that
pnator Baker of Oregon, who held a
,loneps commission in the California
,giment, retained his seat in the sem
te up to the time Of his tragic death
the battle of Balls Bluff and that his ,
neral took place in the senate cham
er. the body having been borne
trough the streets of the city on an
wagon.
Now is the time 20 prove the boasted
\ H. III o. iris-N and |