Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
Capital Sidelights

guidance In international affairs. Rep
reSentative r. Walton Moore of Viz
ginia, one of the outstanding students
OF governmental reforms. reminds us
that 'in the early days there were no
standing committees to handle foreign
business In either branch of Congress.
Prior to those committees being formed"
he points out. 1.-The messages of the
Presidents, so far as they touched upon
| foreign affairs, we're distributed among
various committees, or were turned over
| to special committees raised for the pur-
pose when particular matters required
consideration.
"It is with something Of pride, as
Virginian," he says, that I recall that
| In 1916, when the Senate committee on
| foreign relations, which has become so
powerful and influential, was establish
ed, that was done under the leadership
of one of the predecessors OF Gov. Byrd
in the Office of the chief executive OF
our commonwealth, James Barbour. who
was also Secretary OF War In the adj
ministration of President John Quincy
Adams and later Minister to England.
"And / believe that when In 1920 the
House committee on foreign affairs was
created, that was done under the lead
ership of another Virgintan, Represent
alive Hugh Nelson. Before that. be-
tween 1909 and 1870, there was House
special committee on foreign affairs.
I'm the period from 1909 until Mr..
Flood passed away there were 40 chair
men OF the special and standing House
committees, and Of those 40 chairmen,
6 OF whom were Virginians, but l
exceeded Mr.. Flood In length of service,
and that was Representative N. B.
Banks, who for while served as Speak
err of the House Next to him MIR. Flood
and Representative Archer OF Virginia,
who afterward became Senator. served
each for term of six years.
This committee, so far as the Office
of chairman is concerned, has had
peculiarly distinguished record. Let me
mention some of the very eminent states
men who have filled the craftsmanship.
There was Nathaniel Macon of North
Carolina, for time Speaker. afterward
member Of the Senate and It's presid-
ing officer, and known throughout the
country as one OF the most conspicuous
and trusted leaders OF his party.
Another was John c. Calhoun OF
South Carolina, Secretary Of War.
United States Senator and Vice Presi-
dent.
"Another--the memory of great men
sometimes fades out and they are for
gotten--was John Forsyth Of Georgia,
Senator. Secretary of State and Min
lister to Spain.
Another was the wonderful orator,
Edward Everett of Massachusetts,, Sec
rotary of State and also Minister to
Spain.
Another was Caleb Cushing of Mas
sachusetts, who was Attorney General.
and In many fields OF action Illustrated
his great capacity, his learning and his
! at,i9ify rarvtpo IN fha country
Another was very noted orator. who
In his day was constantly in the eye OF
the public. Thomas Corwin of Ohio, first
a Representative and then a Senator,
Secretary Of State and Minister to
Spain. j.
Kentucky, who served In the Senate and
as Attorney General"
~
Representative Robert Luce of Mas
sachusetts, chairman of the House COM
mittee on the Library, who fathered the
resolution providing for participation by
the Federal Government In the semi
centennial celebration next February Of
the capture by George Rogers Clark OF
Fort Sackville, at what Is now VIM
ccnnes, Ind. which eventually brought
into the Union what was known as the
Great Northwest Territory. has had so
many requests for a brief summary OF
Clark's heroic exploit that he has pre-
pared the following, which Is being sent
broadcast throughout the country:
"It was a great enterprise. boldly and
skiilfulIy planned, heroically executed.
CLARK. young Kentucky pioneer from
Virginia, conceived that the way to pro-
tect the infant settlements Of the Ohio
Valley. to win the favor Of menacing
Indians between the Ohio and the
Lakes. to Dust the British from the vast
region that had been yielded to them
by the French. and thus to remove the
menace from the rear that In the dark
est months in the Revolutionary War
threatened ominously the States strung
along the seaboard. was to strike the
enemy unexpectedly on the flank and
from behind. To that end In the Sum-
mer OF 1T7S, with force Of less than
| 200 men, he started downstream from
the Falls Of the Ohio. Leaving the river
near the mouth of the Tennessee, he
| marched overland and took Kaskaskta.
thriving French town near the Mis-
sissippi. and then Cahokia. farther up.
| near what Is now st. Louis. Next he
sent a detachment eastward to VIM
cennes, on what Is now the Indiana
| bank of the Wabash River. It yielded
| without resistance.
| when the news of this reached Col.
! Hamilton lieutenant governor OF the
| Western British possessions. with head
| quarters at Detroit, he marched at the
| head of a considerable force to recover
| the Illinois territory and had no trouble
| in overpowering the few men who were
garrisoning Fort Sackville at Vincennes.
| There he prepared to pass the Winter,
never dreaming that he might be at
| tackled at that time OF the year. Clark.
| however, frontiersman and fighter. paid
| no heed to the periiS of the season, and
early in February of 1779. with only
about 1870 men. started through the
rains ana mud of an Illinois Winter on
| his a,idaeeous march, It proved to be
| of nearly $40 miles, by reason OF de-
| tours TO avoid the areas deeply over
| flowed and to reach places where the
| swollen streams could be crossed. The
| desperate venture Is not euualed in
| American annals, nor surpassed by any
| in the recorded history OF any other
| land. For nearly three weeks they
! struggled through the mire. often wad-
| ing Sometimes up to their necks in the
| lev waters. For the last six days they
were virtually without food. Hamilton.
| completely taken by surprise. quickly
surrendered without the loss OF man
Clark thus gained possession Of the
| town and the fort, with the garrison
and colonel prisoners Of war.
| CLARK hoped to follow this up with the
| capture of Detroit. Circumstances frus-
| trated him. but the hold OF the British
| on the region had been so shaken that
thereafter such offensives as came from
! the Lakes were fruitless. and though In
| dian trouble continued, Clark's achieve
ment, by giving the Kentucky region Sc
curity enough to encourage the incom-
ing of many more settlers, had 80 In
creased the number OF fighting men and
the volume Of supplies as to make the
conquest permanent. BY the time OF
the treaty of peace American dominance
OF the Ohio Valley was so clear that
England made no persistent attempt TO
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