The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-14
Interesting Discussion of the Southern
Relief Bill.

encountered unexpected opposition yesterday
in the House of Representatives Mr.. Fer
nando Wood, of New York, opposed the bill
for two reasons-First, because he was OPP
posed to the distribution of aims by the Gov
ernment; and secondly, because he was salts
fed from recent observation in that region
that there ,oas no such destution there as required
this measure.
The second reason adduced by Mr.. Wood
throws discredit upon the entire movements
for Southern relief, by denying that the desti-
tuition is as great as is represented. This
denial is based upon his own observation in
that region Mr.. Wood added that the people
there required nothing from the North except
protection for their civil rights and Northern
capital to develop their industry.
MIR. Wood certainly assumes a grave re-
sponsibility in thus discrediting all the efforts
that are being made for Southern relief.
''Cvil rights" are very good things in their
way, but they will not put food in the mouths
of starving people. However, according to
Mr.. Woods statement, there is no destitution
there requiring relief from the North.
Mr.. Chanler, another Democratic member
from New York, denounced the measure as
being designed not to aid the poor people of
the South, but to keep up the Freedmens
Bureau. He characterized it as a black wolf
in sleeps clothing, and as...purely political
measure, conceived in no good spirit We do
not see how the appropriation Of money to
buy food for the starving is political
measure" unless, as it would do in this case,
it would serve to disabuse the minds of the
Southern people of the false idea which so
many of them entertain, that the Republican
majority in Congress is actuated towards them
by feelings of malevolence. Such political
measure" as that would certainly be highly
desirable.
Mr.. Boyer, Democrat, of this State, admin
istered a very deserved rebuke to Messrs.
Wood and Chanler. He told them that if they
objected to the Freedmen's Bureau as means
of distribution, it should be recOllected that
that was the best available means at hand for
that purpose. If more money were required,
he would vote for it. If this measure was not
passed, he did not wish to hear any more re-
solutions of sympathy for the people of Ireland
from the gentleman from New York (Mr.
WOod) or anybody else.
After sSme personal sparring between
Messrs. Chanler and Boyer, General Ben
Butler, of Massachusetts, moved as a substi-
tute for the bill that the proposed apRropra-
ton of one million dollars be expended under
the direction of the Secretary of War, in re-
heving the widows and children of Union sol
diers starved to death in the Rebel prisons Of
Andersonville Salisbury, Libby, Millen, and
Belle Isle.
The General called attention to the fact that
he had supplied for many months in New
Orleans food to the starving wives and chill
dren of Rebel soldiers, but in order to do so he
had not drawn a dollar from the Government,
but had taxed the rich of the South to feed
the poor of the South, and he was still willing
to 90 as far as the farthest in that direction
He referred to the recent appropriation by
the Mississippi Legislature of $40, 900 for the
defense of Jefferson Davis in trial thai
would never take place.
The ladies of Texas had recently sold a large
quantity of Rebel uniforms, and instead o
devoting the proceeds to feeding the poor il
their midst, had sent the amount as an endow
ment to the college presided over by Robert /
Lee. He thought the pair of game chicken
lately presented to Robert E. Leefhad bette
have been cooked for some of the starving
children about whom gentlemen were so anx
ious. He wished to let the the people Of til
South know that, so long as they followed tn
men who had led them to destruction de
struction could only be the result.
General Logan followed in the same strain
while Messrs. Bingham and Randall supporte
the bill.
Mr.. CObum, of Indiana, supported Genera
Buffers substitute, and mentioned as a reaso
for his position that out of a cavalry compan
raised in his district, and known as tn
COburn Company, twenty-four We're starve
to death at Andersonville; and that out
one hundred and fifty-six men of the san
regiment who were captured when Meade fe
back at Centrevile, one hundred and fort
two were starved to death at Andersonvill
Among the number was his youngest so
who suffered the tOrments of the damned
twenty months at Andersonville, while i
eldest son fell at the head Of his regiment wi
Sheridan, near Richmond.
The effect of the discussion was so danagil
to the bill that its friends feared to press it
vote, and the House adjourned witho
action upon it.
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