Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-03-29
A Spicy Debate.

poor of the rebel States. We quote as follows
| Gen. Butler took the floor, and demonstrated |
by the official reports Of the Freedmen's Bureau
that its charities had been more beautifully be-
slowed on the whites than on the blacks at the
South II was now proposed to take from the
loyal blacks aid 10 be bestowed upon rebels who
were in idleness, lounging about groceries,
1t was proposed to tax the hated "mnd-sills" Of
the North to support in whisky drinking idleness
the arstoeracy Of the South Gentlemen say
that the people of the South are starving. He
accepted the fact The gentleman from Vermont,
(Mr. Woodbridge) said the other day that this
was the work of the Lord and quoted, Ven
geance is mine, will repay, saith the Lord' He
tGen. Buter) accepted the quotation and the
fact II would seem lhat'a special providence had
sent this famine to Richmond, and Andersonville,
and Milledgevie in order that the people there
might appreciate the pangs Of starvation which
they had been instrumental in infcting upon
Union prisoners.
Mr.. Spaulding advocated the passage of the
bill at length, and Gen. Logan opposed it, assert
ing that he represented the opinions of the Union
soldiers. tt
This Mr. Woodbridge Misunderstanding if men
who had been soldiers expressed such sentiments
they were deficient in the first principle that dis.
tinguished the brave man from the coward.
Gen. Logan replied that he could not see what
bravery and soldierly conduct had to do with the
defeat of this bill Remarks relative to bravery
or cowardice did not come with a good grace
from one who had never put his bravery to the
test. The soldiers had passed the resolutions re-
ferred to because they did not believe Congress
had right 10 pass the bill, and the question of
soldierly conduct was not considered by them. If
it was proposed to aid all the poor of the country,
he tLogan) would introduce bill to relieve those
in the valley of the Ohio and Mississippi who had
suffered by reason of the recent freshet The
same principle would apply in one case the
other
Gen. Butler also replied to the remarks of Mr.
Woodbridge who had declared day or two since
that he tGen Butler) was no statesman He was
very sorry for the fact, He probably would have
been statesman if he had been fortunate enough
TO have scared an election to the seth Congress
Mr.. Woodbridge said no such thing ant
made no such charges, and the gentleman from
Massachusetts knows it." tSensation)
Gen. Butler Then the gentleman says I an
l
Gen. Butler said if be had the approval of tn,
soldiers who had periled their lives for The Union
he did not fear the disapproval of gentlemen wht
had worn out the cushioned seats of this Hous'
during the war;
Mr.. Bingham moved that the Committee ris
for the purpose of terminating debate.
Gen Butler said that motion was another spec
linen of Mr.. Bingham's fairness on this question
!, Mr.. Bingham said that the gentleman had nj
3 right to impugn his motives, to impute unfair
ness to him.
Mr. Butler said he withdrew all question o
fairness, and would call it unfairness on the par
: Of the gentleman.
Y Gen Schenck argued that the wealthy people 0
!. the South should be taxed TO support the poor
! and he sent 10 the Clerks desk and had read al
:. extract from article written by Admira
Semmes, wherein the latter complained that th
: young of the South refused to labor when ther
r was opportunity. When he (Schenck) was ii
q command of military department the rebels il
MARYLAND were in the habit of burning down the
property of Union men, and this continued
: until assessments made to pay for the prop
. ery thus destroyed, when the burning stopped
He thought ii would have good effect in thi
case to tax the wealthy for the support of the poor
. Mr. Miller of Pennsylvania moved an amend
ment that $500 Of the appropriation be set asid
for the purchase of garden seeds; but Mr.. Steven
remarked in his dry way that it would be better t
: send gardens already cultivated down South, AM
: the amendment was laughed down.
:. Other amendments were offered but they wer
:. voted down under the lead of Mr.. Bingham
!. When one of them Combining the expenditure t
: destitute and helpless persons), was being debate
General Butler took the floor and said that o
. this question he was in favor of the President
!, policy. He then sent to the Clerks desk and ha
/, read the proclamation of Mr.. johnson when GOV
ernor of Tennessee, assessing tax upon III
wealthy citizens of Nashville for the support of I'll
poor. He Gen. Butler), would admonish the gentle
man from Ohio not to 60 against the policy of III
, President especially as he had gone over TO tn
other sde--uot only bodily but also in the spiri
j Mr.. johnson wanted 10 tax the rich sccessionist
to feed the poor, and he General Buter), wshe'
to do the same thing lie would further ask til
: other side of the House how they could possibl
. vote for this measure, so long as the money wa
: to be expended by the, to them great bagbear-
the negro bureau.
Mr. Bingham replied that such remarks cam
with bad grace from gentleman who had vote
fifty times in Convention for the arch traitor of tn
rebellion for President to cast imputations on til
Y motives Of others. For one he repealed with scor
Y and contempt any such insinuations as had bee
. made, whether they came from the heir of For
Fisher taken or of the heir of Fort Fisher no
taken,
0 This pleased the Democrats who applauded
4 and amid some confusion Mr.. Blaine, who il
the chair declared that the hour for terminating tn
4. debate had arrived
Gen. Bu,ler-pointing to the clock, which de
noted Is minutes past three that as he un
), derstood the order of the House debate was t
= close at SIS. The gentleman from Ohio had bee
!. permitted to exceed this time, and he asked tn
a same privilege.
The Chair decided that debate closed, an
: asked Gen Butler who remained standing, if h
l. rose to question of order.
Can Pm said that he did NOT nd r1rn