Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-12-21
Washington City Gossip.


the rebellion, and further contemplated the
removal of the remains of the Union sol
diers buried there Mr.. Edmunds opposed
the introduction Of the resolutions, remark
ing that the proposition TO remove the bod
les of our soldiers from where they are
now reposing for the purpose Of restoring
the estate to its rebel owner, was monstrous,
Mr. McCreery spoke of General Thomas
and General Lee, both Firginians. both
prominent actors in the war, and both dying
within short time Of each other. The
former adhered to the flag of the Union,
while the latter embarked in the cause ofthe
Confederacy. He then pronounced orief
eulogy on General Lee, the substance OF
which j. thus stated in Congressional re,
port
He wa. above all vice Hi. character
was pure and spotless, and his name will be
enshrined in he hearts of the American
people. He should say nothing of the
right of secession or the war. General Lee
joined the people among whom he was born,
just as you joined those among whom you
were born. He should not follow him in
his career, but was he not a hero, gentle
man and christian? Brill-a as was his
military career, the closing scene OF his lie
added matchless lustre to his fame.
He concluded his remarks by asking that
the home of Gen. Lees father be restored
to his widow. The remarks Of the Ken
tucky Senator elected. some sharp rejoinders,
the pith of which is contained in the fol
lowing brief report:
Mr.. Edmunds did not intend to dignity
this occasion, as he supposed the object OF
the Senator was attained. But this man
whom the Senator had eulogiz.i had com
,nitted the crime of treason against more OPP
porsunities for knowing better than any
other man. He was not the child of Fir-
ginia, but of the pcople-the people who
had educated him and fed him. He lived
at this capital, but when this capital was
threatened he not only turned his back on
it but pointed his cannon toward 1t. For
himself Mr. Edmundsl, he thought 1t bet
ter for Gen. Lee had he been taken of IN
his youth than in his manhood.
Mr.. Trumgu!l regretted that the Senator
(Mr McCrecry) had done this thing, but
he opposed the denying Of leave TO the SEN
ator to bring in = bill. He thought 1t would
be bad precedent to set.
Mr. Sumner said he had been denied
leave 70 bring in bill abolishing 1.-The fugi-
tive slave law.
The Vice President said there had been
frc preccdents for denying leave to bring
in a bill.
Mr.. Morton desired to express his protest
against the consideration OF this resolution
by the Senate of the United States. He
ha6 heard what he never expected to hear,
an eulogy of General Lee in the American
Senate The cnormI,y of his crime cannot
he concealed by strewing flowers of rhetoric
over his grave.
Mr.. Saulsbury was in favor Of the resolu-
ton for the restoration of the Arlington es-
tate to Mrs X. +. Lee, with the exception
of that portion which looked to the reno
val Of the bones Of those who were buried
there.
The debate was continued at considerable
length, the questi IN heIug on the motion of
Dir. Edmunds, that the resolution be not
received
Mr.. Nye said that if General Lee was
hero SO was Benedict Arnold; yet what
would have been thought of the man who
proposed 70 restore to Benedict Arnold his
property in Connecticut. He considered
this resolution not only insult to the
Senate, but as an insult to himself.
Mr. Flanagan thought that lee Chris
ti:nity ceased when he laid down the flag OF
the Union ard took up that of the rebel
hon.
Mr. Sumner agreed vita Mr. Nye that
the graves at Arlington were as sacred as
the Constitution itself.
Mr. McCreery then desired to withdraw
hi. resolution, bat Mr. Edmunds objected
The Senate then refused to receive the
resolution by vote of ayes 4, nays 5i, even
the Democracy refusing to vote for Nc
Crcerys monstrous proposition.
Senator Morton has introduced bill,
which provides that all elections under fed
eral laws for officers Of the United States,
whether for president and vice president or
members of congress, shall be by ballot. So
general has this mode of election become to
this country that Senator Trumbull desired
to know the application of the proposed
law, and was informed that in Kentucky
the elections were still rird roce and not by
ballot. Tra goce was peculiarly a southern
institution, which had its origin in the de-
sire of the slare-o1ning classes to maintain
their control over the poor whites who, un-
der the ric1 roee system, could exercise no
powerful neighbors permitted. By the gem
cral upheaval caused by the rebellion the
rira roce system of voting has probably
heen overturned in all the southern states
which actually secceeded. and the ballot
substituted instead. Kentucky, however,
is the least progressive of all the states.
Congress, under the constitution, has
right to determine how elections for mem
bers of congress and of electors for presi
dent and vice president shall be conducted
and if Kentucky, in the management of
her state affairs, chooses to maintain a sys-
tenn of voting which is not consonant with
freedom in elections, congress should insist
that her national duties, relating to the
franchise, shall be performed in a manner
most consonant with American principles
and the American system
In the House bill was introduced by Mr.
Kelley to provide for the REDEMPTION of
copper and token coins
A resolution offered by Mr. Winchester.
re luesting the Secretary of the Treasury