Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-12-19
Senator Summer and the Massacbu-
setts Legislature.

BosToN, Dec. 13.
The committee on federal relations
held meeting, to-day, to consider the
resolutions introduced, on leave, in the
House, Thursday, by Mr. Hoyt of Athol,
condemning the course of Senator Sum-
ner. in presenting a bill, in the United
States Senate, for the erasure of names
of battles with fellow citizens from the
army register and regimental colors.
Mr. Hoyt appeared in behalf of his
resolve, and presented Mr.. Summers
bill, which was introduced in the Ma
tional Senate, December ?. The bill
was laid upon the table and was now
pending in some form. The PROPOSE
ton was simply to erase from the flags
of the regular army, as the regimental
flags now contain, list of battles in which
they have engaged. If the principle
was right, it would be shame to keep
the names on the flags, in our own State
House. The proposition, in effect, con-
cerned every man who took part in the
war. The proposition was to reduce the
Union to the level of the Confederate
soldier. No other deduction could be
made from the bill. Mr.. Sumner was
elected by the Legislature, and this re-
solve was the only means the people had
of expressing their reputation of the
atrocious proposition. He offered it, in
no partizan spirit, but as a citizen and
an old soldier, and thought the Legisla-
lature would do itself credit in the pass
age of the resolution.
Mr.. HUT, member of the House from
Natick, followed inadvocacy of the reso-
luton, and said it originated with Col.
Hoyt and not, as had been charged, by
Gen. Butler. 1t was only beginning.
Adopt this and the erasure of tablets
and leveling of monuments would follow,
and such mutilated veterans as Sergeant
Plunkett must be put out of sight,
Mr.. Porter of Revere, concurred in
the sentiment of the resolution and had
been asked to present similar resolu-
ton himself. 1t presents a recurrence
of the same sentimens uttered by Mr..
Sumner in 1S45. The relations of those
who served IN the army were very strong.
They endured privations for meagre pay,
and had claims on the considerations of
the country, which no man who was not
in the army could appreciate. They vol
unteered and performed their duty from
a sense of right, and it was not for a
man like Charles Sumner, who had only
been a man of words, to say that these
memories should be thrown aside. The
Legislature of this State would be recre-
ant to the duty, if it failed to censure
this proposition from man who only
deserted war.
In reply to question from Mr.. Smith,
of the committee, Mr.. Porter said he
should never agree to have the Southern
flags in the National Capitol, though he
was willing they should cherish the MEM
ory of their brave men. Mr.. Porter
read an editorial from the Richmond En-
quirer, opposing the proposition, and said
he should consider it sacrilege to ask the
South to forget the memories of these
brave men.
MIR. Thompson OF Gloucester, men,
Der of the committee, asked whether the
brave men of the South would not enlist
in the army, if their names were erased
from the flag.
Mr.. Porter said the mcn who really
did the fighting, on each side, were good