The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-02-15
F,II,sa...r,.s On Pensions.

The House on Friday. the 4th inst.
spent the day in granting q pension h
. Union soldier. The following pro
ceedings will explain:
The House went into Committee OF
the Whole on the private calendar Mr.
Holman in the Chair. A number oi
bills Of . private nature were passed. =
In the case OF the bill granting O pen
sion to William X. Duncan, OF Tennes.
see, M. Cabell notified the House that
this man had been a Confederate sol
der.
Mr.. Raney explained the history ol
the case, showing that this man Dun.
can had enlisted in the Confederate
army in order to procure the discharge
from rebel prison in iKnoxville OF q
crippled brother who had been arrest
ed as Union guide; that he had de-
serted at the first opportunity, joined
the Federal service and remained in it
during the war.
Mr.. Douglas asked Mr.. Rainy il this
man was 10 be psnsioned because he
had served in the Confederate army or
because he had deserted from il,
Mr.. Raincy replied that ho was to be
pensioned because he had served in
the Union army and had been disabled.
Mr.. Morrison suggested that any
man who had entered the service on
such condition as this man had done,
and had broke his faith, was scoun-
drel aud not deserving Of a pension.
Mr.. ThorHbury-"Such condition
is better broken than kept"
Mr.. Kasson remarked that the gem
tleman from Illinois (Morrison) had
put the Issue in such shape that the
House should understand it. He Nor
rison) had proposed to refuse this man
pension because he had deserted from
q previous enlistment in the Confeder-
ate army, and had stated that man
who had deserted under such circum-
stances was n scoundrel.
Mr.. Morrison (interruptiug)-'I do
not propose to let the gentleman from
Iowa state a case for me. L will state
my case"
Mr.. Kasson -"The gentleman has
stated the case in the way i have quot
ed"
Mr.. Morrison -"No, sir, have not.
Mr.. Kasson-"The Record to-mor.
row, il not altered, will show the gen.
tleman said that this man having pro-
cured the release OF his brother from q
rebel prison by his own temporary en-
listment, and then having deserted and
joined the Union army was O scoun-
drel. For one, take distinct issue
with the gentleman. This man il
shown by the report to have been dis.
abled in the Union service, and to have
presented such proof OF it TO the Com
missioner OF Pensions as TO obtain Q
pension, which was afterward taker
from him. Are We TO be told that Z
Union man who has got his brother oul
OF prison by playing ruse on any one,
was guilty Of a violation OF the laws oi
war, and that this act was one OF dis
honor? / protest against such doc
trine.
Mr.. Morrison-'I repeat, that / dc
not allow the gentleman from Iowa to
state case for me. and one "a assump-
tion wholly" Republican members
"oh, no 20 He does not know q time
when 1 voted against pensioning q
Unisn soldier. asked the gentleman
from South Carolina (Ranney) il un-
derstood him correctly as saying that
this man had entered the Confederate
service for tho purpose Of releasing his
brother, and then, having secured his
brothers release, broke his faith and
violated his pledge and obligation. and
/ understood him to say yes. Iknow
nothing out Of the mans record; moth.
ing was said about it; and / said then,
a. / say now, that a man who enters
into such M engagement with the in
tention and purpose Of breaking it, il
not such q man as ought to be pen
stoned, and for the reason that he
breaks faith aud enters into this en-
gsgement for the purpose Of breaking
faith. IL this man has sufficient record
to justify his getting pension for ser.
vices thereafter rendered and for disa-
bilities incurred in services, have no
objection.
Mr.. Townsend IN. Y. remarked that
it had been said jocosely that the
House was going 50 far into the busi-
ness OF amnesty vhat some member
would have to introduce a bill to re-
move disabilities from men who served
in the Union army. He hoped that
the prediction would not be turned in.
TO reality, because, il so, then any
member of the House who had served
in the Union army, and whose biogra.
ply was to be published, would have 10
suppress the fact. Laughter on the
Republican side.
Mr.. Morrison-"Has the gentleman
any reference to me when he talks
about supprcssing military record9"
Mr.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was
entirely general. / said this"
Mr.. Morrison Qinterrnpting )-"T ash
the gentleman il he had any references
to me?"
Mr.. Townsend-"I did not have ref
ersnce to anybody"
Mr.. Morrison-"Thsn that is ali
there is about it.
Mr.. Townsend-'I wanted to say
Just what will be the fact. III il had
any reference TO the gentleman from
Illinois, he will know il. / will not
undertake TO say whether il has or not.
say that il We refuse a pension tc
this man because he served in the
Union army, il will come that when the
biographies Of members are published,
we will have to suppress the fact that
any Of US have served in the Unior
army.
Mr.. Morrison-"The gentle mar
evades and quibbles. have no further
reply to make to him. As the case hal
been stated in regard to the record oi
this man have no objection TO hi
pension"
Mr.. Cabell--"I had no idea OF inter
posing an objection 10 the pensionine
Of any good Union soldier. am Al
ready 40 any man 10 vote pensions Il
men who were true 10 their country
aud who served il, although I oppose,
them in the late war; but il was in tn
report OF this case that this man ha'
been dropped from the pension rolls
ID was also stated that he had been II
the Confederate army and had sworl
allegiance 10 the Confsderscy. IL va
therefore q serious question wheths
We ought 10 pass q bill pepsioning
man OF that character. There mus
have been some geod reason for drop
ping him from the pension rolls, and
thought that the question should b
brought to the attention OF the House.
Mr.. DeBolt argued that the man ha
served and been disabled in the Unio
army; that he was entitled 10 peH
sion, and ought 10 have il.
Mr.. Holman thought il very appa
rent that the mans disabilities ha
been incurred in the service OF th
United States after his dssertion fror
the Confederate service, and that b
was entitled TO q pension. He move