Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1876-02-11
a NEW CLASS OF..sCOUNDRELs.'

the Harrisburg TtjrarGph To ar' Nor
rison, the leader of tho House, We arc
indebted Enr thi. new acquisition. Thus
far he had remained quiet, but no doubt
believing that the golden moment haG ar
arrived when he could convince the South
of his .'abiect devotion" TO their interest
aud their cause he concluded to take Il
hand" with a result not very tattcring TO
bis pride. let the loyal people Of the ma
tion carefully consider all the points of this
remarkable debate:
ln the case of the bill granting pension
to VIM. Il. Duncan, of Tennessee, Mr.. Ca
bell notified the House that this man had
been q Confederate soldier before he became
Federal soldier.
Mr.. Rainey explained the history of the
man, showing that the man Duncan had
enlisted in the Confederate army ir order
TO procure the discharge from a rebel pri-
son in Knoxville of crippled brother, who
had been arrested asa Union guide, that
he had deserted at the first opportunity,
Joined the Federal service and remained
during the war.
Mr. Douglass asked Mr.. Rainey if this
man was TO be pensiOned because he had
served in the Confederate army, or because
he had deserted from it.
Mr.. Rainey replied that he was TO be
peDsiOned because he had served in the
Union army and had been disabled.
Mr.. Morrison. OF Illinois, suggested
that any man who had entered one service
on such condition as this man had done,
and had broken his faith, was scoundrel
and not deserving pension.
Mr.. Thornburgh said such faith was bet
ter broken than kept.
Mr.. kasson remarked that the gentle
man from Illinois Morrison had put the
issue in such shape that the House should
understand it. He Morrison had propos-
ed to refuse this man pension because he
had deserted from previous enlistment in
the Confederate rmy, and had stated that
a man who had deserted under such cir
cumstances was scOupdrel.
Mr.. Morrison lnterruptins IL do not
propose to let the gentleman from Iowa
state case for me. ] will state my own
case.
Mr.. Kasson-The gentleman has stated
the case in the way have quoted.
Mr.. Morrison--No, sir, have not.
Z. HdS6Ou-l EC IttJSfu VI
if not altered, will show that the gentleman
said that this man, having procured the
| release of bis brother from rebel prison
by his own temporary enlistment, and
then, having deserted, Joined the Union
army, was a scoUnGrel. Tor one, take
distinct issue with the gentleman. This
man is shown by the report to have been
disabled in the Union Service and to have
presented proof Of it To the Commissioner
OF Pensions as 10 obtain a pension, which
was afterwards taken from him. Are We
to be told that a Union man who got his
brother out OF prison by playing ruse on
any one, was guilty Of a violation
of the laws Of war, and that this act was
one Of dishonor protest against such
doctrine.
Mr.. Morrison-I repeat that do not al
low the gentleman from Iowa to state a
case fer me and one on assumption wholly.
Republican members-"Oh no."l He
does not know the time when l voted
agains. pensioning Union soldier. l ask
ed the gentleman from South Carolina
lRaineyl if l understood him correctly as
saying that this man had entered the Con-
federate service for the purpose of releas-
ing his brother and then, having secured
his brothers. release, broke his faith and
violated his pledge and obligation, and L
understood him 10 say yes. / knew moth
ing os the mans record nothing was said
about it. | said then, as | say now, that
a man who enters into such an engage
ment with the intention and purpose Of
breaking it, is not such a man as ought
TO be pensiOned, and for the reason that
he breaks faith aud enters into this engage
ment for the purpose OF breaking faith. If
this man has a sufficient record to Justify
his getting a pension for services there
after rendered and for disabilities incurred
in service, have no objection.
Mr.. Townsend, of New York, remarked
that il had been said jocosely that the
House was going so far into the business
of amnesty that some member would have
TO introduce a bill to remove disabilities
from the men who had served in the
Union Army. lie hoped that the predic-
ton would not be turned into a reality,
because, if so. any member of the House
who had served n the Union Army, and
whose biography was 10 be published,
would have TO suppress that fact. Laugh
ter on the Republican side.
Mr.. Morrison. Has the gentleman any
pressing military record
Mr.. Townsend. Ny proposition was
entirely general 1 said this
Mr.. Morrison-tinterrupti ask
the gentleman if he had any reference to
me?
Mr.. Townserd-I did not have reference
TO any one.
Mr.. Morrison-Then that is all about
il.
Mr. TOwnsend-I wanted to say Just
what will be the fact. If it had any refer
ence TO the gentleman from Illinois, he viii
know il. / will not undertake 10 say
whether it has or not. | say that is we
refuse pension TO this man because he
served in the Union army, it will come
that when biOqra phies Of members are pub
lished we will have to suppress the fact
that any of us have served in the Union
army.
Mr.. Morrison-The gentleman evadcs
and quibbles. have no further reply to
make TO him. As the case has been sta
ted IN regard to the record Of this man,
have no objection to his pension.
''lf the coat fits put it on" The tilt
between Mr.. Townsend and Morrison
grows out of the fact that las. year when
the House WAS Republican the sketch of
the life of Mr.. Morrison appeared in the
Congressional Directory with mention of
his services in the Union army. This year
the House is confederate, and the sketch
appears with his services as a soldier
stricken out. In doing this he accomplish
ed more than he intended. He not only
displayed bis derotion tOthe South, but also
b lis shame as haang been Union soldier.
His sensi.iveness on this subject convinees
the people that this last record was prepar-
cd for 4 purse. Is such a thing to be
leader OF the National House Of Represen-
iatives? lie is double doughface.
4 BILL has been introduced in the House
Of Representatives by n Philadelphia mem
Der to reduce the salaries OF our county
officers. The bill is a very unjust one, as
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