The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-04-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
HOUSE.
WAsHNGroH, April l

ahE. dOOue, WuO uhu EepoEhcu kAu VA
from the Committee on Education and
Labor advocated its passage. BE remind
ed the gentlemen on the other side (whC
opposed the bill because they thought Il
would open the door Of the Treasury tc
an avalanche Of Southern war claims.
that this bill established noprecedent
it stood on Its own merits, and was essen.
sentially sui seneriS no case like 1t could
ever again come before the American
Congress. Speaking Of the college, he
thought the grand old Commonwealth OF
Massachusetts, for the interest It had
taken in the bills he spoke for the college
and for the people Of Virginia, when be
affirmed that they would forever remem-
Der with emotions Of gratitude the friendly
aid and words Of. sympathy and cheer
which they had received from the State
OF Massachusetts. In conclusion he made
an earnest appeal to the House to lift
this venerable Institution from the dust
and start her anew on the career Of honor
and usefulness.
Mr.. Lorins spoke in advocacy Of the
bill. He admitted that thelegality Of the
claim for damages might be slight and
questionable. He had no disposition to
place the case in that line where legal
technicality might destroy it, or whereby
being tayorably passed on, it might esiab-
lish q troublesome and expensive legal
precedent. BE sympAthiEed fully with
those members who would carefully limit
the liability of the Government with ref
erence to the widespread, necessary and
yet distressing destruction OF property
which grew out Of the war, and yet he
said be was compelled to say that he was
anxious TO consider the destruction OF
the William and Mary'sCollege buildings
a an act for which the country should
provide prompt and liberal -conpensa.
lion. Had my Alma Mater, Harvard
College, fallen before the storm Of war
which burst over the land I should be
here appealing to this government for her
restoration in the same spirit as | appeal
for the College Of William and Mary,
ready TO forget her errors and grateful
for her gifts TO my country. The strife
ia forgotten, and Massachusetts, and
South Carolina, New England and Vir-
ginia stand shoulder to shoulder at Bun.
ker Hill on the hallowed spot where the
bones Of gallant common ancestry re-
pose. am engaged in advocating no
war claim for damages. I am occupied
in considering no legal precedent. 1an
only calling on Congress TO preserve the
ancient landmarks Of our Nations great
ness, and to restore monument around
which our proudest memories cluster
and at whose feet we all renew our vows
as citizens OF a common country and as
the heirs and defenders Of common In.
heritance Of equality, social aud reli.
gious.
Mr.. Reed said be had listened with re.
gret TO the eloquent speech Of the gentle
man from Massachusetts, Loring, and he
was satisfied that ut day not far distant
the gentleman from Massachusetts would
Join him in The regret that he had aided
and supported bill which would in its
consequences be Of more trauscendentim>
portance 10 the government than any
bill before the House this session. The
bill came in peaceful form, butit would
stand as precedent for all Southern
claims. It was knife placed in the
garland. BE declared that there was no
precedent for bill Of this kind. Bunker
Hill and yorktown might unite and waltz
together, but it would not change the
fact. No nation had been so idiotic as to
establish a principle which would bank
rupt sooner after . victory than after 3
defeat. Advocates OF the bill denied that
it would form . precedent-ot course
nothing was u precedent till it was pass
ed. There were bills now before the
House amounting to $500, 600 for the de.
struction Of the property OF colleges, &c,
during the war, and this was only In the
green tree. Just think Of these claims
being translated 70 the upper air in which
Virginia and Massachusetts and perhaps
South Carolina, could alone exist. Just
think Of them up there, with all the dead
heroes OF the past, and the whole business
Of our English literature. But how
we're these claims going TO be metz. Not.
withstanding that every member had in.
troduced bill for the coinage Of the
silver dollar; Notwithstanding every other
member had Introduced bills in regard
tn finances, such az issuiug 400 million
dollars: notwithstanding all those billa,
he had discovered that oue.tenth Of all
the bills introduced this session were for
Southern claims. Thres hundred and
eishty.nine of these bills were pending
to-day, amounting to 81, 800, 900 and that
was excluding the bill refunding the cot.
ton tax.
Mr.. Townsend, OF New York, took the
door amid considerable excitement and
said, came to this House with the de.
aire, before taking oath, TO do equal and
exact justice to all parts Of this Union.
We had been divided; we had come to-
gether again; we had 4 common country,
and whatever men may think, in my day
dreams, in my night dreams, Virginia,
the Carolinas and Georgia are part Of
my country, and no man can take away
my interest in them. God has given it,
and my breathren have shed their blood
for my right. When am called upon 70
act In reference TO the interestof Virginia
am acting for my country, and will do
for Virginia all that l would do for New
York or all that would DO for my earl-
Ter home, MaEsachu.etts. Now let us
look this matter Ia the face. Ny frieuts
who know me know that shall call
things by their right BtlueI. | am yeti
be told BY Virginia gent that must not
talk about their mttleTs. How comes
William and Mary'4 College here ?
True, she graduated Washington. | had
the benefits Of collegiate education, but
my College has not taken an inventory.
came from Massachusetts,, originally;
that is proud State, but she has not
got an inventory. She does not come here
10 the N4tionai Congress aud before the
world claim upon her inventory. Wedo
not talk 80 much about our great men as
Virginia does, but shall not stand
in the presence nj the National Congress
and admit thai Virginia hAS anything TO
boast In her great men, over the land
that produced the ADAM and winthrops,
or over the land which produced Wm. II.
Seward, silas Wright and Martin Van
Buren.-a member, Websier,"-Towns-
end, am going to talk about Webster
In another part Of what have to say.
The College Of William and Mary pro-
duced great men. She has great and hon.
orabIs traditions. But why did she not
follow out the traditions Of her great
men? Did William and Mary's College,