Daily globe., 1878-04-09

senses, so that they are now willing to recog-
nize the virtues of Gen. Shields, which /
learned in my boyhood. / doubt very much
whether this proposition be really for benefit
| ting Gen. Shields, or whether it is merely
nanu,. for the purpose IL 81 IA. "a little
order to test the intentions of the other side of
the house and the honesty of the gentleman
| from Massachusetts in the testimonial which
he bears to Gen. Shields and his virtues. I
signify my purpose here now to do him Justice
and placing him in a1nenial position as rep
resentative, either of the Democratic or of the
Republican party, but to offer as a substitute
a joint resolution placing Gen. Shields on the
retired list of the officers of the United States
army with the rank and pay of brigadier gen
eral, on the retired List. Applanse on the
Democratic side.
The Speaker to Butler-Does the gentle
man admit that substitute?
MIR. Butler contem ptuously-O no. 1 have
| the floor now and will complete what l have to
| say. and decline to be interrupted. After a
man comes up and talks about clap trap and
then proposes such resolution as that. which
point. Out Of the abundance of the
heart the mouth speaketh. Iaughter.)
He knows, know, and even the last
doorkeeper knows Ia,sghter), that that is not
in order when we are electing doorkeeper. If,
when you put that in crder, when You wake ND
to your duty, I will vote for it, but you cannot
put it in here in ordezz to get in a confederate
general. (Applause on the Republican side.)
That confederate general never could ride upon
Ged. Shields back, and never shall with my
consent. Iaughter.) I move the previous
question.
question, 10 to 12O.
Mr.. Cox, New York. then took the floor, and
Mr.. Butler moved over close to him, and took
a chair right in front of him. MIR. Cox said
From much that has fallen from the dis
tinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, who
l must have made some remark the other day
which may have wounded his feelings as to
his growing old. None of us are exempt
from the encroachments of time, but sincere
~ regret having said anything to move the
feelings of the gentleman from Massachusetts,
especially in that regard. AS we grow older we
need more or less liberation in all our actions
and in all legislative business. in all our func-
tions of the government we should bow to am
nesty, kindness and gentleness. Let the past
dead bury its dead. It was
in that spirit that offered
an amendment to resolution in the first ses-
sion of the Forty-fourth Congress. MIR. Fort,
of Illinois at that time offered resolution that
in all subordinate appointments under the Off
GERS OF the House, wounded soldiers, not dis
abled from the performance of duty, should be
preferred. To that offered the following
amendments:
Resolve2, That inasmuch as the union of
States has been restored, all citizens thereof
are entitled to consideration in appointments
to office under this government.
That amendment passed this House by vote
of 1853 yeas to 1O2 nays, many straightforward,
liberal gentlemen on the other side voting for
the proposition. Ipropose in allmy acts here
to stand on the principle of that resolution
The war is over and we have scarcely the
ashes of it left. Why should not all citizens Of
the Union have equal chance in honors and
emoluments of our common government? Are
we forever to debate this matter, to open old
wounds of the war? Are these wounds to be
forever kept bleeding, shall we not pour oil
in them and come together in spirit of fra
ternity, the gray along with the blue, having a
common sentiment? We know why it is that at
this day we are to have those SO often renewed in
this House. We have ever kept the practice of
your own Republican administration, which
has chosen men of distinction in the con-
federate army for high offices. Every day such
men are being appointed. Your postmaster
general was brigadier general in the con-
federate service and now you go to him and, 10
your business with him. All that you ask is,
does he now stand before the country as
having a common sentiment with the repub-
lie. When the gentleman from Massachusetts
came here supposed with a general power of
attorney from Gen. Shields, and sent up to the
clerks desk to be read, leteer from Gen,
Shields, supposed, of course, that it was a
letter acquiescing in the nomination. or willing
at least to take the Office Of door-keeper if he
were elected to it. But the letter had no
such import. It was simply a request for an in
crease of his pension, aud to-day, when the gen
tleman from Wisconsin, Bragg proposes that
we should wipe out all this degradation that is
sought to be fixed upon this distinguished sol
l>x, I, 4 I
proposed to do the very thing which
Gen. Shields requested the gentleman from
Massachusetts to do, it is put down as clap trap
and is refused as a substitute to this immedi-
ate resolution. To-day we can suspend the
rules by a two-thirds vote and honor this distin-
guished general by giving him pension
adequate to his services and his merits.
Will not that content the gentleman from Mas.
sachusetts? Will not that fill his power of at
torney? What more can he ask for, if he is not
bent on mere partisanship? Would not the
honorable gentleman be entirely satisfied with
this House granting that pecuniary aid to Gen.
Shields, which Gen. Shields himself requires
Mr.. Speaker, that is rather too thin. The
whole business becomes evanescent as you APP
proach it. This House has not been unfair to-
wards Union soldiers. The country
is bound together once more, as /
hope, in amity, kindness and conciliation,
which is never to be destroyed again. trust
rate the graves in unison, and in such condi-
tion why ought we to be reproached to-day, be-
cause we chose for the post Of doorkeeper man
who has fought on the other side of the line.
After remarks by Messrs. Hale, Blackburn,
and Mcmahon, the previous question having
resolution offered by Mr.. Clymer as a sub
stitute for MIR. Buffers resolu-
tion, that the House do now proceed to
election of doorkeeper, and it was adopted;
yeas l23, nays l09-a strict party vote, with
the exception Of Collins and Cutler, who voted
with the Republicans.
On announcement of the vote Clymer rose
and said-1 nominate Chas. w. Field, citizen
of Georgia, as doorkeeper of this House.
Mr.. Butler, Mass.-1 nominate the gallant,
Christian, loyal, tried and union soldier or two
wars James Shields, brigadier general United
States army. Laughter.
MIR. Rsndolph-I nominate for doorkeepe1
th1ee years in the war, who acquitted himself
with honor and credit, and who bears the mark
of lead on his body to-day, whose name is
John II. Trent, of Morristown, Tenn.
Mr.. White rose to a parliamentary question,
and asked whether Fields had ever been re.
leased of his political disabilities. He had
been informed that he had not been.
Mr.. Clymer-Certainlyh he has been. He is
now holding Office under the Republican com
missioners of this city.
The vote was then taken, and resulted for G.
w. Field l23-all cast by the Democrats; fol
James Shields, lO1-all but one cast by the
Republicans, and that one being cast by Mr..
Springer; for John W. Trent 8, and cast by
Evrett, Bayne, Evans, O'Neil, White, Horner.
Randolph and Bagley.
Upon the announcement of the vote, Charles
w. Field was declared duly elected, and was
thereupon sworn in, taking the modified oath
Mr.. Clark, Mo-, asked unanimous consent te
introduce for present consideration bill au
thorizing the President to appoint Jas. Shields
Brig. General of the United States army or