Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-05-17
An Exciting and Di-orderIy scene In the


One of those scenes Of wild disorder which
have been of frequent occurrence in the
House since that body passed under the con-
troll Of the Democrats, occurred last Friday
during the consideration Of n bill TO pay
loyal Nirginian about $4,000 for supplies tax
en- by the Federal army during the rebellion.
There was no dispute us to the loyalty Of the
claimant or the justice Of his claim, but the
advocacy Of the bill by some Of the Republi-
cans was seized upon by Mcmahon and Fin
ley, Of Ohio, TO charge the Republicans with
Inconsistency and demagoguery in reference
to the payment of southern claims, and thus
prccipitated a discussion upon the general
discussion Of war claims and the relative ac-
ton Of the two parties in that respect. Nc
AIahon and Finley referred to speeches made
by Republicans on war claims for campaign
purposes. and warned the Democratic side
that no claim whatever should be passed, for
the reason that every claim allowed would be
charged against them in the approaching po-
litcal campaign The Republicans retorted
that they were in favor Of paying loyal South
ern men for supplies furnished the Union
army, and had never objected to paying such
claims 1t was the fraudulent claims and those
Of disloyal men which were daily introduced
into Congress by Democratic members to
which they objected. During the discussion.
Mr.. Thompson Of Pennsylvania spoke of the
persecution Of loyal men at the South,
and said in some instances these men had
suffered death for their loyalty. Mr.. Hun
ton, Of Virginia. demanded that Thompson
should name one such instance. or withdraw
the statement
Mr.. White Of Pennsylvania, who was for
sixteen months prisoner of war at the South,
said that if the gentleman from Virginia want
ed proof he could give it. In 1868. when
Lees army invaded Pennsylvania. n room in
Libby prison was packed with loyal civilians,
whose numbers were thinncd by starvation,
as scores were carried out to be buried in un-
marked graves, where their bodies still lie.
The military prisoners on the floor above
dropped food through holes in the floor to
these emaciated and starving citizens. As
Mr.. White spoke with great earnestness.
many members on both sides came down into
the area in front Of the clerks desk, and there
was a scene Of confusion.
Mr.. Huuton Of Virginia ondeavored to cast
oil upon the troubled waters. and deprecated
the reopening Of the recent strife He could
not listen TO a statement that dshonored the
Confcderate army Of which he wis an hum
BILE member. The gentleman from Pennsyl-
yania had drawn upon his imagination. but
had no witnesses TO prove his statement
Mr.. White exclaimed Il am a witness.
state what | saw and what / know"
Mr.. Hunton cndeavored to throw blame for
the treatment Of Union prisoners upon the
Federal government. History, lac said. would
show that the Confederate government did
all in its power for the relief Of prisoners.
Mr.. Thompson said tLat when a man was
loyal ut the South he deserved to be honored
for it, but the country knew that those who
stood 10y the flag at the South were treated
with cruel severity. History is witness to
this and the record cannot be blotted out.
Mr.. White, after quiet had been partially
restored. said that he had no desire to uncov-
er the recollections Of the past neither had
he any desire to march the skeletons of Lib
by and Andersonyine before the House. or to
bring up the scenes Of the past.
This remark was greeted with misses and
yells, while at least - members bawled for
order at the top Of their voices
Mr.. White. standing unmoved said Il am
your peer, and will maintain my right TO he
heard When order was restored lac took
issue with Mr. Hunton on the assertion that
| Federal prisoners got the same rations as Con
federate soldiers. The fortunes Of war made
him prisoner, and he knew that loyal men
from the valley Of Virginia and East Tennes-
see were starved to death in Libby prison.
Here another scene Of wild confusion took
place, the principal actors being Mr. White
and Mr.. Turner of Kentucky. who gesticu-
lated at each other in expressive pantomime,
while other members gathered around them
and roared or Missed or stormed. The chair
man, Mr.. Knapp, of Illinois, was powerless
to restore order, and not until Messrs White
and Turner were forced by their friends to
retire to their respective sides Of the House,
did the riot and confusion cease
The bill under consideration was finally
pissed by the House. but the general effect
Of the debate was not favorable to the passage
Of other claims Of that sort. and the William
and Mary college people concluded that dis
erection is the better part Of valor and with
drew their claim until the Winter session.