The Greenville times., 1878-02-23
spseeA II IsD. III. Z. CAalners,


NV s1Stb8 AAsSuV
The House had under considera.
tion The Military Academy Bill, |
and the discussion had tsken 4
sharp sectional turn by reason Of
somc Northern members asserting
that the Democratic side wished to
strike at the army, and that for
every offer at conciliatioi q blow
has been returned ai the force.
Gen. Chalmers living gained the
door, spoke as follows:
Nr. Chairman, | did not desire
to take any part IN this discussion.
but cannot sit by sir, and listen
without raising my voice in denial
Of tho charges which have been
made, that the men Of the South
arc opposed to tho army and TO
this Institution At West Point.
For one, sir, ] shall cast my votc
TO encourage % far as possible the
education Of our young at that
lnstitution; but l regret that gen.
tlemcn will not permit Us even TO
make comments upon tho extra.
vagance Of that West Point insti-
tuition, unless we are to be de-
nounced because we came from
tho Southern States. had hoped,
cir, tho war was over. l believed
this was a day OF reconciliation. ]
am glad to believe that with some
Ut least It Is, and that this Govern.
mcnt now cnh afford to do justice
to its IONS on both sides, with the
proud consciousness Of its cstab-
lishcd supremacy and ilhthc firm
conviction that tho fierce heats of
battle and the heavy blows of con.
tending armies have welded more
closely together the golden links
and the iron band which bind us
to each other.
We, Of the Confederate side,
came back to this Union bearing
IN onr hcnrte NO nlnlaCc or linQcr.
Ing feeling ofhatrcd or ill-will to.
ward the gallant gentlemen who
met US in manly conflict. | see
here, cir, by my side, see before
me, behind me, all round me upon
this floor, gallant men who faced
death for the cause they believed
to DO right, and who in defence Of
the Union, in tho perilous front Of
battle, won that imperishable hon.
or which ever fingers In the hearts
Of a grateful people around the
name Of the soldier who did his
duty In the hour Of danger. With
them wo have no quarrel. We
meet them here as gentlemen and
a. friends. We acknowledge their
courage and endurance, for they
conquered ~. We acknowledge
the justice Of that rule which
crowns tho victor with the laurel
leaf Of fame. We are not jealous
that they are called the saviors Of
tho Union while we arc classed 40
qccessflil Rebels. We do not
complain either, gentlemen, that
your Federal dead sleep In Nation
d Cemeteries, ornamented and
beautlfled by oil that art can give
and wealth bsstow; that their
graves are marked with "storied
brass and monumental MARBLE"
while our brethren sleep on the
lonely hillside aud In tho distant
valleys where they fell, with
nsueht TO mark their resting-place,
Or else have been gathered togetl-
sr IN poverty-stricksn burial
grounds, whose plank fences and
rude head boards stand in misera.
bio contrast beside the magnificent
inausoleums Of your Federal dead.
Here the hammer fell.]
Mr.. Dui bam obtained the floor
M. Banning. I suggest that the
eentleman from Kentucky yield
Bic time to the gentleman from
Mississlppi.
NJ. Calkins. | ask unanimous
conoont that the time Of the gentle
man from NfssIailppi be extended
ipdsAnltely.
II. Durham. ! Yield my time 20
~ ronllenan from Mlssissippl.
~, Chalmers-1 ssy thsn, ~
fyk>frman that re have no e1ch