The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1878-04-04
washington Correspondence : Dir
CUSHION OF the Mexican Veteran
BiII-Gov. ThrOckmortOn's Splen-
did speech.
WAsu1YeroN. March %, 1878.

WASHINGTON, March 2s, 1873.
Special Correspondence of the STATESMAN
| have taken advantage of two very
memorable occasions, the one In the
Senate and the other in the House, to
give you a few points of more than
ordinary concern, and the first is the
attack of Senator Howe on President
HAYES and his Cabinet. The venera-
tie drawler of hackneyed platitudes
went for Hayes and Schurz on yester-
day in a way that was child-like, if
not bland. Having no bloody shirt
to shake, he tried to tear SchurZ to
tatters, and succeeded to his own sat-
isfaction at least. During his speech
he arraigned the people of our section
before the bar of the country as set
of outlaws whose daily lives are q stand
ing menace to the peace of society. 1t
is to be hoped that no Democratic Sen
ator = especially no Southerner = will
deign to reply; for his sole motive
(outside the qualification of his person
al spite against Hayes and his Cabinet)
was to stir up some one or more OF our
Southern Senators to just indigna-
ton that they might ''slOp over" and
thus furnish modicum of ''outrages"
on which the Radicals might conduct
their next campaign.
The next, and far more notable cpl
sode, however, was the stirring, elo-
quent and patriotic speech made in
the House, and on the same day that
Howe exploded, by Hon. John w.
ThrCckmorton. The House had under
consideration the bill granting pen
sions to certain soldiers and sailors of
the Mexican war, and it would have
thrilled you if you had been present.
as it did myself and Others. Although
the subject was supposed to lie thread
bare Governor Thr0ckmorton submit
ted mauy valuable and statesmanlike
reflections which invested it with a
novel interest, not only to the Vt terans
of that war, but to Americans of every
section and of all periods of our history.
He discussed the question from stand
point which was broad, national and
patriotic IN all its aspects. He showed
that the stability of the government
rests upon the patriotism of the citizen
and hence the passage of this bill was
important, not only because it recog.
nlzes the valor of thirty years ago, but
because the example its passage would
teach will. extend to all time hereafter
J Ito time in the future when Other
| men can look back and see that the
devotion of the American soldier does
not pass unheeded and unnoticed. In.
deed, a philosophical and statesmanlikt
view of the subject was never before
presented, and the Governor was com
plimented on all hands, for the effort.
He does not speak often, but always
rises to the full height of his argument,
and attracts the closest attention of the
House and gallaries. Noticing the rel
atiYe loyalty of the two sections, he
closed as follows:
Mr.. Speaker, our unfortunate strug
gle was accompanied by its compensat
ing benefits. It settled finally open,
fundamental questions that had hereto
fore been the source of many ills. II
articulated more distinctly the relative
powers of the general and local gov
1 ernments. so as ta-rannoE0- tho oaasos
that might have otherwise produced
collisions and conflicts. 1t has eleva
ted and harmonized our conflicting
systems of labor. 1t has clearly shown
the needs and uses of the sections anC
taught the mutual and reciprocal de
pendence of the political communitie
that make up our great people. 1t hal
furnished opportunity for the exhibit
ton of heroic daring and the exercise
of sterling principle, and both parties
to the conflict have SO grandly anC
honorably bone themselves in thi
dangerous and critical period as t.
have inspired each for the other pro
found respect-sHch l dare affirm q
would not have otherwise existed anC
has never heretofore existed between
the citizens of the Union. Through
all these agencies and influences tn,
conflict finds Its offsets for its evils, il
that it has strengthened the foundation
of the government and liberalized GU
institutions, so as to prepare US for
stronger and more generous civilization
and progress than have ever ye
marked the fortunes of the Republic.
In 1916 the men of the North ant
South, the East and West stood shoul
der to shoulder in defense of our com
mon country. Whatever differences o
political convection may have existed
among them were charitably entertained
and held in allegiance to the public in
terest and forgotten while DANCE
threatened the land. 1t is appropriate
therefore, that we who in this measure
propose to recognize the public SCI
vices of these brave men should in on
action also emulate their generous TEN
per and seek restoration of genera
charity and respect among all the pee
pie and every section of our great coun
try, so that ultimately, and in NOR
significant sense than we of the Sou
have sometimes been prepared to az
preciate, the grand ideal of the nation
al destiny expressed in the utteranc
of the great statesman of New Eng
land shall be realized by US and on
posterity: Liberty and Union, nov
and forever, one and inseparable."
l see from the Texas papers this
Throckmorton is urged to become
candidate: for the chief maglstracy G
the Lone Star State-an Office he file
once before so acceptably and so hoI
orably. While l, in common with tn
rest of his friends, should be gratifie
at the honor implied by his election,
should regret to see his valuable sci
vices, as Congressman, lost to th
country.
Yours, ETC., L'INCoNNU.