National Republican., 1878-05-21

dicr In the field was willing to share the ben
eits Of the pension laws with him in peace.
lie was asked to make conspicuous exam.
pie Of this one man. How could he answer
the reasonable requests Of every other one IN
he treated with equal regard. lie could not
bring himself to believe that It was judicious
and wise legislation to bcstow this favor upon
either officer.
MIR. BLAINE could not concur with all the
Senator had said. The proposition was before
the Senate, aud they had TO vote for or against
II. The question was whether they would do
for General Grant what Congress had done for
General Scott and what Congress had offered to
do for General Washington. The services of
General scott were not as great as those of
General Grant. Was there any Senator who
would say they werc2 II hCd been asked II
General Grant had asked this<onc 1t would
destroy the graciOusness of the act IL left till
request was preferred. Let him go OH the re-
tired list from whence the people took him and
from whence If they like they will take him
again. As an American Senator he believed
his constituents would applaud his vote to
place General Grant on the retired list with.
out distinction Of party.
A vote was then taken on the amendment,
and it was agreed to-yeas -, nays IS as fol.
lows:
Ycas-Mcssrs. Allison, Blaine. Bruce, burnside,
Cameron TIA \ Cameron Wis.,. Christancy, COnk.
ling, Conoycr, Dorsey E,lmuIds, Ferry, liamlln,
II AR, Ingalls,. Kellogg, klrkwOyd. Lamar McMl.
Ian, Matthews Mitchell, Morrill,. Patterson, llumb,
Rollins, Sargent Saunders, Teller and Win
dom-2p.
Nays-Mcssrs. Arm.trong Bailey. Rnrnum, Day.
nrd, Beck. CoCkrcl, Ike, Davis NlLI Davis !W
NnD. Dennis, Eaton. EuStis, Grover, Harris, llll
Johnston Jones tFla), Kernnn MCCreCry, McIhcr.
SON. MnNCy, Mctrimon, Oglc.by Randolph, Thur.
man, VOORHEES,. Whytc, and Withers-2s.
Mr.. EDMuNDS said the history of this leg.
isln hu1 rot eli A al,
party had decided that 1t would bo well to cm.
ploy aud paya certain gentleman who had
served In war against the country. The dis
tinguishcd citizen of Missouri had fought on
the wrong side and was beaten. He was not
fit to serve in the position referred to, having
served in two wars for the country, but had TO
be put on the retired list. He read the law
providing for retired list, and claimed It was
for men who had served their lives in the army,
and not for mark of distinction. General
Shields did not come within the plain intent of
the law, aud as the list was limited to 800 to
put these two men on was to crowd out two en-
titled to go there.
The proposition was to rcctifv n political
mistake. There WAS nothing in the case that
would justify putting General Shields over
thousands of others. The bill was therefore
special legislation, impartial, and unjust.
Mr.. COCkRELL gave brief sketch of the
services Of General Shields to show him worthy
of the appointment.
Mr.. HILL said any man who acted from an
honest conviction of duty had his respect. So
| far US he understood he believed both Grant
and Shields did so, and he therefore respected
them. Here was the difference: Shields was
old, infirm, helpless, and in want General
Grant was neither. Again, the House had al.
most unanimously passed the bill and sent it
| to the Senate.
Again, General Shields desired to go on the
retired list. General Grant did not Grant
never would retire. tLGughtcr.l There might
he some on the other side who would like to
| retire him but he never did retire and he
never would retire, and you can't retire him.
| wish you could. Renewed lnughtrr.l II
General Grant had one quality more than an
other it was that lie was n direct man. lie
| moves in direct line. lie had no angles and
no ambuscadcs. lie believed General Grant
would not be pleased with the present use of
his name. II the time should come when
General Grant needed the aid now proposed to
I've extended to General Shields, his vote would
he freely given for it.
Mr.. DAVIS lll.) oppos d the bill as being
not in the spirit of the law which was framed
| for the care Of those who had been worn out
in the army. General Shields had occupied
civil instead of military positions with the cx-
ccption of three or four years
| Mr.. LAMAR said lie had voted for the
hh'hulhcllt IN good mltl, TO do honor TO the
distinguished military services of General
Grant; but il the amendment was extended
simply to defeat the measure, he could 90 no
| further.
Mr.. SARGENT declared that he had offered
the amendment in good faith, believing that
| the honor was due General Grant, and that the
country would be glad to see it bestowed.
After further debate OF n similar character,
the Senate, without reaching q conclusion,
on motion of Mr.. HAMLIN, by vote OF 81
to 80 ut $50 p. m adjourned.