The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1878-02-28

Pending the consideration Of the Mil.
itary Academy appropriation bill, in the
National House of Representatives, on
the 18th Of February, Hon. J. r. Chal-
mers, Of Mississippi, said
Mr. Chalmers. Mr. 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 the charges
which have been made, that the men OF the
South are opposed 10 the army aud 20 this
institution at West Point. For one, sir,
shall cast my vote 10 encourage ~ far "A
possible tho education Of our young men at
that institution; but regret that gentle
men Will not permit W. even to make com
ments upon the extravaganza OF the army,
or the extravaganza OF that West Point in'
gt,tutlon, unless we are to be denouu Ced
because we come from the Southern States.
had hoped, sir, the war was over, be-
lieved this WAS u day Of reconciliation,
am glad 10 believe that with some NJ least
IL is, and that this Government now can nj
ford to do Justice 10 its sons on both sides,
with the proud consciousness OF Its estab-
lshed supremacy, and IN the firm conviction
that the fierce heats Of battle aud the heavy
blows of contendlDg armies have welded
more closely together the golden llnkS aud
the iron bands which bind rs TO each other.
We OF the Confederate side came back to
this Union bearing in ous hearts no malice
or lingering feeling Of hatred or iil-will
toward the gallant gentlemen who met lls
In manly conflict. | sec here, sir, by my
side, see before ne, behind me, all round
me upon this floor gallant men who faced
death Tor the cause they believed to be
right, aud who In defense OF the Union, In
the periluus front Of battle, won that Inn
pefishahle honor which ever fingers In the
hearts of grateful people around the name
OF the soldier who did his duty In the hour
OF danger. With them we have no quarrel.
We meet them here as gentleman and as
friends. We acknowledge their courage
and endurance. for they conquered US. We
acknowledge the justice OF that rule which
crowns the victor with the laurel-leat Of
fame We are not Jealous that they are
called the saviours OF the Union while we
are classcd AS unsuccessful rebels, We do
not complain either, gentlemen, that your
Federal dead sleep in national cemeteries.
ornamented and beautinedby all that art can
give and wealth. bestow; that their graves
are marked with "stored brass aud monu-
mental MARBLE while our hretheren sleep
on the lonely Hill. side and In the distant
valleys whore they fell,wth uaught to mark
their resting place, or else have been gath
cred together In poverty stroke burial
grounds, whose plank fences aud rlde head.
boards stani In miserable contrast beside
the magnificent mausoleums Of your Fed
eral dead.
(Ilere the hammer fell)
Mr.. Durham obtained the floor.
MIR. Banning. ! suggest that the gentle
man from Kentucky yield his time to the
gentleman from Mississippi
Mr.. Calklns. ! ask unanimous consent
that the time Of the gentleman from Missis-
sippi be extended indefinitely.
MIR. Durham. | Yield my time 10 the
gentleman from Mississippi.
Mr.. Chalmers. | say then, MIR Chair
man, that We have no such feelings as have
been ascrlbed to US on this floor. We have
adopted IN good faith the amendments to
the Constitution. We have submitted 70
the painful experiment Of reconstruction,
more painful than the experiment OF the
unskilliu surgeon who sets aud then breaks
that he may set again some fractured limb.
Wehave bowed TO everything this Govern
ment has put upon us aud we are willing to
forgive aAd forget, We can forget the de-
struction OF our institutions. We can for
get the desolatlng march of armies which
ieft a bllghting tack through our ever
beautifulland marked by monumental chin
neys whose blackened sides alone remain to
pont the Confederate soldier to the spot
where once his mansion stood.
We come here Few asking for peace aud
to be treated as part OF this Government
aud for one. as have said before, shall
vote most cheerfully and cordially for your
West Point bill.
fstand here ss q Mlssissippian, as South
ern man, ss QUO who tried his best to meet
you on the battle field. | never turned my
back on you then and no not propose now
TO turn my back upon YOU In debate. And
say you are doug Injustice to our South
erh people when you charge us with enter
tanning such malicious feelings here to-day.
The gentleman from Michigan talked
about the thirty-sixth section OF the school
lands given by this Government for educa-
tiopal purposes. l ask him whence came
that landY 1t came from the good old
mother of States and Statesman, VigEjnia
gave an empire In lands to this Gogernment,
and this magnificent domsih on which the
gentleman himself lives iorms portion OF
this gilt; and becspse they have given back
one section oaS of thirty-six they stand
here 70 decounce us of the South and hurl
that "a our faces as IL We were recreant 10
all sense OF honor In reference to this Gov
eminent. say so far as the amendment
before the House Is concerned IL seems TO
me to be wise one. shall vote for that
amendment, but at the same time desire
to repel the insiDuations that have been
hurled at my section of the country, Gap
plause.)