National Republican., 1878-05-21
SEN,iTE.
MoNDAY, May 90, 1871


ton, asking special appropriation of 10000
for the improvement of that section. Referred
10 Committee OH the District of Columbia. .
Mr.. WHITE introduced memorial in favor
of aid n tho construction of the Delaware Bay
and Chcsal c Ike Bay Canal. Referred to the
Committee OH Commerce.
Mr.. BOOTH, from the Committee on Pat
ents, reported House bill confirming, for u full
term Of seventeen years patent granted in
1867 TO Thomas A. Weston Tor an improvement
In pulcvs. Passed.
Mr.. THURMAN, from the judiciary Com
mttcc, reported the bill providing for the adj
mission of women to practice before the Su-
premc Court of the United States adversely,
on the ground that no law was necessary.
Mr.. SARGENr asked If the committee had,
IN considering the bill. heard considered the
declaration Of the Chief Justice, that lcgisla-
ton by Congress was necessary.
Mr.. EDMUNDS said the Supreme Court
had not decided that law was necessary, but
that Il did not believe the time bad come for
the admission of women to practice; but that
II Congress wanted them admitted, hit or
miss they must say so. The law already gave
to the courts the power to determine who
should appear before them as attorneys.
Mr.. SARGENT asked that the bill be placed
on the calendar for action hereafter. So or
dercd.
Mr.. ROLLINS offered o resolution, which
was adopted, calling on the Commissioners of
the District for n detailed statement of assess
mcnts, taxation, and collection of taxes from
the street railways of the District.
Mr.. CHRISTiANCY introduced q bill to re-
organize the Court of Claims and extend its
Jurisdiction over all claims now pending be-
fore Congress and the Departments. Referred
to the Judiciary Committee.
The bill to repeal the resumption act then
came up as unfinished business, and Mr. NOR
RILL addressed the Senate in opposition to any
change of existing laws.
Mr.. COCHRELL, at the close of Mr.. NOR
RILL's remarks, moved to take up the bill to
place General Shields on the retired list.
Tho yeas and nays were ordered on the mo-
tiOn, and it was agreed to-ycas 33 nays 20
rs follows:
Ycas-Mcssrs. Armstrong. Bailey, Bornum, Bay
ard rCck blaine Butter, Cameron pa, Cameron
(wls). Cockrcll, Coke, Davis w. Na. Dennis, Dor.
scy, Eaton, Euslis, Grover, Harris Hereford, Hill
Jones FlaO Kellogg, KCrnan, Lamar, McCrcery,
McihcrSon, MNxcy, McrrImon, Morgan, Patterson
Randolph, Thurman, and Noorhecs-8.
Nays..Mcssr: Allison, Booth, IinTnsidc; Davis
an. Edmunds Ferry, linmlin, lloar, lmgalls
ErkwQod. Mcmillan, Matthews, Mitchell, Morrill,,
Ogleshy. Rollins, Sargent, Saunders, Teller, and
Ninduin-N
Mr.. SARGENT said.as the bill was before
the Senate he hoped the Senator who stood
sponsor for it would cnlightcn the Senate us to
any prcccdcnts for the action proposed by this
bill.
Mr.. COCKRELL said he did not think it
was necessary for him to lay before the Sen
ntor the history Of the country for the past
forty years. The grounds on which this prOpO-
sitiOn rested were too well understood. lie
did not occupy the time of the Senate unless
there were objections to be met.
Mr.. SARGENT inquired why this man was
singled out above all Uthcls who had served in
two wars. If the Senator had any rCasons for
this being done he would cCI CIta.nly give tlcin
to the Senate. There were 10 reasons. lie
proposed an amendment to the nil, which he
sent up.
Mr.. KIRKWOOD asked if General Shields
WIS not OH the pension roll, aud, if so, what
pension he drew?
Mr.. COCKRELL said his pension was $3l.25
month. The Senate had passed bill to in-
crease 1t TO $50. and it had been sent to the
House.
Mr.. SARGENT'S amendment was then read.
II proposes an additional section, authorizing
the President to place the name Of Ulysses 5.
Grant on the retired list of the army with the
full pay of General of the army.
Mr.. COCKRELL asked il the consent OF
that distinguished soldier and statesman had
been asked for this amendment.
Mr.. SARGENT said it had not. Had the
other one asked for the bill? Had he pctitioned
Congress for II
Mr.. COCKRELL said he needed it and the
other did not.
Mr.. SARGENT said he had understood that
he had fine farm in Missouri and was living
very comfortable.
MIR. COCKRELL said he had a small farm
In Missouri, but he had told him that he
would not have asked for an increase Of his
pension, or for u pension at all, If he had not
needed it.
Mr.. ARMSTRONG said General Shields had
not asked for it. His friends had asked it ior
him.
MIR. COCKRELL said he supposed when a
person got pension he had to sign come kind
Of an application for it.
Mr.. SARGENT said they both stood alike.
Neither had asked for it. lie did not 1t was
to be given on application. If SO, there would
be large increase of the retired list He sup.
posed il was reward for distinguished ser.
vices. lfapplied in the case Of General Shields
it did more so in that OF General Grant. Ii it
was for ilustriUus services General Grant was
the more entitled to 1t. If there was nothing
moro than appeared Oh the surface the amend
ment would be adoptcd. lie wanted to test
tho feeling that prompted the original prOpo-
sitiOn.
Mr. OGLESBY said General Grant enjoyed
the confidence love, and esteem Cf the Amcri-
can people. If he believed that General Grant
wanted this, lie would vote iOr it, He did not
want to be interested in support of bill for
General Shields or any other worthy soldier
by coupling his name with 1t. General Grant
had been greatly hOnorcd by the American
people, aud hG might lie houogcd again by
them. He had been associated with General
Shields in Mexico, and had seen hiir wounded
there. He was a young and inexperienced
soldier there and behaved with the greatest
galmntry. lie had returned to this country
and had cnjoyei civil honors. Occurrences
had taken place recently To which the atteu.
tiOn Of the country had been directed, and it
so happened that General Shields
fell again. lie had been wounded in
the Mexican war; he had been
wounded in the last war and lie had been
wounded and fol ia this later engagement
In the former he had fallen by the hands of
his enemies, but this last time by the hands
OF his friends. This proposition had never
been thought of before tho recent occurrences
The trouble he had was not with General
Shields not that he had not been a good sol
der 1t was within his knowledge that there
were thousands upon thousands who had
served In the Mexican war, and many Of them
IN the last war, aud rendered most faithful
aud patriotic service to the country aud the
Union, who were to-day rendered almost use.
less by scars ON their body. There were such
men all the way from the ranks to the highest
official POSITION in the army There were
thousands who had served US faithfully,
though not rs efficiently, as General Grant
Would 1t be doing his duty to take General