Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-11

| of a law passed by Republican Congress. The
claims were for the friends Of the republicans,
and it did not lie 10 their mouth to say that the
South nust suffer conlnuouely aud be re-
preached Tor these claims.
/ Mr. Thorn pson, of Pa, culogizcd the loyal
men of the South who were true among tie
faithess and loyal among the disluyal, and 10
the course Of bis remarks, asserted that the
Con(ederscy had imprisoned aud starved olt
z.ns solely because of their loyalty to the Uul 70.
Mr. Huntun, of Va, asked him to Dame one
! case.
Mr.. White, Of Pa, said he could Dame cases
if his c,.fc4pue. NJ Thompson, did not. lie
| would appeal 10 the records Ut the Libby prison
for proof. aot II the gentleman wanted 10.
stances, he could give them. 10 1863, when
Lees army invaded Penusy lyauia, there were
packed 10 one room in Libby prison. loyal MN
who we're civiliaos, aod who day after day had
their numbers thiuncd out by starvation, aud
who we're carried from the prison and pac 10
unmarked graves, where their bodies still lie.
10 those terrible days Of August, 1868, b; re
we're meu 10 that prison who were not allowed
the ordinary ralions to Sustala life. Their
fellow prisoarrs. soldiers whe were Captured 10
honorable warfare, and we're 10 the room above
them, dropped food to them through holes
III Tue lDcSc IOyal put w
their skinny bands. looked up with their ema.
ciated faces and hustled each other to get the
crumbs that were dropped down to them. tie
could prove the truth of all these statements
if bis witnesses were here, for macy OF the %
have gone 10 their long homes
/ This speech brought genttmeu, 90 both
sides, down TO the arear 10 front OF the clerk .
desk, and there Was much confusion and <
citement 90 the haOr
MIR. L ri, of IL. moved that the Committee
rise, and the motion Was seconded 90 both
sides.
Mr.. Hutton, Of Va, appealed to the gentle
men to permit him 10 be beard, and finally
obtained the floor. He said he had DO desire
to say anything to revive the ranked feelings
of the late war; He did not desire to say
word to stir up again the bad feellegs of that
strife. There was DO excuse irr bringing 1t on
: this aoor The gentleman from PeDnsylva,i.,
MIR. White, had drawn his picture purely frt N
his Imagination. Wber the other gentleman
from Pcnusy !vauia, Mr.. Thompson. made a
statement that dshonored the Confederate
army, of which be was an tumble member, be
felt bound to protest. The gentleman had
drawn upon bis imagination, and said he coud
I'roVe his statements but his witnesses we're not
here.
Mr.. Wbite-"There is witness here.
Mr. Huuton-"I 10 not yield now.
Mr.. White [snid calls to order from the
democrstsl Il state what know.
MI. Hunton again declined to yield, While the
democrats called "or der" order" and Mr.
: White repeatedly vocierated that he stated
what be knew, when order Was again restored.
{ Mr.. Hunton resuminX, said that i. the Federal
prisoners suffered, it was the fault Of the Federal
government The prisoners received the same
rstions rs were dealt out to The Confederate sol
| ! 4 Go n, ot,,
scarce it Was owing to the action Ut tho Federal
government The Confederates made all efforts
for al honorable exchange. 1t is q nstter OF
history that their efforts were met by 3 refusal
on the Federal side under the pretext and de-
clsration that the effect Of an exchange would be
to prolong the war. BE denied that there were
any unnecessary or unavoidable suffering Of the
prisoners in the hands # the Contederales. His
tory will show that the Confederate government
did all it could for the re ef Of the prisoners he
might retort if be would by giving accounts of
the suferngs and prvati ms of Contederst"
prisoners in Federal prisons, but he had nc dis.
position 10 harrow up the feelings engendered
by the late war, and would not do it. This wss
not the place for these discussions
Mr.. Bright of Tenn, rose and Was recog.
! nized.
MIR. White, of Pa claimed the floor.
Mr.. Bright declined to yield
MIR. White insisted that he was next on the
list for recognition.
The House here resounded with calls to vote
and demands for the regular order.
3 Mr.. White. of Penn, said injustice
had been done him and he wanted TO be heard.
Mr.. Bright fcslly agreed to give him one
minute
MIR. White Of Pa said he had no desire to
uncover the recolections {. f the past nor had be
any desire to march the skeletons of Libby and
t Andersonvlle before the House, (hlsses) or to
bring up the scenes of the past.
At this point there We're calls for Mr.. White to
speak louder and yells and cat calls, while Mr..
Conger aid others demanded order, which the
chair seemed over ess to preserve.
Mr.. White amid the COD fusion said II am
your peer and will maintain my right to be
heard"
Mr.. Eden and other members on the demo.
cratic eide aimed that Mr.. Whites time hsd
ex pred ar .he chairman 80 stated MIR. w hlte,
however, paid no attention to the lntimstion, but
continued, smd storm Of obj actions, calls to
order and other Interruptions from the democrat.
ic side of the House to shout ut the top of his
voice-the OF " audible sentence in his speech
being to the # ,ct th at the statement of Mr. Hun.
ton as to the responsibility the federal gov
, eminent for the sufsrings OF Federal prisoners
. in COME derste prisons was false.
By this time Mr.. Whites excitem ent of man.
ner had communicated itself to meuber on the
| democratic side. Most OF them contented them.
selves with contemptous and derlslve shouts and
laughter, bu. Mr.. Turner (ky.) advanced to-
, | wards Mr. White and with his clenchcd fist in
proximity to Mr.. Whites face demanded to
know why he I'd not take his seat, as he Was
required to do by the rules. The chsrmsn Piled
his gsvel and called FIR the sergeant at arms
but the services of that official we're rendered
unnecessary by the iuterfe renee of sensible men
on both sides " ho surrounded the central fgures
in the angry disputaLon, and led them back TO
their respective seats in the chamber. After
short time the storm spent its force, COM
parstive lull fell upoh the House. tbs discussion
was closed, and the committee rose and report
ed the bill to the House with the rec mmenda
ton that it do pass. The bill was then passed.
;, The NEW FENIAN OPPoRTUNIY.-Tbc d.
mnon editors are wise in ridlcullng the idea
of Fenian invasion IF their couotry from the
Uo,ted States They have only TO tax their
memories or explore their flies and they can
iod abundant proofs of the mpoteut boasts Of
Feniauism. What it always has been, that it
is nova harmless bumbug It's lodges or cir