Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-05-21
Sample EaGIcaIiSIsl.

Sample RadicaIiSn.
The Washington correspondent Of the Batl-
more American says:
The bill authorizing tho President to appoint
Gen. James Shields, OF Missouri, Brlgadler
General 10 the United States army on the re-
tired list, which passed the House on April Sth
by vote of 22S yeas to nays, was taken up
in the Senate yesterday afternoon upon the
conclusion Of Senator Morrill's speech On the
Financial bill. Although it was known that
many Senators were opposed to the measure,
chiefly on tho ground that they did not desire
to establish precedent which would open The
door to similar legislation on behalf OF many
other officers who could, With equal propIicty,
claim the same treatment at the hands or Con-
eress, yet the turn that the debate took was
wholly unanticipated. After the bill had been
read Senator Ccckrell, who had charge Of it,
contrary to custom, RETAINED from making the
usual explanatory speech. This seemed TO
dsappoiDt Senator Sargent who endeav0red
to draw Cockrcll out by asking him what rea-
SONS he had to offer for specially selecting Gen.
Shields for this unprecedented favor over every
Other officer who had served in the army and
was equally entitled to be provided Ter in like
manner. 10 this MIR. Ccckrcll tartly replied
that he must be excused from repeating. for
Mr. Sareents benefit tho history OF his ccun.
try fer the last forty years. MIR. Sargent then
sent to the clerks desk an amendment, which
every one supposed was identical with that Of
which he gave notice some time ago, and Whlch
included nearly every general officer who served
in the late war, beginning with "L!cutcnant
General" Grant and ending with Gen. Noyes,
our present Minister to France. But, to tho
surprise OF all, the amendment only contained
the single namo Of Gen. Grant, and provided
fer his retirement, With the pay OF General Of
the army. A dead silence followed the reading
oflhc amendment, and Mr.. Sargent apparently
paused to enjoy it. The short discussion that
succeeded was marked by an unusually impas
stoned speech from Senator OgIeaby, who,
whilst eulogiZing Grant to the echo, declared
his inability to support the amendment. The
vote upon the amendment resulted ia its adop
ton by a vote Of 80 to IS, Senator Lamar being
the only democrat voting with the majority.
Then cnsucd one Of the sharpest and most aDl
mated discussions Of The session. MIR. CoekrelI
charged that the amendment had been offered
with no other design than to kill the bill. lie
said that Gen. Grant would scorn to have his
name used for such PURPOSE. 1t there was
any one quality which distinguished Grant
more than another it was his direotncss. fle
fought 10 manly and direct manner, and did
not resort to subtcrluse to accomplish his pur-
pose
Ben Hill profssscd great regard f5r GcnorHl
Grant, and would tako great pleasure in voting
for his rolicfif he ever found himself in the
Same destitute condition rs General Shields. But
Grant had not asked TO be retired, and did not
want to be retired. Mr.. Hill produced general
laugh by saying, in very significant mannor,
that he did not think certain gentlemen on the
other side of the chamber could retire Grant"
This thrust was aimed at Blaine, Conkling and
the other Presidential aspirants. Withers and
Voorhees, tauntcd Sargent with not being sincere
in offering his amendment. Thurman rocev-
ed Sargcnts proposition from the stand point
that it was in conflict with the principal that I'M
lies our pension laws. England had bestowed
millions upon her Marlborough and her Yelling
ton, but in this country we had never extended
that sort of treatment to our public servants,
unless they had been I'M ured in the military or
naval service General Grants honor required,
if any proposition was introduced for his relief,
that it should stand on its own merits, and he
(Thurman) was satisfied that Grant would spurn
to have his name tackled on to the tail Of Gen'l.
Shields kite. At this point, it being evident
that the debate could not be finished to-day, the
Senste adjourned. Tho general opinion is that
Grants name in connection with the bill without
his sanction. Some friends Of General Grant
are very indignant over it.