Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1879-03-04
Gen. Butler Predicts the Government
will Ultimately Take Care of
Manned Soldiers.

week, the bill to pay JOhn VI. Armstrong OF
Virginia, 81 $40 for rent OF a wbarfin Alex
andria during the war was discussed at great
length. Mr.. Conger started off in opposition
to the bill, contending that if its principle
was correct one the troops that marched
preceded with army wagons loaded with
specie to meet the enemy and pay the
owners of property which was to be used for
war purposes what they demanded for their
property.
Mr.. Shelley, of Alabama, had no sympa>
they generally with these war claims. There
were no Confederates presenting such claims.
There were not in Alabama two war claims,
and he certainly would not vote for any Ala
bama claim wherein loyalty was SGT up.
Mr.. Butler, of Massachusetts,, expressed
his views on the war claims. So long as such
claims were presented for damages done
during the war, or for property occupied
during the war, so long would there be mis-
understanding between the sections of the
Union. Both sides desired that bygones
should be bygones, and that all about the
war should be forgotten. There was one
thing, however, which could not be forgot
ten, and that was the valor and patriotism of
those who fought for the Union in the hour
of its direst peril nor would the bravery
and earnestness, and he might say loyalty to
the cause which they espoused, of those who
fought on the other side be forgotten. He
was willing that tho States should be put
upon the same ground that the fathers of the
Republic had put them upon in the war of
the Revolution, by assuming all their debts
for raising and recruiting troops, and after
that let no claim arise out of the war except
claims of MANNED and disabled soldiers; and
with that determination on the part of the
people of the country both North and South,
the time would not be far distant wien the
feeling of brotherhood would take into the
charge of the Government the MANNED and
disabled soldiers of the southern army, re-
membering their courage and stesdfastness
to the cause they espoused, and forgetting
their mistaken Judgment which made them
fight upon the side they did
Mr.. White, of Pennsylvania, opposed the
bill as war clnm for use and damages to
property in an insurrectionary State.
Mr.. Aiken, of South Carolina, declared
himself opposed to all southern claims. he
was glad to hear that some members on the
Republican side were liberal enough to vote
compensation for damages to religious, edu-
cational aud eleemosynary institutions at tho
South. For himself, his independence would
not allow him to do even that.
Mr. Keifer, of Ohio, criticised Mr.. But
ler's speech and, citing the part of it in re-
gard to the pession of Confederate soldiers,
asked whether he understood him correctly.
Mr.. Butler Il repeat that whenever the
question of the depletion of the Treasury by
these claims is over. think that the pity.
the humanity of the North will take care of
the manned men of war; and (if you wish
to know it) I see more reason why Cons
cd 1a6 he
honest discharge of what he believed to be
his duty should not be pensioned, than why
Confederate General, who honestly be-
1ieved he was doing his duty, should be put
into Republican Cabinet" Applause and
clapping of hands on the Democratic side.
The debate continued at great length.
Mr. Blackburn, passing on TO the question of
the alleged dsloyalty of Southern seminaries,
asked who had shed lustre on the American
arms before the war broke out who had not
been a graduate of West Point,and had shere
learned from Row less Commentaries on the
| Constitution everything that he ever knew
| of the Limitations of the Constitution That
"IIorn book of the Nation" was certainly the
most advanced advocate of the right of se-
| cession. He entered his protest against the
| injustice done to the South in imputing to it
any responsibility for these war claims. The
South did not ask for the pensioning of her
| crippled soldiers. She had staked her all on
her convictions and bad lost. She had not
complained and would never in the future
complain. She bore her losses, and simply
protested that it was neither generous, nor
kind, nor manly, nor merciful to drag her
into this question and make her the foot>ball
of the passions of men who seemed to have
at heart the serving of partisan purposes
rather than the advancement of the common
good, [Appause on tho Democratic side
A Vermont man has advertised card
in tho paper in his town which reads ::
"Some people have the vulgar habit of call.
| ing me Bill; that is not my name or any
| part of it. My name is William Palmer.
forgive all past otfenses, but if any person
ever calls mo bill after the publication of