The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-04
IN HOT POLITICAL DEBATE.
a PROPOSED PENSION ron JEFFERSO ON
DITIs INCITING WRIII

Lunar. Chandler, NnNcy, aud Bailey Ges-
ticuiatIng. An"themntizins, and Scolding.
WAsurNGroN, March 3.-Scnators agree
IN saying that the scene in the Senate this morn
ing. from o'clock until G. was in many respects
tho most dramatic they ever saw in that cham-
Der. 1t was departure from the ordinary grent
debates Of the Senate. There was n piquancy
about It that does not commonly attend the per-
formances Of that usually sedatc and dreamy
body. The Senators had assembled at 2 o'clock
on Sunday afternoon. weary with the fatigue
ana slccplessncss OF an almost continuous scs-
sion Of fory-eight hours duration. All tho
afternoon and until ll'i O'Clock at night there
was IL weary drag OF motions.
Most Of the spectators in tho Senate galleries
had had surfeit Of dull Senatorial routine. and
were wandering aimlessly about tho Capitol.
Tho terrible snow storm which had set in early
In the afternoon continued to rage. and II was
almost impossible for the sightsecrs to get
home. After n few unmporiant bills had been
disposed OF. Window. ut midnight. moved to
reconsider the vote by which the bill appropri-
atlng money for the payment Of arrearaees Of
pensions had been passed. Mr.. Justice Field had
given a dinner at Wormley's in honor OF Srna-
tor-clcct Farley OF California. and many of the
Democratic Senators who attended were tardy
in returning and several did not return at all.
Many others were in the cloak room asleep when
this motion was made. and 1t was carried. This
carried with it tho Smenlment offered bv
Gen. Shields giving pensions to the officers
and soldiers Of ihe Mexican war. The Demo-
Gratis rallied their forces. and as the Senatorial
diners out came struggling In. the motion Of
Window to reconsider was rcconsidcred. There
was n motion made to exclude from the pension
rolls the survivors Of the Mexican war WHO had
served in the Confederate army which was lost
by two votes.
Hoar Of Massachusetts ut 1917 o'clock moved
TO amend by providing that Jefferson Davis
should not be entitled to the benefits Of this act
He made one Of his Characteristic speeches. full
OF bitterness. but mingled with professions OF
his good feeling toward the South. few level
headed Democratic Senators who understood
perfectly well that this was simply red flag to
bait their side and draw out their hot-headed
colleagues moved about counselling no debate.
md urging general demand for vote. They
were Unsuccessful. Garland Of Arkansas was
on his feet rctortlng to Hoar that he could see no
reason why Mr.. Davis should be singled out in
this manner. since LonGstreet had been re-
= warded 10y Gen. Grant with an important and
lucrative Federal office. Republican Adj
mnistrnton sent Gov. Orr rs Minister to
Russia, and Mo-uy-who hoasted that he was
ne Marion in tho second war--to China us
Consul. He felt satisfied that Jefferson Days
would scorn pension; he did not ask H. lis
tad served under Mr.. DAVIS in civil capacity.
Mr.. Davis was gallant soldier IN the Mexican
war His services were ON record. and although
they dill not survass they equaled those OF
Greece and Rome.
The ball was thon opened The rcd nar had
been waved AT the Democratic side. and the in
discreet senators on thnt side OF the chamber
had rushed madly ,rio the fray, ,,
MnNev, an old Mexican soldier himself. n
graduate Of West Point. and a gallant officer
who had distinEu shed himself on many q hard
fought field in Mexico. was stung TO madness at
this attempt 10 bring repruAch upon measure
for which he has persist"ntly contenied in pre-
vious Congresses. Hemade speech In which
heeloquently eontended for justice toward his
noble comrades who conquered Mexico. tho
men who had ndded nm empire to our domain
and untold wealth to our resources.
Bailey OF Tennessee had something 70 say
also. and said It wisely and we'll. for he is emi-
nently conservative ana polite lie depre'atrd
the constant renewal oi tnr sectional issue. and
expressed his surprise that the Senator from
Massachusetts who had been, n session and
out OF sssion. the GENDER OF Mr.. Hayes So
called Southern policy. should seek 70 kinilo
anew the dying enbers OF the old strife.
The Republicans were in their seats quietly
ENJOYING the anticipation OF tho row that
they felt wis sure 10 come. Many OF those
on that side who had been seeking repose and
and braced up in their seats ready for the fun.
Blaine, when Garland sprung 10 his feet 10 10.
Dy to Hoar. WIS sleeping IN his chair. ms mead
resting heavily On ono hand DICK Osiesny
who sat behind Blaine reached over desk and
nudged him IN the back, and. aS tho rudely
awakened Senator from Maine started bolt up
right. whispered: Hell has broke loose
Alr. Thurman rose and began a spe"ch. and,
ms he went on, warmed 90 the WORK. lie poured
not man ON the Repuhl nm side had come 10
Hoar ; assistanc". He evidently began 10 ieel
that he WAS deserted. Thurman 5 sueech WAS
IN his very best vein. energetic, iorriole, AMI
eloquent. IL WAS a severe denunrlation 81 what
ne termed "A malignant attempt 10 Insult me
whole southern people hy singing out Tor I'M
necessary stigma the man VINO had been then
loader He SAID Mr. Davis had never desired 9
To- one. BE- ause he had been an officer In the
Mexican army 1t would require an IS
pecial enactment now to prevent him
from receiving pension II be- were 10
gpuX, Tor one under the EXISTING law
MIR. Thurman said tlnt the Amendment asked
him To single out Jefferson Davis for punish,
m"nt when other men who went rs far A. hes ala
wrr, not only not punished. hut hayo been ap.
pointed % the highest stations in the Govern
mum f,rm.riy 4 nit,.i states Attorney. General
the present Po7tmastar-General. Key; Gen
Inngstre"t. Postmaster at Gainesville; Mosbi
OF guerrilla inme-ail, aud muny others II tnt
l'Hn Administrations. He stw on the bench
too. men who were actually engaged IN the Con
icdrrntr service, who were lust as guilty rs Jrt
fDrsou Davis The propOsnl before them cum,
from tue senator OF n State MASSACHUSETTS
wliose treason had been more violent nnl
longer than that o. any other state in the Union
By this time the Senate galleries were rapldl
filling up The Hous had adjourned, and th'
Spectators. who had been waiting Tor s'meihinl
enltyening 10 turn NJ. came oyer u the senate
side The members OF the House dropped II
also upon the Moor oi ina SENATE" ana olh'Is
privileged and unprlvilegei persons ipun'
their way into the chamber grd stood IN group
in the rear Of the senator's desks. Lamar rose
There was dead silence as he began 10 speak
Senators on both sides leaned forward eXpec
tnuty. He had left his seat IN the outer row %
Sis and taken his stan midway on the Dem
ncrdtic side in the front row, with Harris %
Tennessee on one SIDE, ana Wallace OF Penn
sylyana on the other An open volume o.
the Congressional Record lay on the desl
before him. lie began very dellbertely, sayin!
no must confess his SURPRISE and regret tha
the Senator from Massa 'husolls should haN
wantouly. without proypcGton. nung this in
suit. hut almost the ilt-t sentence he uiurc'
was punctuated 10y the sharp. quick rap OF th
Presidents Euyrl. Limuuds wts in The cha =
rs grim and sry"re-loOhlng rs mt itself. H.
said sharply, " The senator from MISSISSIPPI
will suspend MS he Is out OF order"
Lamar. with surprised oppression on hi
face. looked up luqurInEly az tho Chair, III
munds had risen amt stood with one hand rest
ing on the Presidents desk his tall form tower
ing above the exhausted clerks ntthe desk hcloN
With great elaboration j" said: In tue luig
ment OF the Char the $ 'uator from Ml7siss .pu
is out 4 order in using unparhnmentary Ian
gnagr..
threw back his head, and deliberately cnuu
eiating every word. said: In the judgment d
the Senator from Mississippi he is entirely u
order, and his language Is not only parlia