The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-19

SLlLuLiOTS WHICH nave SclL uDTOAQ tnen VINO
favored the rebellion In this government, how
can he consclentiously vote for nppropria-
tons to West Point7 How can he defend
Northern institutions ut which Southern men
appropriations when the leading men of the
confederate army oil graduated there?
Mr.. Keller /: The gentleman has put a very
fine question:, a very refined one. If 1t hap
pcned In the past that students who came to
the North from the South where they had
drunk In Mt the fOuntainheadn and been taught
In the cradle the doctrine OF State rights, aud
that slavery was Il divine Institution, attend
ed a northern institution, then went back TO
their own people and still In some cases con-
Cured IN their early views. the gentleman
says my reasoning would have us destroy
that institution or never rebuild 1t II Destroy
ed. My reasoning does not go to any such
extent as that: But I do not object to the
10 to West Point We hope and expect now
that only loyal sentiments, true patriotism,
league, will be taught Mt West Point to mill
tary cadets, and hence I am willing to vote
appropriations to curry IT On. southern men
have learned much by the lesson Of the
Wal.
I have some other suggestions I desire to
make. 1t has been very common on this floor
for those who take great pains always to OPP
pose the payment Of the claim OF a loyal man
South during the war. I want to call atten-
ton to the fact TINT the records OF the War
Department. and I say tito the credit Of the
Southern States, Will show that above seven.
States entered the Union Army. 1 here give
them TO you by States. The number Of men
sent from those States is rs follows: Virginia,
IS; North Carolina, 3,575; Georgia, l52; Ala
Louisiana, 5,357: Texas, 2y444; Arkansas, s,6A;
and Tennessee, q, 1897, Innkinga total Of 52,7l5.
In addition to this number about twenty
thousand white troops from these States
fnlnQflv from Tan nGSan nnI Ala hn mnl tgoFn
enlisted as refugees In organizations not cm.
braced In the foregoing, makinga grand total
Of over seventy thousand white l0yalists who
stood by the Government In its hour OF Ian
ger. And even this does not include several
thousand whose actual presence swclled the
ranks OF the Army Of The Republic, but
whose real numbers cannot be known
men : South til aid pIiS not 90 into mt the fe''1 Union ii 10 Army.
| know instances OF men from Mississippi.
Georgia, and other Southern Suites, for | have
had occasion to ami into their history,
who stood out against their States when they
seeded, against their friends, their brothers.
and fought the doctrine Of secession and up
held the flag Of the Union to the end, and who
were trampled Into the dust In every conceiv,
able way during the war. We prohibited
them. and rIghtiully perhaps, from coming
here or going to the courts and having their
claims adjusted and paid because they do not
consist solely OF claims for supplies.
But I am not here to go Into that question.
I have another purpose In view. When gem
tlemcn have suddenly become converted to
some new doctrine we are naturally
suspicious and cast about for The rSas ,
same gentlemen seated here now,
within the last ten days allowing n bill
to 60 through this Hous by unanimous con-
sent reported by the gentleman from Illi-
rnittee on War Claims. appropriating half q
million OF dollars for just that class Of claims
that gentlemen are constantly. when spec
ial claim comes up, dcclalming against.
Mr.. Finley: Why did not the gentleman
Mr. Keller: Ibid not object because I be.
licved 1t was right. But gentlemen who
a special case to deal with, and a loyal mans
case Is up and not the case OF q dlsloyal man,
did rise to oppose that bill. Their object Is to
make capital before the country. l will state
further that within the next two weeks there
will be another bill OF the same character
passed by this House ~appropriating over $780,
quo for claim mostly from the States OF Ten
neSseo and Kentucky Of loyal men for sup
plies furnished the army during the war. bns-
cd on claims examined by the Quartcrmas-
ter's Department and the department OF the
Commissury of Subsistence, and allowed by
the proper accounting officers. 1t is said we
sIOO, OOO. 100. Well, now. wa that rights
If we will so ,back II little further TO the
time when the war ragged. even to the period
when the first army crossed into Eirsin!n
IrOm OIlO, leu ny alCAleildll, anu Wien We
had some gold in the army chests, we paid
loyal and dlsloyal men alike for the supplies
that we took. When the United States was
fortunate enough to have money In many OF
tho campaigns, for good reasons and wise rur-
poses, perhaps, loyal and diSlOyul alike were
paid for supplies for the army.
But when we got through tho war. and
when we had come to the end Of 1t. VIC estab-
l!slied a principle that cut of all 9isloyal per,
that we would pay loyal men for supplies
and we lave continued to act upon that prin-
c!pie up to the present time.
| want to say further, In conclusion, that I
would not surrender at any time the just
claims Of loyal men, North or South, In order
that by so doing 1t might have some effect In
snltening the hearts OF the people, rs the gem
tlcman from Massachusetts hopes. to the
point of peilsionlnG confederate soldiers.
Mr.. Bright: l desire to move that the COM
mfttcc rise. but the gentleman from Ken
tucky DIR. Blackburn asks me to yield TO
him. and | will do so on condition that at the
close Of his remarks he will move that the
committee rise.
Mr.. Blackburn I will do so. I have no
concern In this bill. but I desire to enter a
disclaimer. IF 1t be true that the ghost OF the
recent struggle Will not down, and that there
IL no pabulum upon which certain stalwart
pntrlots can feed except VIC rcsuscitate 1t !
want the gentleman from Ohio to tell me
what 1t Is In the shape OF q southern claim
with which he Is accustomed to alright the
country has there ever been offered here en-
ceept 1t was prGdicated upon precedent estab.
lislled by hlsown party? Who Is there TINT
has ever asked an American Congress to pay
one dollar upOn any southern clam that was
not to pass into the pocket OF one who as con-
ditional precedent had proven his own loyal
ty to you and his disloyalty To us? Who is
there here or elScwheret that has ever asked
to have q confederate soldier pensioncd?
Mr.. Keller: The gentleman from Massa-
ehusetts did so.
Mr. Butler I was there and not hero.
Mr.. Kcifcr The gentleman from Kentucky
will agree with Inc In that.
Mr.. Black burn : We will see. how closely
we will run together. WHO'S 1t that has ask
ed Congress to pension confederate soldiers?
Who Is it that has ever undertaken to elevate
the confederate soldicr.into the councils Of
was not the South: It. was not the democracy
1t was tic hybrid administration that has
developed this capacity.
Mr.. Foster: Who is trying. to elevate one
OF them into the Spcakership of this liousc?
Mr.. Blackburn: l trust the gentleman from
Ohio will exhibit the taste to do that.
~Iaugh:er,l
No, Mr.. Chairman, that Is not our purpose.
peace. Go on and build up our educational
The gentleman from Ohio need not be
frightened because Of the dognlaS taught In
the South In the days OF It's prosperity.
In answer to the question from the gentle
man from South Carolina l will reply that In
the Military Academy ut West Point prior to
the war the very same objection was made
tlnt isbruught against this institution.
Point Inc to 4 man that has ever shed lustcr
on the American arms, who was not Il grad
uate Of that institution before The war broke
out, and who was not taught all OF the Consul
tuition from Rawle'S OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ly the most advanced advocate OF the rights
of secession ever published In this land.
That was the horn-book of our national Acad-
elny.
But 1t was not to discuss these matters that
I asked the attention OF the committee; II
was simply in my own right as an humble
member and that element In this House that
has TO day been dragged into the discussion
against its will. and which never thrusts Itself
upon the attention OF the House to call at
tentiOn to the injustice Of these attacks made
upon the South.
The South does not ask the paying of pen;
sions 10 her crippled soldiers. She staked
her all upon her convictions, and she lost II
when the question was referred TO tlat strong
a%rbitrament of battle, and from then until
now as she never will In the future, has she
complained or will she complain. She bears
her losses. and she simply protests that 1t IS
neither kind, nor generous. nOr. manly, nor
mcrciful to drag her here when she IL making
every effort to restore her shattered fortunes
In order to make her the football Of men who
seem to have more at heart the seeking OF
partisan purposes than the advancement OF
the common good.
tee rise, in accordance with my promise to the
gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. Bright
MIR. Reagan: l hope the gentleman Will
yield to me for q few moments.
Mr.. Bright: l am willing to yield ir q
short time TO the gentleman from Texas.
Mr. Reagan MIR. Chairman, | have never
uttered IL word upon this floor about this
matter, and / simply want to express the sur
prise | nave felt at the line which the discus
sion has taken every time his question