Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-02-15
he now receives. Referred to the Com.
mittss Of Whole.

mlltto VI w uOlc.
The House went into Committes Of
the Whole (Mr. Mills In the chair on
the private calendar, and an hour and q
half was consumed in the discussion OF
the private bill authorizing the Court Of
Claims To reopen and review the for
mer decision Of that court in favor of
Albert Grant, Of Washington.
At length Mr.. Eden moved that the
hill bs reported back with the recon-
mendation that il be laid on the table.
Agreed to by 50 to 6S.
Another long discussion took place ON
the adverse report OF the Committee ON
Invalid Pensions, which was ultimately
adopted, however.
q On the bill granting pension tos sol
dier in the Kentucky militia who Was
wounded while firing salute at n
United States fort on the 4th Of July,
1885, the argument turned on whether
the man MAS ~ far in tho United States
service as to be entitled To u pension.
The bill to pay $4,000 to Asa Weeks
for his labor and expenses in perfect
ing torpedoes and torpedo machinery
was laid aside to he reported favonbly
to the House.
Mr.. Butler said ~ long a. such claims
were presented for damages done dur.
ing the war or Tor property occupied
during the war, 50 long would there be
u misunderstanding between the sec-
tons of the Union. The land was dotted
all over with tho graves Of soldiers, and
no claim was made for the land thus
used As to the cotton fund which had
been set apart for the payment Of the
claims on il. he would vote for refer.
ring all such claims To the Court of
Claims. and to have them paid Ia the
extent OF that fund. II he believed
the evidence by which loyalty MAS
now proved, he would have difficulty
in imagining where and how the
South had recruited its armies.
Those armies hal been recruited by
all the able-boiird men in the south,
and with men that were not able
bodied, either on account oi old aye ar
youth. How did il happen that every
BODY that lost dollar during the war
loyal To the UIipn? lie VA, W ling
that tho States should be put upon the
same ground that the fathers OF the Re-
public 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 claims arise
out of he war except the
claims Of maimcd and disabled soldiers.
And with that determination on the part
OF the people OF the country both north
and south, the time would not bc lar
distant when feeling OF brotherhood
would take into the charge Of the gov
ernment the MANNED soldiers oi the
Southern army remembering their
courage, their steadhstness aud their
galantry and forgetting the mistaken
Judgment which made them fight upon
the side they did.
Mr.. White opposed the bill asa war
claim for the use oi and damages to
property in an insurrectionary state.
There Was no evidence ot prior con.
tract with United States officers. The
claim had lain by since 1852. and he sus-
pccted its honesty.
Mr.. keeier criticized Buffers speech,
and citing the part in relation to pen.
sioning Conferate soldiers, asked whether
he understood him correctly?
Mr.. Butler repeat that
whenever the question oi dcple-
ton of the treasury by those
war claims in over, think that the pity
or the humanity of the North will take
care OF the manned men ot the war, and
III YOU wish To know iU ] see no moIe
reason why the Confederate soldier,
manned and crippled in the honest dis
charge oi what he believed to
be his duty should not be pen
stoned than why the Confederate
General who honestly believed lac was
doing his duty should bo put into q Re-
publican Cabinet. General applause
and clapping Of hands on the Demo
cratic side.
Mr.. Kceier remarked that q fair in
ference from what Mr.. Butler had said
was that he was in favor Of appointing
Confcderatcs into the Cabinet.
Mr. Butler have not said that WAS
in favor OF il, nor do ] think the coun.
try has yet come up to 1t, but when We
have Withdrawn all causes of difference
nobody from the North will object "a a
Confederate being in the Cabinet any
more than from humanity 10 pension
Confederate soldiers
Mr. Keeicr-Thcn the gentleman un-
dertakcs 10 saw lat least that }. fair IN.
ferrncel that the preselt administration
is only step in advance Of him. lie
has not vet come TO the time when lac
is in favor Of putting Confederate gen
erals in the cabinet or ri pensionlng
Confederate soldiers.
Mr.. Butler-Neiiher one or the other.
Mr.. kecfer-Not yet by the gentle
man. lie thinks he is very nearly there; /;
he IL almost persuaded.
Without taking action on th. bill the
committee rose and the House took re-
cess. The evening session for debate
only.