The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-29
FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION
SENATE.
General Shields Takes His Seaf-Several
Bills Reported from COmmtftees-A
Long Discussion of the Warren Mitch
ell Bill.

Z
ell Bill.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 81
The credentials were presented of Senator
Shields, of Missouri.
Mr.. Shields then took the cath OF Office.
A large number of bills We're referred, IN
cluding one by Mr.. Ferry to reorganize and
discipline the militia of the United States.
/ The bill reported from the committee on
naval affairs, ON Thursday last, to abolish the
volunteer navy of the United States. Passed.
The Senate bill appropriating eco for the
purchase and erection of a military post of
Elpaso, Texas Passed.
The House bill authorizing the secretary of
the interior to pay Catherine and Sophia Ger
main $500 out of the annrities due the Chey-
enne indians, they having been captured by
said Indians while en- route from Georgia to
Colorado. Passed without discussion.
Mr. Edmunds, from the Judiciary committees
reported back the House joint resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the constitution pro-
thibiting the payment of the claims of disloyal
persons for property injured or destroyed IN
the war of the rebellion, with an amendment
in the nature OF a substitute. Placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Edmunds said the Judiciary committee
thought the resolution as it pas Led the House
was totally inadequate for the purpose indi-
Gated by the title. He gave notice that he
would call the bill up for consideration at an
early day.
| passing several bills on the calendar, the bill
10 pay Warren Mitchell for cotton taken
during the war was taken up and long dis
| cussion followed.
Mr.. Edmunds moved that it be IL Indefinitely
postponed-rejected; yeas q, nays %.
Mr.. Hill, in opposing the bill, said he would
vote against 1t, because it was a war claim.
He was opposed to the payment of all war
claims whether they be from loyal or dlsloyal
persons. He might probably except few re-
Iigious and educational institutions, whose
property was destroyed. To pay these war
claims would bankrupt the Government,
and as we could not pay all,
4 1t would be an unjust discrimination
| to undertake to pay some. The senators on the
Republican side said Warren Mitchell was
| disloyal and should not be paid. while the
senators on the Democratic side say he Is loyal
and should be paid. What was meank by the
word "loyalty?" Did it mean a man devoted
to the States under the constitution? 1t was
an easy matter for man in Maine or New
York to proclaim his devotion to the Union
during the war, but farther down, where the
sun is warmer, it required courage
for man to say he was devoted
to the Union. He CdilD knew thousands and
tens of thousands of men in the South
| who stood up and proclaimed their fidelity to
the Union to the very last moment. There
!. were many men who fought secession until II
become fact, and submitted to disunion as
they submitted to the death of father or son
When secession came the only thing they
could do was to go with their people. This
question of loyalty had not received the proper
definition. He knew thousands of men in the
South who would at any time during the wal
have terminated it upon a basis of honest re
J union. He believed the greatest possible cal
amity which could happen to this country
} would be one section exercising the powerl
| OF conqueror over another. Since ne had
been in Congress he had heard men denounc<