The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-03-06
Congressional.
WASHINGTON March 3.

WASHINGTON, March 3.
SENATE.-When the motion to recon-
slider the bill making appropriation to
pay arrears of pensions was agreed to,
Hoar offered an amendment that no pen
sion shall ever be paid under this act to
Jefferson Davis, late President of the So
called Southern Confederacy. Hoar
said the name in his proviso had not
been singled out by selection of his own
or from any person who agreed with him
politically; the name had been selected
by Davis himself, by his own act, in
marked and conspicuous character by an
attack on the life of the country which
educated him. That gentleman had
never given utterance to an expression
of regret for such attack, nor had he
followed the example of so many of his
associates beseeching Congress to re-
move his disabilities. He spurned the
clemency of the republic to-day. 1t was
now proposed to put the name OF this
person, whose treason had not been re-
pented of, on the pension rolls of the
country, and to tax loyal widows and
orphans to pay the pension.
Garland said he did not know what
motive the Senator from Massachusetts
had in introducing his amendment, but
it was curious spectacle to exhibit to
the American people at this late hour of
the day, while the government pensions
Longstreet by small post Office in Geor-
gia, q Republican administration sent
Governor Orr, minister to Russia, and
Mosby. who boasted that he was the Ma
rion in the second war, to China as con-
sui. He felt satisfied that Jefferson Da-
| Wis would scorn pension. That gentle
| man did not ask it. He had served
under Mr.. Davis in civil capacity.
Mr.. Davis was a gallant soldier in the
Mexican war. His services were on re-
cord; and although they did not COM
pass, they equalled those of Greece and
Rome.
Mr.. Shields took different view from
both sides. He thought that by singing
out Jefferson Davis from ten millions OF
people in the South it was giving him
distinction greater than he deserved.
Bailey said the country was to-day
longing and wishing for peace, and he
appealed to Senators on the other side to
do nothing to prevent it. The people of
the South, having lost ali in the war
were poor, and they desired to restore
their industries.
Maxey briefly spoke of the services
rendered by Davis in the Mexican war,
aud said he would leave it for those who
fought with him to pass judgment on the
amendment of the Senator from Nassa-
chusetts.
Mr.. Thurman said that the amend
ment asked him to single out Jefferson
Davis for punishment, when other men
who went as far as he did were not only
not punished but have been appointed to
the highest stations in the government;
and in this connection he mentioned the
| names of Akerman, formerly United
States Attorney General, the present
Postmaster General Key, General Long.
street, Postmaster at Gainesville, General
Mosby, of guerrilla fame, all and many
Others of the same class being appointed
by Republican administrations. He saw
on the bench, too, men who were actively
engaged in the Confederate service who
were just as guilty as Jefferson Davis.
The proposition before them came from
the Senator of State Massachusetts,
whose treason had beer more violent and
longer than that of any other State IN
the Union. Thurman did not want to
pick out Jefferson Davis as martyr
when all the others who had acted with
him walk the earth unchallenged.
Mr.. Lamar, replying to Hoar, said he
must confess his surprise and regret that
the Senator from Massachusetts should
have wantonly, without provocation,
flung this insult
The chair (Edmunds) called the Sena-
tor to order for his language.
Lamar--I suppose it is in order to
fling insults, but out of order for those
who are insulted to hurl back the blow.
| appeal from the decision of the chair.
The question being taken, the decision
of the chair was over-ruled; yeas 10,
nays 81.
Lamar proceeded, eulogizing Davis
and protesting against attempts to single
him out for obliquity from the body of
the Southern people who had chosen him
for their leader in a cause dear alike to
him and all his followers.
The debate was continued by Blaine,
Hoar, Lamar and others.
Chandler said that eighteen years ago
he and JEFF. Davis came into the Senate
together, and both at that time swore to
support the constitution of the United
States. Davis had come from Pierce's
Cabinet, and when he took the oath
there was treason in his heart and per-
jury on his lips. He took the oath to
support government he meant to over
throw. He (Chandler) considering the
conduct of Davis during the war, did not
expect to hear eulogies on Jefferson
Davis on the floor of the Senate. He
was surprised to hear them, especially as
every man, woman and child in the
North believe JEFF. Davis to be double
dyed traitor.
Coke said that Davis was not worse
than he was, and very many of the South
srn people, who selected him as their
leader; he was not ashamed to vote for
Davis any more than he was to vote for
any other man or on any other subject.
~. was" said Mr.. Coke, "as much of a
rebel as jeff Davis"
Further discussion ensued, in which
Messrs. Gordon, Window, Ransom and
Beck participated, the last named saying
that the Mexican veteran amendment
was voted in with the aid of eight Re-
publican votes, and that the bill was
passed with fourteen Republicans voting
for it. But for Republicans he wanted it
to be understood the bill would not be
the law of the land.
Hoars amendments to exclude Jeffer-
son Davis was agreed to by vote Of %
to %. A vote was then taken on the
amendments of Shields to pension the
Mexican veterans as amended. On mo-
ton of Hoar, disagreed 10 by vote of 90
to 25. The bill then passed by vote of
A to3.
Allison then reported that the confer
ence committee on the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill were
unable to agree. A new committee was