Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-03-03
A TILT IN THE SENATE.
Sharp Debate On a Bill to Repeal the
Statute Against the Appointments of
Ex-Kebels i'm the Army.

-
occurred in the senate, on Wednesday,
over bill to repeal section 1918 of the
revised statutes, which forbid the APP
pointment to the army of any person
who served in the rebellion. The ques-
ton being on the passage of the bill.
| Edmunds said:
owe have now this question presented
upon perfectly fair grounds. No special
legislation to provide for favorites of
particular men, but broad principles. "
He then went on to say that the object of
the bill was not to affect young men,
unless boys twelve years old were enlist
ed in the Confederate army. Senators
would see by figuring it up that the sole
purpose and effect of the repeal was to re-
store to the United States army among
others the very men who deserted it to
make war against the flag they had been
educated and sworn to support. That is
what it comes to.
Thurman-With great Difference to
my friend, I say it comes to no such
thing, and that it is a mere ghost that is
fitting before his eyes when he sees any
such vision. / did suppose that the
people of this country had the right to
the services of every able-bodied man in
time of war, and that If we should get
into war again-and no country can say
it will always be at peace-we have the
right to the services of themen who were
lately in the Confederacy / did suppose
long enough time had elapsed to quiet
the fears of anybody who is not harassed
with a nervousness that God forbid
should ever harass me, about the loyalty
of the people of the south. How can
any of these men get appoint
ments in the army? Only by
nomination by the president and
confirmation by the senate. Who are
likely to get positions Certain
ly not old men, certainly not
men who are averaging on the three
score year sand ten. Who are likely to
be needed In case we should go into war
again? Not those alluded to by the SEN
ator from Vermont, who left our own
army and went into the Confederate SER
vice; but there are men of military talent
and experience who are as ready to serve
now under the Star Spang3d Banner as
any men between here and Canada, and
we are asked to brand them, for which
there is no political or any other neces-
sity. I am not afraid of the northern
people on the subject. The northern
people, majority of them, want to bury
the hatred of the war. They want
peace; they want fraternity once more;
and they do not want to reject the ser
vice of any competent and now loyal man
by inquiriDg whether or not he did not
some time or other bear musket in the
Confederate army.
Logan called attention to the fact that
! Iol - 1o4
rized appointments in the army, in order
to be placed on the retired list, of per-
sons who resigned at the beginning of
the war In order to keep out OF the war.
Under this bill any person in the Con-
federate army could be appointed in the
army. He denounced the injustice of
such proceedings. 81 claim" he con-
tinued, here, in the presence of sena-
tors for whom l have high respect, some
of whom fought on the other side from
mine in the late contest say there
should be distinction made In our army
to-day, in time Of peace, between those
who fought for the Union and those who
fought to destroyit. [ have always main
tanned that, and [ ever shall maintain,
not because [ have feelings of animosity
against those men-no such thing. They
may have been misguided or not. That
is not the question. They were found
In a certain position, against the govern
ment. Being found there they are not
entitled again to wear the uniform of
this country and draw its sword, to the
preference of the men who have always
been faithful to it. Now, sir, in time of
war the senator from Ohio (Thurman)
asks If we would not allow these men to
fight. Sufficient unto the day is the
evil thereof When war comes, we will
consider the question, but in time Of
peace, [ say, without giving any opinion
as to the future, would not place men
in the army-by the side of men who
struggled for the existence of this gov
ernment-those who fought for it's de-
struction. [ would not do it, I never
will do it. )"
A colloquy followed between Thurman
and Logan, at the conclusion of which
! Mr.. Edmunds again spoke, saying: 81
wish to say to the senator from Ohio
| (Thurman) that he is greatly mistaken
when III this and other like discussions he
uses the word Shatred, apparently i'm
putting to gentlemen who differ with him
| in opinion as sentiment of an1mosity to
our colleagues on the other side, and
their friends, who. as we think, contrary
/ to the constitution and in violation of
their duty to it, went into rebellion
Now, want to state that any man, north
or south, who imputes to any Repubi-
can, anywhere, that ever heard OF, any
such sentiment of hatred or animosity
makes great mistake. It is not true.
We are only, when we oppose these meas
ures, doing what we consider to be neces-
sary for the security and good order of
the whole Union, audit is not hatred, ami
mostly or prejudice against these gentle
men. We have labored under the i'm
preston that in every controversy there
must be right side and wrongsside,
and the delusion that we are under is
evidently that we are on the right side of
| that controversy which prevailed, and
that the consequences that followed
from being ON the right side are those
which the senator's desire that those
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