The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-07
FoRTY-sIXTH CONGRESS.
Discussion ON the Removal of Political
Disabilities OF Southern Petitioners.
WASHINGTON, February Q.
HOuRE.

|
A number OF bills were introduced anC
referred.
Consideration was then resumed Of the
bill removing the political disabilities o.
John Owen, of Virginia.
Mr.. Conger opposed the bill on the
ground that the petition alluded to the
"war of the Confederacy," while the
Fourteenth Amendment mentioned the
"War OF Insurrection."
Mr.. Goode replied that there was moth
ing in the Fourteenth Amendment which
required any petition, and while it had
been the practice Of Congress to require
every person to make application for re-
lief in respectful terms, no form of petit
ton had been heretofore prescribed. 1t
seemed to him too late in the day-fiiteen
years after the termination OF the war-to
take departure like this and make men
write the word traitor and "rebel"
with his own hand on his own brow, and
get down in the dust and cry "unclean"
before the great government would con.
slider his petition.
Mr.. Conger replied to Mr.. Goode. Had
it come 10 this? Was there statute OF
limitation on rebellion and treason2
Why was the petitioner here, II not to say
he had been, engaged in rebellion against
his Government, and TO have his disabili-
ties removed? Why not.let every man
come and say that he had been engaged In
the "late unpleasantness? The House
had too often heard these rose.colored
names for rebellion, to have them re.
printed in the public records. There was
constant insidious and continuous effort
being made on the other side OF the House
to incorporate. in the literature of the
House, smooth sounding words for rebel.
lion, treason and insurrection, until, II
anyone used the good old-fashioned words
he was Immediately rebuked. He ex-
pressed himself as surprised, that so many
OF his Republican colleagues, had last
Friday voted for q disability bill similar TO
the present one. Thank God he was not
one OF those who had such records. BE
hoped his remarks would call the attention |
OF the people and soldiers Of the North to
this tendency, even on his side Of the |
House, and to forget the dismal and horri- |
BILE past, and 10 smooth it all over by the
application OF new kind Of literature in |
the proceedings Of the House.
Messrs. Young, Ellis and Goode rose to |
reply but Mr.. Wood objected on the |
ground that further discussion was un-
wise and Improbable. The vote on the
passage OF the bill was, yeas 1866, nays ~.
The House then went into Committee
OF the Whole (Mr. Findlay in the chair)
on the private calendar. The House
having been in committee for about an
hour and not single bill having been
agreed TO owing to objections being made
by Messrs. Warner and Sparks.
Mr.. Bayne moved that the Committee
rise. Mr.. Cofroth hoped the motion
would be withdrawn. If there were any
gentlemen who did not desire soldiers to
obtain pensions he wanted their names TO
go on record,
Mr.. sparks-That allegation against the
gentlemen objecting is out Of place, un-
founded and untrue 80 far as it relates TO
me. The gentlemen passes special bills
for men in his district to the prejudice OF
my district.
Mr.. Cotfroth-Actions speak louder than
words.
Mr.. sparks-I will not appeal from the
pension Office to you.
The motion 10 rise was defeated. 1t
becoming evident, however, that but little
business could be transacted the Gem
mittee finally rose after agreeing to two
pension bills, and tho House adjourned
until Monday.