Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-03-04
A TILT In THE SENATE,
sharp Debate On n Hill 10 Repeal the
statute Against the AppOisi tmsent of
Ex.RcbelS i'm the ARMY.

VINO served III the feDetnOn. The Ques-
ton being on the passage of the bill.
Edmunds said:
ave have now this question presented
upon perfectly fair grounds. No special
legislation 70 provide for favorites of
particular men, bat 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 1t comes 10.
Thurman-With great Difference to
my friend, l say it comes to no such
thing, and that it is Il mere ghost that is
fitting before his eyes when he sees any
such vision. l 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 the men who were
lately in the Coufederacy. ] did suppose
long enough time had elapsed to quiet
the fears of anybody who is not harassed
with nervousness that God forbid
should ever harass me, about the loyalty
of the people of the south How can
fny of these men get appoint
ments in the army? Only by a
>omination by the president and
! confirmation by the senate. Who are
! likely to get positions Certain
ly not old men, certainly not
men who are avera ging on the three
score years and ten. Who ARE likely to
be needed in case we should 60 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 Spangled Banner rs
any men between here and Canada, and
we are asked to brand them, for which
there is no political or any other neces-
sity. ] 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 inquiripg whether or not he did not
some time or Other bear a musket in the
Confederate army
Logan called attention to the fact that
congress had several times of late autho-
rized appointments i'll the army, in order
to be placed on the retired list, of per-
sons who resigned mt the beginning Of
the war in order to keep out OF the war.
Under this bill any person in the Con-
foderate army could be appointed i'll the
army. He denounced the injustice of
such proceedings Il claim" he con-
timed, -" here, i'll the presence of sena-
tors for whom | have high respect, some
of whom fought on the other side from
mine in the late contest say there
should he distinction made in our army
to-day, i'll 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 anlmosity
against those menno such thing. They
may have been misguided or not That |
is not the question. They were found |
mept. 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 its de |
strnction. | would not do ii, ! never .
will do it,
A colloquy followed between Thurman |
and Logan, at the conclusion Of which /
Mr.. Edmunds again spoke, saying: ="
wish to say to the senator from Ohio
(Thurman) that he is greatly mistaken
when in this and other like DISCUSSIONS he
uses the word hatred, apparently I'M
putting to gentlemen who differ with HIM
in opinion as sentiment of ammosity to
our colleagues on the other side, and
their friends who, as we think, contrary
TO the constitution and in violation of
their duty 10 it. went into rebellion,
Now, | want to state that any man, north
or south, who imputes to any kepubl-
can. anywhere. that / ever heard Of, amy
such sentiment of hatred or animosity
makes a great mistake 1T IL not true.
We are only, when We oppose these meas
ures, doing what we consider 10 be neces-
sary for the security and good order of
the whole Union, audit is not hatred, ami
mostly or prejudice against these gentle
-. W.. Luun lnlanrcl ,,nant Aln i'm !