The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-04
gnItttca1.
POLITICAL DISABILITIES.
A SHARP POLITICAL DEBATE IN
THE SENATE.
Star Route Deficiency Discussed In the House.
The Postmaster General Handled With
Out Gloves.
SENATE.

taken up. Mr.. Heiskell served In the Confeder'
ate army when boy, and under Section l,2lS,
Revised statutessis ineligible to appointment In
the army. He thinks he may get an appoint
ment as paymsster in the army, and asks to
have his disabilities under said section removed,
Mr.. Edmunds asked why the Senate avoided
passing the bill repeating the statute entirely
He thought that would be more open and brave
act He characterized this and all bills Of Its
kind as parts OF policy to break down the guar
anlees of four liberty.
Mr.. Garland thought 1t high time Section 1,2lS
was repealed. He proposed to amend the pend
ing bill by striking out all after the enaoting
clause and inserting THAT Section 12lS of Re-
vised Statutes (namiDg its prOVision) be and the
same Is hereby repealed"
Mr. Edmunds-I am very glad the Senator from
Arkansas (Mr. Gsrland), who is always logical
and always brave has made that motion. had
lust risen to make 1t myself In order to put this
question on It's true grounds hope tho amend
ment will be agreed to, and when 1t Is, will ask
the yeas and nays Oh the third reading Of the
bill
The amendment was agreed to- and the ques-
ton being on the third reading Of the bill, it was
determined In the sffrmatlve-Yeas &c. nays 2S-
a strict party vote, the Democrats voting yea, and
the Republicans nay.
When Mr.. Harris's name was called he stated
he was paired On all political questions with Mr..
Conkling and asked Mr.. Edmunds whether he
considered this political question,
Mr., Edmunds-I think decidedly It ia, and one
Of the chief ones Of the time.
Mr.. Harris-Then will withhold my vote.
The bill was read the third time
On the question Of its passage, Mr.. Edmunds
said I'VE have now the question presented upon
perfectly fair grounds. No special legislatiOn to
provide for the favorites of particular men, but
beyond principals" He went on to say that the
object Of the bill was not 10 affect young men,
unless boys under twelve years old were enlist
cd IL the Confederate army The Senators would
see by figuring it up that the sole purpose and
effect OF the repeal was to restore to the United
States army among others the very men who de.
serted 1! to make war against the flag they had
been educated and sworn to support That Is
what 1t comes to-
Mr.. Thurman-With great Difference to my
friend say 1t comes to no snch thing, and that II
70 mere ghost that Is fitting before his eyes
when he sees any such vision. did suppose
thai the people Of this country had 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 1t will always be at peace
we have right to the services Of the men who |
Wers lately in the Confederacy. l did suppose a
long enough time had elapsed to quiet the fears |
OF anybody who is not harrassed with rvous |
ness that God forbid, should ever hsrTasS me |
about the loyalty of the people Of the South
How can any Of these men get appointments In |
the armyH Only by nomination by the Presi. |
dent and confirmation by the Senate. Who are |
likely to get positions? Certainly not old men;
certainly not men who are verging on three.
score years and ten. Who are likely to be need.
ed In case we should go into war againH Not
those alluded to by the Senator from Vermont,
who left our own army and went into the con
federale service. But there are men OF military
talent and experience who are as ready to serve
now under the star spangled banner ss any man
between here and Canada, ana we are asked to
put brand on them, for which there is no polit-
ical or any other necessity. l am not afraid OF
the Northern people on the subject. The North
ern 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 service Of any competent and now 10y
al man by figuring whether or not he did not
some time or another bear the musket in the Con-
federate army.
Mr.. Beck supported the bill, and remarked he
had urged such measure upon appropriate oo
Casions, and some times, perhaps, when it was
not appropriate"
Mr. Logan called attention 10 the fact that
Congress had several times Of late authorized ap.
pOintments In the army In order to be placed on
the retired list, Of persons who resigned at the
beginning Of the war, in order to keep out OF
the war. Under this bill any person In
The Confederate army could be appointed
IN the army. He denounced the injug.
tice Of such proceedings II claim" he con.
tlnued "here in the presence Of Senators for
whom have high respect, some Of whom fought
on the other side from mine Of the late contest,
that 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
10 destroy 1t. l have always maintained that,
and ever shall maintain It, Not because
have feelings of animOsl.y against those men.
No such thing They may have been misguided
or not. That is not the question. They were
|
ment, and being found there they are not entlt.
led sgain 10 wear the uniform Of this country
and draw It's sword to the preference Of men who {
have always been faithful to It, Now, SIR, in the
time Of war, the Senator from Ohio (Thurman) {
asks II we would not allow these men to hght
Sufficient unto the day Is the evil thereof"
When war comes, we will consider the ques
don. But In time Of peace, | say without giving
any opinion aB 10 the future, / would not place
men in the army by the side Of men who strug. /
gled for the existence Of this Government who 9
fought for It's destruction. l would not do II. I
never will do IT," Is
Mr.. Thurman-The Senator from Illinois (Lo. I
gan) would not remove this brand from these
men in time Of peace, but when war comes,
should II come. with any foreign power or pow
ers, he is willing to say to these men here, we
have branded you during all these long years Of
peace and all the while when you were perfect
ly loyal, and now in the hour Of the countlys
need, we appeal to your patriotism to come out
and fight for it,"
Mr. LOgan-I did not say that.
Mr.. Thurman No; but that is exactly what It /
comes 10.
Mr.. Logan-I beg the Senator's pardon. said
no such thing. said it would be time to oonsid.
er that question when war comes, and Il the Sen
Ator wishes to call me out on that question,
will argue with him honestly Peace or war had,
the appointing power would give II to those
men who had never failed when their country
called. Applause in the gallery, which was
promptly checked by the Chair.l
Mr.. ThurmAn-That sounds very well indeed,
and we know now what the program OF the seu.
atOr is. that in war he would not commissloB one
single man, however loyal however eminent and
distinguished bis military talent II that man 80,
30, 20 yearS ego had been on the Confederate
side. l am perfectly willing the Senator shall
take that ground and stand on IT, In Further re
marks Mr. Thurman said he could not under.
stand how a Republican Senate bad confirmed !
nominations 10 the army In order to be nlaoed