The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-03

but no man, sir, TO matter what he may
ike, or how valuable he may be in
speech, shall deter me from saying, in
my representative capacity, what deem
the interest of my constituents, require
me to say. Applause on the Republi'
can side
Continuing, Mr., Bragg said that to en-
ter on the policy of purchasing private
papers would be TO hold out an adver
iisement for men to &C ma in and say
they possessed valuable records which
were necessary to The true history Of the
war. Those gentlemen came here
wearing widows' weeds and utterirg the
sighs of wives and mothers whose hus'
bands were in the grave, and through
such piteous appeals sought to strike the
chord of sympathy and drive legislators
away from the line Of duty. But when
the appropriation was passed 1t was
found the widow wore pants and boots
and had money enough to spend the
winter in Washington, Laughter.I
Mr.. Blackburn saw no reason for any
feeling in this matter, nothing unusual
had been presented to the House.
When the gentleman from Wisconsin
said il had been stated in the debate
that commission had been appointed
by the Secretary of War, which had re-
ported upon the value of papers, and
that report had been sent to tie Com
mittee on Appropriation, if he meant he
Blackburn had made such statement,
The record of that debate, the facts of
the case, all agreed and united with
him in replying that the statement was
not true When the gentleman from
Wisconsin talks about men coming here
in sighs and pleadings for widows and
orphans, he surely did not mean to re-
fer to the gentlemen on both sides W ho
had favored this clause. For one, upon
the record which the gentleman had
made, and had never failed to make,
and to which all decent men were
Wiling to admit him entitled to mo-
nopOly, he (BIackburn) would sooner
appeal TO that court over which Rhoda'
manthus presided than to such a quarter
for mercy, clemency, or fair dealing
Bragg-Does the gentleman propose
to be the sef.Constituted organ of the
decent men of this HouseP
Black burn made no reply, but pro.
ceeded to explain the facts in relation to
the report of Colonel Scott upon the
value of the papers under discussion,
and, in concluding his remarks, said
can, in conclusion, but express my
deep and profound regret that nothing
that touches any right that ever pertain
ed to any body either before the war or
during the war, or since, suffices to pre-
vent members of this House from tear
ing open the gaping wounds that time
seems unable to cure. 1t is sad for us
to be confronted day after day with
proof that there are yet caricatures upon
humanity who insist on playing the role
Of ghoul and hyena to the disgust of all
just and peace-loving men. Applause
on the Democratic side.
Mr.. Conger offered an amendment
providing that, before any money shall
be paid the officer making the purchase
shall be satisfied that all papers are the
original and entire papers first proposed
to be sold to the Government. Adopted,
On motion of Mr.. Warner, the provi-
sions of the bill was made to apply also
to the papers of General J. B. Hood.
Mr.. McCook offered an amendment
providing for the purchase Of private pa
pers of Generals, Thomas, Meade, Hal
leck, Reynolds, Hooker, Mcpherson,
Lyons, Kearney, Mansfield, Nelson and
Sedgewick, relating to the war of the re-
belIion.
To this Mr.. Hawk offered an amend
ment, which was adopted, providing
that none of the money shall be used
unless the commission shall have ascer-
tanned the value Of the papers,
Mr.. McCook's amendment as amend
ed was agreed to, but subsequently Mr..
Thomas motion prevailed. and the
whole paragraph, together with the
amendments, we're stricken from the bill.
The committee then rose and the |
House took recess until 7:3o, the even
ing session, for confederation of district |
business.
A Republican caucus was announced |
to take place Immediately.
Stevenson presided at the evening ses-
sion. After passing the bill authorizing
The appointment of extra policemen for
a few days before and after Inauguration
day. the bill came up declaring inaugur-
alton day legal holiday in the District.
An amendment was offered by Mr..
Brewster prohibiting the sale Of intoxi-
eating liquors in the District March 4th
next. Debate followed, and the vote
.esulting 81 to 81, Mr.. Clymer raised a
point of mo quorum, and the House