The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-01-29

friend from New York, but he Tegarde,
this question IS being q question 0
principle, and he was not to be driver
from the views he maintained by any gen
eralitiesi he compared this case to Bene
dict Arnold's.
BENEDICT ARNOLD
had fought nobly, bravely and we'll, bu
he had deserted the flag Of his country ii
the trying hour; Capt. Page had Tough
bravely on Lake Erie; 1t would have beer
better for him had he died sustaining thl
flag Of his country in the glorious battle o
Lake Erie than to have, in his later years
spat on that flag, by rendering his resigua
ton Of the Commission in the hour ot bill
Country's peril. [Applause on thu
Republican side, II Congress did awaI
with the principle here, where wa
1t TO end, II this woman was to be paiG
because she was old and poor that waI
one thing, but II Congress was to pay hel
because che was the wife OF an officer who
had resigned from his Couutry's serviCt
that was another thing,
A Democrat inquired whether at the
time Of Capt Pages resignation there had
been a rule providing for the payment ol
the debt to him.
Mr., Bragg-There was that law recog'
nized everywhere that he who deserts bis
Country's flag in the hour OF peril Is enti'
tied to no respect from that country after.
wards, unless what Ehe may give him by
way OF gratuity. | should say gentle.
men who broke the Constitution and
fled from II are not the men 10
hold 1t before me. am anxious
never 10 hearagain mention OF the South
eTn Rebellion. / would fain wipe 1t out
forever from my eyeslght and my memory,
and say to my friends In the South who
ask the people To do this, "Do not con.
tinue claims on The calendar Of this
House and keep 1t live issue by con.
tinually endeavoring to get from the
Treasury something which involves the
discussion Of the rebellion" The differ.
enCe lies precisely there. 1t Is in vain
you ask the people OF the North to close
their eyes when their ears listen con-
tinually to
RAPPENG ATTHR TRRAspRY DOOR.
l say let rebellion sleep when It does
sleep.
Mr.. Hawley said II he were asked
whether he were willing to pay the claims
OF the widow Of useful officer, he should
very likely make no objection, but when
the gentleman presented bills OF this de-
scrlption and said that they were as good
a debt as any represented by any bond,
and that nothing had been done to forfeit
any obligation which the Government
was under, he was disposed to resist 1t.
During the war somebody was right and
somebody was wrong; somebody won and
somebody lost. The Fourteenth amend.
ment was the judgment OF the nation on
that subject. .
Mr.. Goode asked II the gentlemen held
that the Government had the right TO
visit Capt, Pages sin on his widow and
children.
Mr., Hawley replied that Mr.. Page had
virtually committed the crime OF treason,
and II he fell pace short Of II 1t was on
account Of his old age.
Mr.. Goode-Will you follow him TO tho
grave2
Mr.. Hawley replied he would 20 to the
old mans grave and help build monu.
ment for his services to his country. He
recalled the story Of what q woman said
about Benedict Arnold, that she would
take the leg that was wounded at Saratoga
and preserve 1t, and hang the rest Of his
body.
Mr.. Hooker replied to Mr. Bragg's
speech that Benedict Arnold, II history
taught Alright, was traitor to the Govern.
me1t for a money consideration. He
knew Of no man In the South who took hs
side. For his section II could be said
Il was not the fTst time In the history OF
English speaking people that words had
eliminated In wager Of battle. The war
Of the rebellion had occurred from the
conviction OF right on one aide and right
on the other aide. Who talked oi sending
such men as \. j. Lee, Stonewall Jackson
and A. s. johnson down on the long
pages Of history with brand upon them
like that upon the character OF ArnoldP
However great q man might be In intellect
or power who tried that, he would fail, for
great as had been the leader o the con.
federate army when he had
LED HIS HOSTS INTO BATTLE
He had been greater still when the war
was over, and he had devoted the remain.
Ing years Of his lie to.teAChing the young
men Of the land he loved 30 we'll. When
he had perished, all over this land had
been heard regrets that 80 good man
had fallen, and these regrets crossing the
ocean came revefberating back In every
language and tongue. Applause on the
Democratic side.
Mr.. Reed said: This business Of the
past was not to be got over by fine
speeches OF eplogium. There had been
great war. That war had been decided,
and the country demanded there should
be peace on the subject. No body desired
II more than the gentlemen on his side,
They were tired and sick Of alluding 10 the
souTliERN REBELLION AND SOUTHERN CLAIMS,
and 1t was never their fault that the sub.
ject was brought up, lie wanted the
Democracy to heed the warning Of the gen.
temsn from Wisconsin [Bragg.1 What
the Democrats and Republicans both
wanted was oblivion Of The past.
Mr., Wright declared that II the friends
Of the pending bill would Withdraw itfrom
the calendar he would give the woman q
check for the amount involved.
Mr.. Goode said he appreciated the gen.
erous motives which prompted the gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania Wight to
make the offer, but be wanted the House
and country. 10 understand that the
widow Of Hugh NJ. Page, the hero
Of Lake Erie, was not hero begging
aims; she came asking the passage of this
bill as q matter Of simple Justice, The
Government Dyed her h19bah1 for gallant
owed the husbands estate TO day, and Il
the Government pursued the man In hiB
grave and said II would not pay The
widow, twas guilty oi the rank crime otre.
pudiation. II the gentlemen were ready to
tpniiiialp the honnRk lAhk lat than iakb