The Opelousas courier., 1882-05-27
1--WE Ask no Forgiveness"

Senator George, OF Mlsslaslppl, IN .hs
II. S. Senate, we make the following
subioined extract, and give his senti
ments our unqualified approval:
The bill proposes a repeal of section
1918 of the Revised Statutes, which
reads as follows:
No person who has served In any capacity
in the military, naval, or civil service of the
s~o-called Confederate States, or of either OF
the States in instruction during the late
rebellion, shall be appointed to any position
in the army of the United States.
It has been shows air, by the Soma
tor from Kentucky Mr.. Beck and the
Senator from Texas Mr.. Maxey] that
under the rules regulating the ages of
appointses in the army this section can
have no practical effect but to exclude
from appointment persons who we've
net exceeding fourteen years of age at
the commencement of the war and who
at that tender age may have served IN
SEINE civil capacity, for such persons
we're too young for military service
except possibly for a few months pre-
cediug the close of the war. The
statute sought to be repealed is, there
fore, directed solely at persons who
were beardless bays at the time they
are supposed to have committed the
sin of civil or military services in behalf
of the States in which they were bern.
| This, sir, I repeat il its sole effect, so
far as it relates to the organization of
the army.
1t is claimed, however, by the oppo
nents of the bill that the section sought
TO he repealed has a moral and polite
al effect which justiies its retention CD
the statute book. 1t is argued that
there ia a right side and a wrong side
in the late war. and that. this sectien
should be retained as a perpetual men
ument of the r%ightfulness of the North
srn and the sinfulness of the Southern
side. Until | heard this objection
had supposed that the right and the
wrong in this matter, al in all others,
were to be settled in foro conscientt@,
by arguments addressed to reason, and
not by an &c post factO statute, born OF
the passions and directed against the
fears of men. But however this may
be, if monuments perpetual or ephe-
neral are necessary to show to the
world and to posterity the right and
wrong side Of the late war, are there
not enough for this purpose outside %
this section, which, in the spirit o
vengeance and distrust, imposes a pen
aity on the vanQnished With no com
pensatiDg advantage to the victor
On whatever side we turn our eyes we
behold menuments which tell the stor,
of victory to the n side and defea'
to the other; and 80 far as nigh
makes right (which | believe is TIL
rule now they also serve to fix thu
right and the wrong.
In this city, the capital of the Union
are erected, in enduring bronze OF mar
BILE, statues of the winning side. II
every Southern State are costly ant
magnificent cemeteries, 10 which
grateful country has deposited TIL
bones of her gallant dead who hat
fallen ON the side of the victor. when
in many instances, not even a rnd
stone, not a green mound, marks tn
spot which holds the ashes of the brav
men of the South who gave their live
for whst was to them a just and hol,
cause.
If you of the North want monument
al laaUs to tell Of your victory yon hav
them in tho three amendments OF tn
Constitution. You knew what the
are. I need not repeat them.
On the statnte-book there are ais
y many Of these monumental laws grant
alg pensions to the Union soldiers
pensions paid out Of a treasury SUI
piled by taxation on the Sonth as we
as on the North, while the maine
Southern soldier and the helples
widows and orphans of those who fe
! in battle or died since from wounds,
J unable to support themselves, mu'
depend on the charity of an impovel
] ished people or seek refuge from starr
, alton in the poor-lonse. The Soni
] makes no complaint of this. We ne
J ther object to the nations general
bountiss to Union soldiers, MOI do "
ask the national aid for car OWI
! These laws are monuments of Noftl
ern victory and Southern defeat bl
they are monuments also of henei
~cence, of gratitude for great service
and great sacrifices.
But this law sought to be repeale
J by this bill is not of that character.
confers no benefits, it bears no test
meny Of nations gratitude, it attes
no admiration for heroic services,
breathes no spirit of generosity
magnanimity, it adds no jewel to Il
chaplet of the %victor's brow, b
brands, or attempts to brand, with
~inefaceable stain the lioner and tt