The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-05-25
Gen. Manone and the Tebbs Case.

i
The Washington correspondent Of the New
York Times introduces the recent letter of Gen
Malone, in reference to his vote on the Tebbs
case, as follows:
| Senator Malone has become target for virulen
abuse from allthe Funder papers and politicians
| In Virginia, because he voted, few weeks ago
with the Republicans to refer the case of Tebbs tc
the Judiciary Committee. DR.. A. Sidney Tebbs who
had incurred political disability through service In
rebel Legislature when boy, desires to enter the
United States army. The Military Committee re-
ported his bill favorably, but Senator Garland Sc
cured an amendmeRtin the committee which re-
moved Tebbs from the bill, and converted meas
ure OF relief for an Individual into general bill to
repeal the political disabilities imposed by section
1,2lS of the Revised Statutes. The Funder papers
have criticised Senator Mahones vote as an indica.
ton OF loss Of respect part for the soldiers of
the Confederacy. At first while vigorously con.
demning the ultra-southern Senator for what he
characterized as q contemplate and unnecessary
stirring up Of the bitter feeling, he refused to
pay any attention to the assault made upon him in
his own state It did not require much discernment
In his opinion, to find out that Senators Butler CALL
were trying to keep alive the war feeling in the
South because in the perpetuaton of that feeling is
the only hope Of success for the tagging Bourbon
Democracy Of that section. The Confederacy and
the memories Of the war their largest political
stock In trade, and they keep people
ed they will become old fogies In the popular
estimation.
Yielding to the requests Of largenumber Of vir-
ginta Liberals who have written to him, Gen Ma.
hone decided to answer all the attacks upon him by
letter to Lynchburg Read1uster and Administra-
ton man, Nal NJ. NJ Norman. His letter is as
follows:
t UNITED STATES SENATE
washington, D. c., May IL, 1882,
DEAR MAORI have not had anrearlfer moment
when Icould reply to your letter. Briefly, the mat
ter is this not In the Senate at any time dur
ing the proceedings the so-called Tebbs case
til the morning when the resolution proposing to
refer theibiil and all the amendments which have
been offered to the Judiciary Committee was called
in regular order. Without word of debate the
vote taken. voted for the resolution of refer
ceedings, as they are given In the Record, and
thought then, as do now believe, that under
hesitation, and am now the more assured of the
correctness and the wisdom of that vote. The
ence vas strictly the thing to do to arrest
You will observe that the original proposition
to relieve Dr. A. Sidney Tebbs Of the disabilities i'm
posed by certain statute Of the United States
am quite sure there would not have been word Of
objection to the distinct proposition. Uniformly
believe all and singular the applications hereto
fore made for such relief have been granted, even
In times when there fingered pre1udices Of the war
as to individuals and sections. This simple prOpo
sttion, however, was made the occasion for a bill
repeating statute practically dead in the form of
Lutte conversion of individual bill Of relief into
enc repeating statute. No one on the Military
this form the bill came up for consideration, when
q discussion followed which evoked bitterness and
fnsttgated the Offering OF several amendments. It
was here and In this condition found the subject
and voted for the reference to the Judiciary Conn
mittee, whose province rightfully is to formulate
any act repeating statute, and the more SO when
the proposition was now incumbered with proposed
amendments, in some respects homogeneous, and in
some respects II not absurd falling, as 1t occurred
AS to the statute which excludes those who were
In the Confederate military service from holding q
States, broadly stated, my opinion, my Judgment
and my feelings are that 1t involves nothing pract1
sentiment and that he with becoming self respect,
would only desire and appreciate the removal Of
such disability, when It comes Of the voluntary
ton OF the representatives Of that section and side
In the unhappy struggle by whom 1t was imposed.
The power and the right to impose such disability
were concluded fully and finally Appomattox and
the Confederate soldier, in my opinion will proud
~ bear every consequence Of Lees surrender-not
in anger, nor because there fingers with him any
hesitancy in his obedience to the laws which his
parole at Appomattox honorably bound him to re-
spect, nor any reservations in his allegiance to
1 cannot permit myself to aid in making the
graves of Confederate their widows and
oTpnauS, TO become the STAKES ana paWnS In the l
game Of politics. I will not become party to prof
itless discussions of irritating questions that are
closing and when the whole country Is drifting sure
~ and earnestly to the safe anchorage of peace
under the guidance Of President whose
policy toward the South is one Of friendship. But
why this latter-day anxiety for declaration OF |
zeal in behalf Of Confederate soldiers Mind you,
1t comes from the political associates those who
from 1879 to 1884, held control Of both houses Of
gress. Why not take that opportune occasion 1t |
Is not violent suppostion that the many gentle
men in Congress who had been Confederate soldiers
were then, and will not doubt are now, unwilling
to make an unmanly request for this supposed high
grace.
will by no word of mine check the pacifying and
liberalizing influences upon the whole country 1
which Virginia has set in motion. Let thank the
patriots who helping In that great work, and
move on heroically to our high purposes am,
very truly, yours, WILLIAM MALONE.