Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-02-21
FORTYSBvEyTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.
wAsHrxerox, Feb. 20.

Mr.. Hale, from the committee on census,
reported back the House apportionment bill.
and asked unanimous consent for its imme-
date consideration. Mr.. Cockerell objected.
but subsequently Withdrew his objection. Mr..
Hale stated he would renew his motion later
in the day.
Bills and joint resolutions we're introduced
by Mr.. Allison, authorizing the printing OF
fifteen thousand additional copies of the rec
ords Of the war of the rebellion.
The Senate proceeded to the calendar. Lo-
gan asked to nave taken up. as fret in order.
bill to place Gen. Grant on the retired list,
which he said had been informally passed
over on the calendar during his absence with
out losing its place. Mr.. Vest opposed the
bill and Mr.. Logan called for the yeas and
NAYS.
On taking it up Mr.. Call offered a resolu-
ton, VIII Oh, at his instance, WAS tabled to be
printed. that the government Of the United
States, in some proper form, adopt measures
| to settle the controversy between Chill and
Peru, and prevent forcible dismemberment
of Peru. that a congress be convened in
Washington, composed of representatives
| from the people and governments of the diff
frrent North snd.South American countries.
| tor the purpose of agreeing upon some just
method for the settlement of all questions.
MI. DdtdIu IdSOItu euDstItutc VI TIC oiii
| of which he gave notice, giving q retiring
pension to every President. which would en-
brace Gen. Grant. He favored deferring the
bill with \ view to the ultimate adoption of
such an amendment. After further discus
sion in which the proposition by MIR. Logan
to defer the bill until tomorrow, upon the
condition that it would then be proceeded
with until disposed of. was objected to. The
call for the yeas and nays was finally with
drawn. The bill was taken up. and the
amendment of the committee thereto adopt
ed without objection.
Mr. Vest said he had voted to place Fitz
John Porter on the retired list. because he
believed that that officer had been dismissed
from the army in violation Of law, and in a
most outrageous not to say extraordinary
manner. He had SO voted in the case of Gen.
Ord, whose long. active service had utterly
unified him for further duty. Neither of
these cases furnished q precedent for the
pending bill. He Vest would apply to Grant
the identical argument made by one whom
he termed the legal chief of the republican
party in the chamber, (Edmunds), in speak
ing upon the bill to retire Gen. Shields. Mr..
Vest quoted from the speech the allusion to
the failure of Shields to secure the place of
doorkeeper of the democratic House. His
candidacy for the place having Immediately
preceded the unanimous passage by the House
Of the bill placing him on the retired list. In
view Of which Mr.. Edmunds construed the
measure as an attempt to compensate the
BENEFICIARY from the treasury because of his
defeat in the House, and Mr.. Vest would now
make that statement applicable to the present
case, upon the assumption that the retire
ment of Grant was measure of cOmpeDsa-
ton for his defeat at Chicago.
hnr
was given for reply to Mr.. Vest, argued in
point there were abundant presidents for the
bill. The attempt to draw parallel between
Fitz John Porter and Grant, would remind
the country that Porter was dismissed from
the army because of wrong doing. by officers
who knew him well, and whose act was ap-
proved by the sainted Lincoln and by Gar
field who now dwells in the realm With Lin
coin. The other side of the chamber would
make distinction in favor of such man as
against the gallant old chief who led
the cohorts of the Union.
Mr.. Vest-I will take the testimony of
Grant himself on that matter. He has said
that a great outrage was perpetrated upon
Porter. and always defer to Gen. Grant.
(Laughter).
MIR. Logan replied that he had no DISPOSE
ton TO animadvert now upon anything Grant
had said. He wassonly comparing the two
men. not their opinions, but their conduct
His judgment was that Mr.. Porter was prop
.rly dismissed, and that the man who would
restore him to the position he had forfeited
by lack Of good faith and improper conduct.
would strike heavy blow at the men who
stood by the country IN its hour of peril, and
would have cause to reflect upon his mistake
The Congress that would give his case pre-
cedence over that of Grant, would go down
in history as one that ignored honorable for
dishonorable men.
MIR. Logan then eulogized Grants civil and
military services, and contended that the ex-
ceptional value of his achievements in the
field was such as to entitle him to retirement
on that account and not simply rs civilian
This was the ground of the objection to
Mr.. Bayards proposition. to cover the case
by provision for the retirement of express
idents. He (Logan) regretted from the bot
tom of his heart that the gentlemen on the
democratic side still cherished their preju-
dice against the man who had done SO much
to preserve the union of the states. If not
this, he would then ask the other side what
it was that melted their opposition.
Mr.. Butler said he disliked to be charged
with prejudice against Grant. He did not think
Gen. Grant wanted retirement nor that he
needed any such provisions in his behalf. nor
that it would be any additional honor to him.
The retired list, in his opinion, had been re-
served for disabled officers. He thought Gen
Grants friends were humiliating him BY put
ting him in the attitude of a beggar.
Mr.. Logan said that the gentleman seemed
to be afraid that Grant might be Inundated,
but the friends of that gentleman. he thought
ought to be the Judges on that point. As one
To- u -.
the services of the distinguished beneficiary,
his retirement would be considered by him as
an honor.
The bill was then laid over until tomorrow.
and the pension arrears resolution then pro-
ceeded with.
Mr.. McPherson offered and advocated a
substitute, and Messrs. Plat and Harrison
discussed the subject, which was still pend
ing when the executive session was order ID.