Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-01-13
THE SENATE.
Some Lively Speeches Over a Very Dead
Matter.

Some Lively Speeches Over Very Dead
Matter.
WASHINGTON, January l2.-Among the
petitions presented to the Senate to- day
was one by Mr. Hoar from Mrs. Belva A.
Lockwood, praying Congress to see that the
votes cast for her at the late Presidential
election be counted. Mr.. Van Wyck, from
the Committee of Public Lands, reported
isvorsbly, with amendments, the House bill
ITO prevent the unlawful occupancy of pub
lie lands" The principal amendment pro-
posed is to authorize the President to use
the civil and military force to remove and
destroy illegal fences.
Mr.. Mitchell introduced bill to increase
the pensions of widows and minor children,
from So to $l2 month, and providing that
mastering into service should be prima
facie proof of soundness.
Senator Hawley's resolution calling for
General Shermans historical statement
filed in the War department was then taken
up.
Mr.. Harris asked Mr. Hswley whether
there was anything in the papers filed In the
War Department by General Sherman In
relation to the personal controversy be-
tween himself and Mr.. Jefferson Davis
which required the action Of the Senate?
Mr.. Hawey replied that the documents
we're an interesting contribution to history
and could not be published in the war OF
the rebellion record for some years to come.
Dir. Vest regretted the introduction OF the
resolution, not as an ex-Confederste, but be-
cause it made the Senate party to per
sonal controversy. He SAID: rs it right. is
it fair, is it manly, when Mr.. Davis cannot
be heard on this floor except through the
rnou h OF some one who chooses to espouse
his side of the con troversy; is it right to use
the Government of the United States in
personal controversy, no matter what may
be its merits?' He continued: II was as
member of the Confederate Senate, op-
posed with all my torce measures advocated
by Mr. Davis; but believe he was as true,
as loyal to the cause he espoused as ever
was wife to husband, or religious votary to
the God he worshipped. He expressed his
earnest opinion that General Sherman was
mistaken in the assertion that the people of
the Confederate States did not sympathize
with their leader in the terrible contest.
I'VE have no more use,' he said, "for the
personal opinions of General Sherman than
q shroud has Tor 3 coHin.
Ingalls,.
Mr.. Ingalls, said he had Just witnessed the
spectacle Of an election for President of the
United States by the votes Of men who de-
clared that Jefferson Davis was a man OF
honor and patriot He (Ingslls) had
heard the Senator from Missouri (Vest) fire.
ouently allude with some apparent pride
and satisfaction to the part he played in
The politics of the Southern Confederacy.
There were no occasion for such allusiou. 1t
did concern the argument in question before
The Senate when no appeal was made: to
partizan feeling for Senators to rise one after
another, and dwell upon the fact that they
had been members OF the Confederate Sen.
ate. and that Jefferson Davis was beloved
by Southern people, and that he had been
actuated BY the sentiments of a man Of
honor and a patriot Referring to- Vests
allusion 10 his membership of the Cenfed-
crate Senate, Ingalls, remarked that so far
as the State of Missouri wa.S concerned
Vest had not been accredited to
that Senate, as the State OF Missouri
had not been out of the Union. In the
name Of the loyal pesple Of Missouri, Mr..
Ingalls, protested against the sentiments be
had heard so often expressed By Mr.. Vest
As to the immediate controversy under DIS
eussion, Davis had called Sherman kar.
That was the plain English of is, In any
controversy between Davis and Sherman Mr..
| Ingalls was for Sherman, and so, be said, all
the'leyal people Of the country would be.
sherman.
Senator ShermOu replied in q mildel
strain, but insisted that / was not \ person
al quarrel The Senator asked why the pa
pers should not be presented and added
"WhensyeS the motives and causes OF the
war are called in question l must assert
that it was causeleSs rebellion, entered
upon with bad motives, and all men who
led in that movement were traitors to thu
cOGntry Of ours"
Lamar.
Senator Lamar said he had no obiec
ton 10 any publication that wsalI
throw light upon the true character o
the movement for the separation Of tn
States South from those Of the NorA. b
said he had kind feeling for Gen. Sherms
and admired his sagacity, but iSe though
the General had BEEN betrayed By his fee
ing and perhaps misiuformatioa into an q
legation aud charge against Jefferson Davil
; which he could notsustain. 4 Lamar asserte
, that no such letter as that spoken Of by Ger
, Sherman was in existence, and that in b
! his opinion no sneh letter was ever writer
, he said that it would better comport wit
i Sherman's high character and standing
: acknowledge his error than to appeal to h
3 country and recall Issues long since dead.
J Vest.
Senator Vest in reply to Ingalls, said ii
3 Senator from Kansas could indulge in 4
> debate without becoming personal and TIL
I the Senator was verbal horror and an or,
( terror. The Confederate States, Vest CO
tinued' were dead. The soldiers WI
fought for the Confedersey and who fougl
for the Union slept side By side, hayir
illustrated with matchless deeds Of val
J. and heroism, both sections, about the
: might be put the ancient epitapn;
= The Knights are duSf. ~
g Their SWORDS are rust,
4 Their souls with tod Ne trust,
; And with that there should be an end
/ acrimonious discussion Of the issues
\, volEed in that terrible conflict. i
hour of two having arrived the matter We
v hover until tomorrow.