The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-02-04
NO. l9.
Ex-COnfetlerates In Conoresc.

Ex-COnfetlerates es In Con0rear.
The discussion in the senate of Cen
eral Hawley's resolution Of inquiry re-
lating to Gcn. Sherman and the jeff
Davis matter, calls attention anew to 4
subject of interest to good many pso-
pie, the ex-Confedcrates in congress.
1t is an interesting fact, and one not
generally recognized. perhaps, that
nearly or quite all Of the senator's from
the States Of the Confederacy were
members Of the Confederate army or
congress, and that more than ono half
of the members of the House from those
States were also in TINT service. lisa
FACT too, not generally recognized that
one-third of the Senate is made up of
ex-Confederates, while the House has in
1t twice MS many Of that class as has tho
Senate. The total number Of ex-Con-
federates in congress is between seventy
five and one hundred. OF these tho
majority were officers in the army.
though there are half dozen who were
IN the congress Of the Confederacy, and
ono or two who were in tho cabinet,
kenna, of West Virginia, seems to be
the only one Of the entire list Of twenty
t1ve ex-Confederatcs in the Sennte who
served rs private soldier thoughout
his connection with the army. He en-
tered the service as mere boy, being,
indeed, about eighteen years of age at
its close. He volunteered when about
sixteen, was severely wounded at the
age Of seventeen, and was surrendered
at Shreveport at the age Of about
eighteen. 1t is a singular fact that whilc
almost every Senator from the Statos
forming the Coufederacy was in the
active service of the Confederate gov
eminent, only comparatively small
number Of the Senators from the north
ern States are ex- Union soldiers. There
are but thirteen ex-Union soldiers in
the Scnate-Hawlcy, Mitchell, Miller.
Of New York, Miller, Of California,
Blair, Van Wyck, Henderson, Ingalls,.
Plumb, Harrison and Logan. Wade
Hampton was Confederate, md ia
popular senator. People who go in the
gallaries ask (which is Wade Hampton?"
and on being told, they usually settle
themselves for good look at him. He
walks about the Senate chamber quite
comfortably upon his wooden leg which
takes the place of the one he lost a few
years ago. He il quite a favorite with
the ladies. Pretty Mile. Rhea apostro-
Phized him hrru recently ~ 40
sweetest man in all ze world" This 70.
ally "brokc up' lot Of the younger
element who were trying to create an
impression. and they are ready to vreak
their vengeance upon Hampton in Al
most any manner. Hampton was in both
branches of the State legislature boforo
the war, and was one Of the weslthiest
men of tho South, owning q thousand
slaves, if reports are true. He entered
the Confederate service at the beginning
Of the war, serving with distinction to
its close, saving both legs in the army
only to loose one in hunting accident
decade or more afterwards. It is .
rather singular fact that South Carolina's
two Senators have but one pair Of legs
between them. Senator Butler lost .
leg in tho Confederate service. He en-
tered rs captain Of cavalry, and was
promoted through the regular grades
until he reached the rank of major Gen.
eral, when he lost his Leg at the battle
Of Brandy Statiou.-Baltim0re Ameri-
can.