The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-03-12
Justice to Grant.

RANDALL s NOBLE EFFORTS SUCCESSFUL
IN BEHALF OF THE GREAT SOLDIER.
In the House Of Representative about
half past two O'Clock on the morning OF
the 4th dramatic and impressive scene
was enacted. Mr. Randpll. OF PennSyl-
vania. then asked unanimous consent to
take from the Speakers table and pass the
Grant Retirement bill. Applause: MI
Bennett. of North Carolina, and Mr.. Mil
ler, of Iowa, objected. Mr. Randall then
moved to suspend the rules and place the
bill on it's passage, but the Speaker ruled
that the motion was not in order pending
a decision of the election case. Mr.. Ran
dali then endeaVOred to secure his point
by moving to suspend the rules and lay the
election case on the table, but the Speaker
decided that this was equally out Of order.
The confusion and excitement in the
chamber was intense. A dozen members
were on their feet demanding recognition,
but above the babel of voices rang out Mr..
Randall voice, appealing to Mr.. Bennett,
of n orth Carolina, to withdraw the cleo
ton case. Finally. when he could be
heard, Mr., Bennett said that if the House
would consent to vote on the Frederick
Wilson case, all objections to Mr.. Ran
dali S motion would be withdrawn. This
declaration was greeted by a storm of
consents from the Republican side, and
the confusion was SO great that it requir-
ed five minutes diligent work by the SER
geant- alarms, with his mace in hand,
before comparative order was restored.
Then Mr.. Wilson. of Iowa, the con-
testee in the election case, rose. and amid
a storm of cheers on the republican side,
said that if the house would put Gen.
Grant on the retired list he was willing to
| be sacrificed. Mr.. Miller, of Pennsylva-
MIA, who has been leading the lilibuSter
| ing against the election case, said that if
| the House would permit a vote on Mr..
| Randall's motion the opposition to the
| election case would be withdrawn. This
was greeted by shouts of objection from
| the Democratic side, and Mr.. Randall,
| rushing down to the space in front OF the
clerk S desk, cried out, Don It let anything
stand in the way. Agree to anything.
Then said Mr.. Miller, Tin order that
there may be no excuse. | withdraw, and
permit a vote on the proposition of the
gentleman from North Carolina, and |
ask the House to treat us fairly on both
votes After another scene of confusion,
| Mr.. Bennett demanded the previous CUES
ton on the resolution of the Committee
on Elections, declaring Mr.. Frederick
entitled to a seat. The resolution was
adopted without any opposition from the
| Republican side, and Instantly upon Mr..
| Frederick taking the oath of office, Mr..
| Randall was on his feet with his motion
to suspend the rules and pass the Senate
| bill for the retirement of General Grant,
without specially naming him.
Mr.. Mcmillan, of Tennessee, demand
ed second, while shouts of Shame ~
| "Oh." Don't go back on your word'
and That's fair' went up. Nearly every
member was on his feet, adding to the tu-
mutt, and prominent among them were
MI. Cassidy, of Nevada, and Mr. Robert
son, of Kentucky, gesticulating wildly and
demanding fair pay. Again did the SER
vices of the Sergeant-at-ArmS and his
mace become necessary to seat members !;
and then a second having been considered
as ordered. Messrs. Mcmillan, Stock
slayer and Matson, Of Indiana, briefly
opposed the bill as inaugurating system
OF civil pensions. Mr.. Randall, who, under
the rules, was entitled to fifteen minutes
debate, waived his right. and the yeas and
nays were Immediately taken on the mo-
ton to suspend the rules and pass the
bill. AS the name of Mr.. Frederick, the
newly-seated member. was called, and as
he rose and voted in the affirmative, the
friends of the bill treated him to round
of applause. The motion to suspend and
pass was agreed to-yeas 1913, nays ~
The announcement of the result was
hailed with three cheers and with long
continued applause Mr.. Skinner. OF
the Speaker be authorized to send tele
graphic despatch to General Grant an
nouncing to him the result of the vote
At first, objection was made by Mr.. COBB
but it was subsequently withdrawn, anC
the Speaker was authorized as stated
Mr.. Randall was warmly congratulated OF
his success by number of members OF
both sides of the house.
THE BILL IN THE SENATE.
When the bill reached the Senate, wher'
il had already passed, the scene was full.
} as dramatic and interesting. At II 35
message was received from the Hous'
: announcing the passage of the bill author
| iZing the President to place one person OF
| the retired list of the army. Applause.
: The bill was read at length. Mr. lngall
| (Rep., Kan.) then said Mr.. President
t the nation knows who that person is.
e ask unanimous consent that the referenc
/. of this bill to the committee be waived
e and that it now be considered by thu
I Senate The presiding officer, Mr.. Gar
: land (Dem., Ark. J, stated that the bill wa
: a Senate bill, and nothing further wa
e necessary to make it u law except tn
: proper signatures. Applause Mr.. Ed
t munds, resuming the chair. stated that b
h had received a communication, Whlc
|. would now be read. He handed the com
d munication to Chief Clerk Johnson, VIII
n read as follows: ITO the Hon. George 4
l. Ednlaneds, President pro tempore of til
n United States Senate: The accompanyln
d communication, although an executiv
l. message, may be read in open session
n Signed. CHESTER A. ARTHUR. Al
= plause.
l. The clerk read as follows:
e ITO the Senate of the United States:
II nominate, Ulysses 5. Grant, formerly ger
is eral commanding the armies of the Unite
e States. to be general on the retired list {
l. the army, with the full pay OF such ranl
l. CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
II Executive Mansion, March 4. 1885"
is The President pro TEN. Of the Senat
IS then announced that the nominatio
Is would be considered in open session.
4. The question is Will the Senate advis
is and consent to this appointment A
n Senators in favor will say aye. A storl
OF ayes. All opposed no. dead silence
The ayes have it unanimously" TIL
announcement was greeted with thunder
! of applause. both on the floor and in I'll
, galleries.