The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-18
Speech of Hon. o. R. Singleton
On the Bill to Place Gen. Grant on
the Retired list of the Army.

Mr.. Speaker: | wish to put upon re-
cord to day something more than mere
negative vote upon this bill. | rise to
protest against the establishment of a
privileged class of citizens who are to be
foisted upon the Government, draw
/ money from the Treasury not needed fol-
an economical support, but in this case
10 be added 10 an income OF $1,000 a
year, a sum greater than the whole
estate of fifteen-twentieths of the people
of the United States.
Although the Constitution of the
United States discourages any leglsla-
tion tending to build up one class OF
people at the expense of another, yet
this bill, with some Others heretofore
passed, proposes TO establish privileged
order of persons, pension them on the
Government for life, mere fungi upon
the industrial interests of the country,
and | must say the outgrowth of NAV
kish and morbid sentimentality. To
bestow upon General Grant the gratuity
of Sl7 900 per annum proposed in this
bill would be to confer upon him that
which was never offered to the Father of
his country, which, if offered, would
have been declined with that character
istic manliness ssHd patriotism which
prompted him to refuse third term as
President of the United States. The
D ssage of this bill will certainly be a
wide departure from the practices of the
! Government in its early history, and
well calculated to awaken distrust and
dissatisfaction in the public mind.
Every candid and impartial mind, in
its efforts to comprehend the utility or
/ e NJ
know whether there is any pecuniary
necessity in the case of General Grant
which requires the passage of the bill T;
and if not, whether it will add anything
to his reputation, or enhance in any
way the public estimate of his civil or
military services. | had supposed that
having so large an annual income his
best friends would not ask the passage
of this bill upon the plea of pecuniary
necessity During his eight years ser
vice as President he drew from the
Treasury of the United States about
$500, 900, large portion of 1t under
law which he, as a coordinate branch OF
the Government, aided in passing.
A donation of S250,000 was made him
at one time by his friends and admirers,
which is held in trust for his benefit,
and, as stated before, yields him an an
nualincome SIS, 900. Besides this, houses
and lots, horses and carriages, with in
Vulnerable other valuable presents, have
| been layished upon him. Now, 1t Is
said that financial disaster has overtak
him. Suppose this to be true, who z
fault is it? Has it come to this, that the
! Government is to become sponsor for or
guarantor against all the financial
blunders of General Grant? If so, when
and where will the matter end? What
distinguished gentleman will llnext apply ?
The only bill bearing any analogy to
this, that ever received my support, was
the one which provided for retiring Gen
eral Shields with the pay Of brigadier-
| general. This was an exceptional case,
growing out of his advanced age, his
infrmity from wounds received in bat
tie, and his absolute poverty. This was
a case that pleaded trumpet-torgued
for relief, and, am proud to say, the
House of the Forty ysiXth Congress
needed the appeal and responded nobly
to the call A bill was passed with only
6 dissenting votes to retire him on
brigadier's pay that the few days re-
naming of a well-spent life might be
relieved from poverty and want. a
nations gratitude was due to this bat
| rle-scarred and MANNED hero of two
wars, and ex-senator from three differ
ent States, whose pecuniary necessities
were such that he was forced to pawn
the swords bestowed upon him for gal
liant services in the field, and deliver
lectures to prolong existence.
This bill went to the Senate, may
be allowed to say a Republican Senate,
and was there amended by adding to it
the name of General Grant. Then
was heard the potent voice of the Sena-
tor from Vermont, the author of this
bill, il Weighing in terms OF animated
rhetoric against its passage, either in its
original or amended form. ! read from
the RECORD his own language:
Now, what is this species of legislation
that we are called upon to pass? 1t is
uneeuel it is unjust and is contrary to
any principle that the United States has
ever before undertaken to advance or to
enact into laws. General Shields has a
pension, according 20 existing laws, that
he has enjoved for many years. This body
has passed a bill increasing that pension,
and | must presume that if he deserves it
the other House viii soncur in the passage
of that bill; and yet you propose to take
/
added. and who ought to have been added
if this sort OF legislation is to proceed, as
many others might be-you propose to
take him and foist him into branch of
the public service with VIII ch he has no
connection and which is founded upon a
principle that does not apply to him at all.
Ii the Congress Of the Uuited States
wish to give to General Shields the sum OF
$50, 600, let them say so but why do you
take from the ranks of civil life one or two
volunteer soldiers and place them in the
regular Army of the United States by an
act OF legislation and an executive act, to
the exclusion of those who have spent
their whole lives in the military service OF
the country, and who beyond the number
of three hundred are always from the re-
tired-list? And in respect to these two
individual cases the present law must ne
cessarily exclude some two worthy per-
sons who are now entitled to the places un-
der the regular law that these persons
would ill. Il Senator'S believe that the
people of the United States ask anything
of this sort. if Senator'S believe that either
Of these tao distinguished soldiers ask
anything of this sort, then | think they
are greatly mistaken.
His speech had the effect to defeat the
bill, and the gallant Shields, wounded in
the house of his supposed friends, NOR
titled and chagrined at the ingratitude
of his countrymen, soon passed away
Peace be to the ashes of the gallant
dead
But the friends of General Grant
nothing daunted by defeat, now thai
Shields is out of the way, have rallied
again in the Senate and sent US the
present bill. What change has come
! over the spirit of the Senate's dream
J Where was the able and eloquent Sena
!; tor from Vermont when this great
wrong. as he had denominated it, wa:
being perpetrated? Was it the poverty
of General Grant that prompted the hoi
haste of the Senate in passing this bill
with only few moments debate? Wa:
not General Shields poor and infrn
from wounds received in his country,
seryice9 Was il defeated in the Senate
. before upon principle? If so, what new
revelation has dawned upon the mindi
of the former opponents of this bill
1t is said that men change, but princi
pies never. The passsge of this Senate
bill fully establishes the truth of thi
; saying.
But it is said this gratuity, bounty o.
pension, as III III De uenoiuiha1tu u.
/ its friends, is to be bestowed for "pub
lie services Does this refer to hi
! military or civil services? If to tn,
former. | will not attempt TO underrats
, them. But conceded all that is claimed
: for General Grant in the military poini
| Of view, and | insist that he has beer
, fuIly rewarded for all his services HI
: has been honored by the American peo
ple as no other man save Washington
was ever honored, and | am not sur
that / ought to make this exception
!. 1,..-;,a aIaetad President of the ITnitef