Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-01-24
N
Senate Debates-Gen. Grants Re.

WASHINGTON.
Senate Debates-Gen. Grants Re-
tirement-Etc.
Special Correspondence Of the INrER-OcEAy:
WARRINGTON, Jan. l7.-This has been
a week of surprises in congress. With
out any warning the ex-president of the
ex-Confederate States was the subject Of
an acrimonious debate that commanded
a good deal of attention. This contro-
versy was brought or by some opposi-
ton to Senator Hawley's resolution ask
ing that the president furnish the senate
with the statement recently filed in the
war department by Gen. Sherman con
corning Jefferson Davis policy. Several
Democratic senators maintained that
Davis was loyal to his cause, honorable
and patriotic. As many Republican
senators pronounced him a conspirator
and traitor, and commented, in sarcastic
terms, upon the spectacle of men who
had been relieved of their political dis.
abilities, and who had taken the oath
Of allegiance to the United States, laud.
ing jeff Davis rs a patriot. The time
may come when the constitutional
aspects of the late rebellion can be con-
sidcrcd us calmly as the histori cal reln-
tionship of England to Scotland; but
statesmen cannot yet discuss these ques-
tions without passion. The general re-
mark of visitors in the galleries, even Of
those who listened with deep interest to
the debate, was that the senate could
occupy the few remaining weeks of the
session with more profitable and timely
themes than the Davis-Sherman con-
Jroversy.
The prompt passage of the new bill
to retire Gen. Grant by the senate, and
the tribute paid to his magnanimity at
the. close of the war by southern sena-
tors, was another unexpected episode in
the weeks doings. Senator Gibson
said, as a senator from Louisiana, he felt
it incumbent on him to vote for the bill
in order to show the good will and
sympathy of the people of the state for
Gen. Grant. The Junior senator from
Mississippi voted for the bill because
he thought the people desired its pas
sage. He had made a covenant with
himself that on all questions that did
not affect the honor of his people he
would vote exactly as if he had worn
the federal instead of the confederate
uniform. Senator Maxey, of Texas, felt
that no man had ever acted with more
generosity than Ulysses S. Grant at
A~ppomattox. And Senator Voorhees,
also recalled the fact that when Score.
tary Stanton wanted to arrest and i'm
prison Gen. Lee after the surrender,
Gen. Grant had told Stanton that Lee
was a paroled prisoner and that not a
hair of his head should be molested.
There were only nine dissenting votes
to the bill.
While military heroes, war issues,
measures, "reminiscences and scenes
were being revived and discussed, news
came of the death of Hon. SCHUYLER
Colfax, the man who had welded the
speakers and vice presidents gavel
during those stormy times of recon-
struction. While his remains lay in
state at Chicago the senate adjourned
through respect to his memory.
The house of representatives sur
prlsed everybody by undertaking to pay
some old debts. The French spoilation
claims came up and passed. The his
tory OF these claims begins with the
revolutionary war. The bill for their
adjustment passed the senate before the
holidays, so, as it only awaits the presi-
dents signature, the ancient score is in
a fair way to be settled.
Representatives who favor the passage
OF a bankrupt bill say they can do moth
ing with it this session because the con.
gressmen from New York city cannot
be Kept in their seats when there is a
chance to take up this. important meas
ure.
The senate talks about the Nicara-
guam treaty with its doors locked. Some
days it spends three hours in these
secret discussions. Senator Miller, of
California, opened the debate in favor
ofthe treaty and Senator, Sherman fol-
. lowed in opposition. Both gentlemen
being Republicans, this shows that it il