The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-01-15
GRANTS RETIREMENT.
THE EDMuNps BILL PASSED.
Tho Favorable Remarks Of Tho southern
senator's on tho Measure-opInion of
southern Mon on tho shsrman.Dayis
copaovsr.y-.yanes. wnrRooOrd.

WASHINGTON, D. O., Jan. 14.-In the
Senate today the Grant Retirement Bill
was broughtup.
Mr.. Edmunds said he concurred in the
general principle laid down by Mr.. Cock.
rell as to the retired list, thatit was not q
place for private citizens. Hewas on that
point Democrat Of Democrats, but as a
Senator and citizen he was glad OF the OPP
portunity to ask the passage Of this bill.
General Grant had served his country
faithfully and calamity in the Mexican
war while a young lieutenant. He be.
came the general Of the armies OF the
United States on an occasion ofyery con-
siderable importance and interest.
Mr.. Edmunds said he was stating II
mildly in order not to excite the tempera-
ments OF anybody on the other side OF the
chamber. General Grant had been re-
moved from the office Of General OF the
Armies Of the United States, from where
he would have been retired when he
reached the proper age and put on this
very list, to assume again the command Of
the armies Of the United States as Com
mander.in.G Chief under its Constitution
he had not sought It. He had obeyed the
call OF duty that removed him from the
technical place lie had held inithe army
tp,a higher place as constitutional COM
mander Of the United States. Under the
law when his term expired he became q
private citizen. ln.that state OF the case
and under circumstances which all knew,
and in view OF the honor, respect, graft
tude and duty we owe him as primus in
Luxurious in the history OF this county.
Mr.. Edmunds would be glad TO have u
unanimous vote for his bill.
Air. Alaxey had heretofore opposed
efforts Of this character, being opposed to
placing private citizens on the retired list,
but the circumstances OF this case were ex-
ceptional. AS Southern man who had
opposed General Grant, he (Nlaxey) could
not but recognize that when the supreme
hour came to the Southern States, when
they had to yield up all save their honor,
no man had ever acted with more magma
minity and generosity than Ulysses S.
Grant did at Appomattox. Not only did
Maxey remember that act, but the people
among whom he lived remembered It, and
he did not believe there was to-day a man
in the South who would begfudge rea.
sonablc and fair support for General
Grant in his declining years. Mr.. Maxey
added he had known General Grant forty
years, and believed his recent troubles
arose entirely from General Grants
supreme confidence in his friends.
Mr.. Gibson said while the form OF the
bill might not commend itself TO his
Judgment its object did. He sympathized
with the people OF tue country who de:
sired to testify their appreciation OF
General Grants services. AS Senator
from Louisiana he felt 1t incumbent on
him tovOte for the bill to show the good
will and sympathy. the people ofjhat
State h,.d for General Grant. y
Mr.. George said he,was here as a Sen.
ator from Mississippi In the restored
Union. On being Commissioned by his
people 10 come here lie had made a cove
'nant with himself that in his votes in the
Senate on all questions that did not affect
the honor Of his people he would vote
exactly rs il he had worn the Federal IN
stead OF the Confederate uniform. He be-
lieved the peopled desired the passage OF
the proposed measure.
Mr.. Jonas said lie had opposed similar
measure when proposed some years ago
because he had not approved OF certain
acts OF General Grants administration,
and because General Grant did not then
need aid. Under the present oircum-
stances, however, he favored the bill.
MIR. Voorhees, said MIR. Cockrell's refer
ence to General Grants income might
create misrepresentation in the popular
mind. When the guaranteed term should
expire six years hence, the investment OF
the fund would prove OF little value. Mr..
Voorhees, added that ii he wereaSouthorn
man hcwould strongly favor this meas
llre. He recalled the fact that Secretary
Stanton wanted To arrest and imprison
General Robert L. Lee, after the surren-
der at Appomattox and General Grant
told Stanton that Lee was his Grants
paroled prisoner, and not hair OF his
head should be molested. He remember
ed also Grants fearless acknowledgement
OF his error in the Fitx John Porter matter.
The bill then passed. Yeas, 40 mays, 8.
The hays were Beck, Cockrell, Coke, Har-
ris, Pendleton, Salisbury, Slater, Vance
and Walker.