National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-01-30

Herbert, from the committee on naval
affairs, reported back Mr.. Boutelle's
resolution Of inquiry regarding the de-
Placement Of monument and the dismissal
OF Union soldiers at the Norfolk navy yard,
together with an amendment extending the
inquiry to take In dismissals in the navy
yard and the lighthouse district during the
terms OF Mr.. WhtneY's immediate prede-
CCssors.
The debate was opened by Mr.. Boutelle,
who promised his direct speech upon the
resolution with remark calling attention
TO the fact that the first legislative act Of
the House had been the passage by unnni
nous consent of n bill removing tue politi-
cal disabilities of an eX-confederatc who had
waited more than twenty years before dis
covering desire 30 be placed IN the line of
eligibility to an appointment under the eX-
ccutive department OF the United States.
In contrast with this he Mr. BOutele) had
lccn tauntirgly Informed that fifteen min.
utes OF time was an ample allowance in
which to present the case OF the outrageous
dismissal Of disabled veterans Of the Union
army from the employment Of the govern
ment and the obliteratiOn, debasement and
removal Of inscriptions commemorative Of
the success Of the Union army. lie trusted
that these facts, placed in iuXtapOsition,
would prove more instructive to the couu.
w Nhhh hhN ltlilhlhb Ht fbulb DlltTs
The resolution he had introduced had re-
lated TO allegations that an officer Of the
United States government, at one of the
navy yards Of the government, had ordered
the obliteration Of honorable inscriptions on
cannon captured by the United States, aud
had caused to be removed from the dry
dock memorial tablet setting forth that II
had been destroyed by the rebels In 1852
and reconstructed In 1863 He did not un-
derstand that the facts had been In any way
contradicted. On the contrary, he found
that q Norfolk paper, whose editor was
closely connected with this officer, had
stated that Commandant Truxton, in place
of censure, was entitled to praise. The
paper said that when he had taken charge
OF the navy yard he had found inscriptions
intended to keep alive the bitter memories
OF civil strife, and had periodically ordered
them to be removed.
Mr.. Boutelle said he had a list Of great
marble memorials growing up all
over this land to perpctnate
the cause Of treason and rebellion.
He would find that the only men who were
memoriali2ed and remembered In the Cor
coran Art Gallery were Robert Il. Lee and
Stonewall jackson. These representations
were not simply to keep alive the memory
of great men, but were the representations
of soldiers. They were depicted IN full
confederate uniform. Two years aan ,when
the l!!c".ccoc VAS considering an appropriation
of Sl,0O0,000 for the Now Orleans EXposi-
ton, the people down there who were SO
anxious to have Union memorials ebliter-
tHed were erecting a monument thirty feet
high to Robert Il. Lee, the chief military
head of the rebellion There was no Justice
in the claim that broad patriotism re-
quired the obiteration OF the records of the
grandest triumph ever made for humanity
since first the morning stars sang together.
Applause on the Republican side.l
There were two statutes on the books
debating that In government appointments
soldiers should be given preference. These
had not only been treated with contempt,
but In the case of the Norfolk navy yard
and custom house gallant, efficient, worthy,
faithful public servants, who had followed
the flag of their country across a hundred
battle fields, had been turned out, that their
places might be given to men who had
fought to destroy the government.
Mr. g. ID. Wise, of Virginia, was glad
that he had an opportunity to make u state.
ment Of facts, although lie had hoped that
the subject Of this resolution would not
have been discussed until information
had been received from the Secretary Of the
Navy. The gentleman from Maine (Mr.
Bouiele) on more than one occasion had
sought to revive the passions and preiu-
dlces Of the war. He (Mr WiseJ would
examine how much Of truth there was in
the statement Of these resolutions. The
Secretary of the Navy was called upon to
report II any tablet had been destroyed at
the Norfolk navy yard which common
Grated the fact that the dry dock at Ports
mouth had been destroyed. lie was glad Of
the opportunity to inform the gentleman
from Maine that the dry dock at Portsmouth
had been destroyed, Applause on the
Democratic side. The gentleman asked the
Secretary OF the Navy If inscriptions had
been removed from cannon captured from
the confederate army. lie would inform
the gentleman from Maine that no cannons
with such Inscriptions had ever been In
the Portsmouth navy yard. The gentleman
from Maine wanted TO know If a Union sol
der had been discharged and a confederate
put In his place. lie would inform the gem
tlemau from Maine that the man who was
discharged had never been in the Union
army: had never been within thousand
miles OF a line lbattle; had never heard the
music Of n mimic bullet.
"Did he not render great service to his
countryW asked Mr.. Boutelle. "No, sir"
replied Mr.. Wise. "lIc, sir, was in receipt
of large salary in u bomb-proof position,
while brave men fought the battles of their
country. The confederate, or the one whom
you 0llege was appointed on account OF his
service in the confederate army, was ap-
pointed after competitive examination,
and the man to whom you refer was re-
moved for beastly intoXication."
"Your fellow.cltizens Of Maine are anX-
ious to know II confederate has been APP
pointed in the Norfolk navy yard by this
administration. Have you forgotten that
during the Grant administration and dur
ing the administration of Hayes and Ar
thur you sent the captain of the confed-
crate guerilas, John S. Mosby, TO repre-
sent the government Of the United States
in foreign country Applause on the
Democratic side Have you forgotten
that Longstreet, a confederate lieutenant
general, was selected by your Republican
administration for the most important office
In Georgia. Why is it, will ask the gen
tltman from Maine that we have not heard
O howl about these appOintmentsgn
Docs the gentleman desire rcply?" in
qurod Mr.. Boutell9.
NO, slr;n exclaimed Mr.. Wise, ego read
the speech of the senator of the United
States who, with all kindness, Is, In the esti-
nation OF the whole country, q better man
tbany ouNre. Goread the speech Of Charles
sumner, Of Massachusetts"
III Charles Sumner knew that his mag
unanimous suggestion would be quoted hy
you FOR such purpose he would turn in his
grave, exclaimed Mr.. BOutelle, amid much
confusion.
"Thc last words spoken by that great
leader on his dying bed at Mc;rcgor,n said
Mr.. Wise, 'wcrc thet hu thanked ,iod that
he closed his eyes on the world believing
that peace lad returned to distracted
counliH, And yet aud yet, the halls OF
legislation are to be annoyed by the back
biting Of such men rs the gentleman from
Maine, Now, Mr., Speaker, | want to say
one word more TO him, while we sit here
ard vote pensions to your soldiers
sour sOldlGrs!n exclaimed Mr.. BOutelle
eyes" replied Mr.. Wise, sour soldiers
We are In the house Of our fathers and we
have come TO stay. While we are ready
and willing to vote pensions 10 honombly
discharged soldiers who served their country
in time Of war, We will never consent that
1t shall be held aud proclaimed on high that
one who Happened to have been In the con.
federato army Is forever dlsbarrcd from the
service of his cOuntry.n
Mr.. Wise's time had expired aud Mr..
Brumm, OF Pennsylvania, moved that It be
extended. To this there was storm Of
Collections, and Mr.. Wise took his sent.