The National tribune., 1886-06-24
TIE 4STB CONGRESS.
Some More Speeches Of Interest to
Soldiers.

a
lative and executive appropriation bill Among
other changes in the direction OF economy ana
q Reform was a reduction OF the salary OF INC
Commissioner of Pensions from $1,000 TO S4,uOo'
The latter is the amount hxed by law, but Tor
several wears il has been pat IN the approlfla-
tion bills at 5000.
FIGHTING THE WAR OVER
Whenever the subject Of pensions comes up
in Congress the slzirmishcrs on both sides i'm
mediately open fire, and at such times general
enpagemcnt Is always imminent. Pending the
clause making appropriations for the Pension
Office there was a spirited debate, liberal ex-
tracts from which we give:
Mr.. Gr0sgcn0r Ohio:
Mr. Chairman on the gth day Of June the gentle
tnnn from Illinois Mr.. gownshcnd In debate upon
ths bill used the following language
- ann warranted in making the statement sf,
that ii you will ascertain the number OF helubican
soldiers who have been removed from Office unGct
this Administration il eau De shown that an equal
number OF Democratic soldiers have beeh APP
And on the 10Th Of June the same gentleman used
the following language;
under ClcVelands Administration IL equal 20, " not
greater, than the aggregate number OF soldiers
cali tho attention OF the committee to the fact
that ian speaking of the removals tlie distinguished
gentlemen used the words " Republican soldiers
and in .pcaIinp of the appointments ne used the
words democratic soldiers That Is exactly
fair proposition on ats face but the difficulty ~
rule WeTc soldiers upon the side OF the Union, while
the term Democratic soldiers " covers two vari-
cites of soldiers Laughter.
Now Mr. Chairman / clam that these remov-
ais aud appointments have been made without
Regard and "a direct violation Of sections 1916 and
1855 OF ihe Revised Statutes which include as a
portion oi ny remarks:
sec 1916. No officer or employee Of the Govern
mcni shall require request any worSngman in
amy navy -yAra 10 contribute or pay amy money for
political purposes. nor shall any workingman be
removed discharged for political opinions and
HE kffsftfk Iaf
shall offend against tIe provisions of this section
shall be dismissed from te service of the United
States.
Sec. I75s Persons honorahly discharged from the
military naval service by reason Of disability re-
suiing from wounds or sickness incurred in the
lime OF duty shall be preferred FOR appointments 10
civil offices provided they are found 10 possess the
business capacity necessary Tot tile proper discharge
of tlle duties oi such offices
hold in my hand the annual address Of the De
parlment Commander of the Grand Army Of the
Iepublio the state OF Virginia; and that find
a correspondence which will enbody in my re-
marks touching this identical question. From this
correspondence learn that la the Department OF
Virginia There have been n eX-lnon soldiers re-
moved from office and IL Confederate soldiers
appointed in their places. besides seven Democrats
who never went 60 war at all
Now. IL the gentleman from Illinois meant 10 say
that something like an equal number OF Demo
cratic soldiers had been appointed without draw
ing ANY lime of distinction between those who
fought upon fhe Union side and those who fought
ihc other, linen he b approximately right.
Mr. ChHirmAn will not say anything la the way
Of complaint III regard Go the appointment of ex-
Confederate soldiers. think that. considering the
representation Of ex-Coniederates upon this fioor
aud in te Senate and la the diplomatic places and
all other positions 81 the Government IL IL more
than fair that when Republican is removed a
Democratic ex-Coniederaie should be appointed.
Speaking Cor myself would vastly prefer that tie
places ~ honor aud trust Ia the Southern States
should be- conferred upon eN-Coniedcrltes rather
than upon That other class Of gentlemen, especially
IA tlie nOihern portion Of the Union. ] think that
IN the nature Of things this is what ought To be
done.
i complain in the first place because these Union
soldier have been removed that ~ my first prop.
osition. My second complaint 10 thuin they were
40 ~ removed their places were not all filled witt
ex-Conicduratc soldiers instead Of those gentlemen
who did noi 90 10 the war. agree that Demo
cratic soldiers have been appointed but the ian
euage Of ihe distinguished gentleman from illinoh
wac calculated. thought, 10 be misleading HheT
he only gave the general description Of " Demo
cratic soldiers" J desire 10 append to these few
remarks tiie record 10 which referred and wliicl
hnve before
7 intisi Mr.. Chairman, that fliis record Show
conclnsivey that the practice Of the current Ad
ADMINISTRATION 81 Tie Government Is 70 remove neT
from oliice ID violation Of these statutes. bav'
illustrated my position by reference 90 a singh,
State. But insist thai from end Of the Union
~ the oiisvl ille same thing IL going ON.
] complain Of H.; j oppose H.. ] denounce IL
There are ali over the country loyal Union e1 sol
dierH whom, regret "a say. are Democrats an
borry y " 70 ! think they are ln the wrong politi
cal party. I think many OF them now begin ~ Sc
that tllc change they voted for u bringing int
possession % the paces of profit the men wh'
either fOugit 20 destroy the Union or else refuses
20 fight either side. The trouble Has been ha
our soldier friends IN the North have looked al tia
politics OF the country from the atmosphere Of Tia
North They have sought for "a change Tor grea
mats reasons noi pertinent 81 this issue nor sug
Eeslire 81 this result
TO the ainazement 81 these men they find tina
the advent ~ 81 Democratic administration herald
the dHWnsoi day when the greatest and mos
potent guailhcaiion to preiefineHt j. a record q
bard lighting in the rebel army. Look at ca
diplomatic representatives. So far AS know. bu
one minister o. envoy who served in the Uiiio
army has been sent abroad. That H. any iniorma
Mon. do nOt complain; but state facts.
ln lie North ihe Disparity b. about as bad. TIL
reasons are obvious ~ the south the aon,inatiu
party n niade zap, brain aud leadership Of OK Con
ledcratc1 aud tlIe popular will controls. In a,
North theie D a scarcity % Union soldiers 10 az
point fr0nl aud necessity controls And g
between uae upper mud neither mill-slones ou
Democratic 4 mon soldier friends being pronn
very hnc The distinguished soldier who. solitar
nnd alone, represents the lighting men Of the 81
Union arm. in the lTcHdeni's Cabinet. bearn nBOi
the proper aud Legitimate relation 10 the who
cabinet THAT the appointments 81 this Administer
bon 81 eA-lni0n soldiers bear 10 the whole mum b,
o. iis Desio~als Of favor-one IN seven.
Bot do not complain 81 the Administration
stream cannot llse above IL source. ID owes j
political lie 10 the hundred and fry -flrs
eleci0rai votes II had ready 10 be cast from n
states in which no contest made. They can
40 ~ a. mihirr " course. They were not COZ
tesiea. need not stop now 70 say how futile sue
contest would have been. ] only point out th
in what b has done the Administration has rccog
nized "a friends and gratitude la politics h a gre
Ahd most eoilln1tndabc N1inR.
refer 10 iiise illiIpa that such Democratic Unis
soldiers 80 have saiHly sought for recognition ns
Ae-l linl injustice been done them.
that the pnigy ~ power has dealt justly with ali
h1ierenie from tire standpoint Of the party value
llIe various constituent elements Of which ii
Democratic party IL composed.
The day - danuing, Dir. Chairman, when q
party which saved the Union and brought q
country from the dark days.o1 ls6l through q
darker aayB 81 1884. aud out 81 the dreary wilde
mess 81 reconstruction aud across the Red Sea
lIreuceulHbie paper money and practical rcpud
ilons out npon the solid ground ~ Union, hone
money, Niid good times. will bD again assigned
t,ic cenlrpi q lle Nation 4 made great, aud ia
the Democratic eK-sOidcrs of to-day viii be j
hr. Warner Ohio:
Nr. Chairman my colleague Mr. GrOsyen,
liaf made tho fcnaflz n rightly understood hi
THAT when Democratic soldiers . were spoken
fefcrencr Faa nadc 10 two ciHsses OF sOldicrs No
any friend lznowf perfectly well that the benefi
nret ~ tllf Dbl anu the Dcnc1iariCa Oi the $50 ~
uD appropriated Tor pensions. nii soldiers 81 o
class, All Union soldiers. aud the attempt 20
into discussion 81 tlls bii partisan debate Of d
character seems a. fnc entirely out Of place "a
l,Osed tiIe aud sgc were here RE q
people " common country. ] have this iufti
fcniafE 60 make respecting tilc occupation Of %
10 SOLDIER lac difference between tAis A
nnislrAiion amG Former administrations is a.
Under FORMER administrations. ia Dr. true sOldi
were literally appointed ~ Office bar they were
tnOsi without rAoepiion Republican soldiers.
innitef nov calamity a may have fought
f1e Nnf, NO iflaiicr how much lac may have )
fcfec. uo uatcI how severely lac may have be
wounded no matter though he mas have los
llui0 ~ been otherwise disabled yci N since
Wal he iiis voted Cine Democratic ticket hc Wan 4
There "A nO Diiice Tor you"
say INST Har ic rnic. tltni Wac ilie practice. q
Hrasa a.