Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-26

| S4Noi cise OF our constitutional rights as
senators on this floor, casting our votes
as our consciences dictate, that we should
De aspersed in this way is beyond my
comprehension among men and gentle
men.
! SILENCE OF THE SOUTHERNERs.
l have not opened my mouthNor Fitz-
Sonn Forter. know OF no man from the
South or who WAS in the Confederate army
who has. We have taken the ground that
III IS not our quarrel, hut, sir, are we sup
posed 10 SIT here like dumb brutes, called
! upon to exercise the constitutional duty
10 Vote, and because we vote as our con-
sciences dictate, without regard to
MS loyalty or disloyolty, follow
Ing the track of Republicans, who
Drought this question here, we are
TO be aspersed and our integrity i'm
pugned. repeat, sir, that if that ssper-
SION Wereput upon me in another forum
would denonnce it as false and cow
ardly." He (Butler) had listened for the
last time, without at least a protest, to
t6ese constant aspersions upon men from
| tDe South who were simply doing their
duty as they understand it.
WOULDN'T SUPPORT A TRAITOR.
In conclusion, Mr. Butler said: 81 am
the last man in the world, sir, can In
! form the Senator from Kansas, who would
sastain traitor to the Union cause.
am the last man on this floor who would
have respect for a man who thought de-
serted his cOlors. but upon the evidence
! which l have had (aDd which l have
looked at, ! think, judicially) do not be-
| lieve that FitZ-John Porter was a traitor,
| do not believe he deserted his colors,
and believing that, shall vote for this
| bill"
Mr.. Plumb--I knew all that before the
Senator got up.
Mr.. Butler-Then I hope the Senate r
will stop his insinuations.
PLUMB's BOMBAsT.
Mr.. Plumb=As the Senator has not re-
strained himself from a somewhat lively
speech here hope he will not feel under
anv restraint elsewhere.
Mr.. Butler-I can say this to the Sena-
tor, that if he we're to indulge in just such
sentiments and expressions elsewhere as
he has here he would be very likely to
hear from me.
Mr.. Plumb-Oh, Mr.. President, we hear
great many things IN these days. There
are signs and portents. and all that sort
Of thing. It's just what the Senator has
said that | was commenting upon; that
while men who served in the Union army
and Northern people were divided to some
extent on this question affecting the honor,
good name, faithfulness and loyalty of
one OF their own soldiers, no Confederate
soldier had any upon the subject,
but voted nem. con. that he was not guilty.
THE HUNTER PENSION VETO.
After some further remarks Mr.. Plumb
said he had Just been informed that the
President had vetoed the bill giving a
pension of $50 month to the widow OF
Mai. Ger. Hunter. who had been presId-
ing officer Of the court martial that had
tried FitZ-John Porter. That seemed a
fitting accompaniment for the passage of
the Fitz-John Porter bill. But the loyal
people of the country would see TO it that
Mrs. Hunter should not suffer.
MIR. Teller offered an amendment to
place upon the retired list Gen. Alfred
PleasantOn. This was rejected by vote
of 10 to 90.
Mr.. Plumb offered an amendment to
place Mrs. Hunter on the pension roll at
$50 month. This was lost by a vote of
10 to %.
Mr.. Logan offered an amendment to
place on the retired list every volunteer
officer who received wounds producing
total disability. This was rejected by a
vote of Is to 90.
REJECTED CLAIMS.
Mr.. Blair offered an amendment provid-
ing that rejected pension claims may be
taken to the United States Courts with
the privilege of jury trial. This amend
ment. he said, would relieve Congress of
many bills for private relief.
Mr.. Beck said the Fitz-John Porter bill
should either be passed or voted down
on its merits and without reference to any
other proposition. After further debate
Mr.. Blair withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Logan offered an amendment pro-
vding places on the retired list for
Union officers who lost an arm, leg or an
eve at the battle Of Bull Run. This was
rejected.
THE BILL PASSED.
The bill was then brought to a vote, and
passed by 30 yeas to II nays, as follows I;
YEAs-Messrs. Beck. Berry, Blackburn,
Brown. Butler, Call, Cameron, Cockreli, Coke,
Coquitt, George Gibson, German. Gray,
Hoar, Jones Of Arkansas, Jones OF Nevada.
Mcpherson, MaVey, Mitchell Of Oregon, Pugh,
Voorhees,. Walthai Whitthorne, and Wilson
Of Maryland-80.
NAYs-Mesers. Aldrich. Allison, Conger.
CulIom. Evarts. Frye. Hale. Harrison. Haw-
ley, ingalls,. Logan. MandersOn. Palmer, saw
yer, spOoner, Tslleriand Wilson of IOwa-H.
Among the pairs announced were the
following: MIR. Dolph with Mr.. Hearst,
Messrs. Blair aud Pike, Messrs. Chace
and Kenna. Messrs. Edmunds and Harris,
Messrs. Mcmillan and Sabin, Messrs.
Miller and Hampton. Messrs. Dawes and
PAYNE, Messrs. Platt and Camden,
Messrs. Plumb and Morgan, iMessrs. Nor
rim and salisbury, Messrs. Van Wyck
and Fair. Messrs. Mitchell OF Pennsylva-
mia and Jones Of Florida. The Senator
fret named in each pair would, II is be-
lieved, have voted against the bill and the
Senator last named in its favor.
The bill baving already passed the
House and not having been amended by
the Senate now goes to the President for
his signature.
The Senate then adjourned till Monday.
Sena tor Payne's Election.