Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-25
GEN. LEES DRAWN SWORD
HIS SPEECH ON ACCEPTING THE
COMMAND IN VIRGINIA.

ing Anegtas.7' to Virginia-Ehe out
look for the Bankruptcy and the Ar
rears of Pension Limitation Bills
Hours of Letter Carriers.
WAsHINGS5E, Jan. 24.-EX-Senator
Pomeroy, of K-sssas. who says he over
heard the interview in which Gen. Robert
f. Lee accepted the command Of the
troops of Virginia, reports it as follows;
"The Chairman said that they had been
sent on by the convention of Virginia,
then in session at Richmond, to express
to Gen. Lee, as the most distinguished
soldier and one of the most distinguished
citizens of the State, their confidence and
esteem and to tender him the command of
the troops that had been raised to repel
an expected invasion from the North.
WEIGHT OF THE RESPONSE.
"He continued at some length and con-
cluded by saying that the response ofGen.
Lee to the call of his State would have
great influence IN shaping the destiny Of
the commonwealth. Gen. Lee listened to
the speech with his eyes cast down, and
when he raised his head to reply l saw an
expression on his face that looked as II
his mind was fully made up, and his re-
ply would be direct and positive. From
what had heard | expected him to de
cline and make a protest against seces-
sion, and his first words encouraged me
in that expectation
LEES REPLY.
'He said: Gentlemen, l am opposed to
war, although bred to the profession OF a
soldier, and / deeply deplore civil war
strife between brother and brother-but,'
he continue !, and his words scared me,
but | hear the voice of Virginia, like the
voice of mother, calling me to
the defense OF a soil that is as sacred to
me as the shes Of my ancestors
who lfe buried here. / cannot resist the
call ot a State to which 1 owe my first al
legimce, but l wish you to understand,
gentltmen, that draw my sword only in
her dtfense, with the prayer that in as
serting her sovereign rights we may not
be compelled to shed the blood Of our
brethnn.
SHE then said that he would report at
on~e the Governor at Richmond, and
lnVh% the party into the house"
THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
The bankruptcy bill is still in the sub
committee Of the Judiciary Committee on
that stbject. This subcommittee, OF
which Mr.. Collins, of Massachusetts, is
tChairmtn. VIII report to the full commit
tee the lowell bill as 1t was introduced
sby MIR. C1iiins this session, with the recon-
tmendatien that it be favOrably reported
without substantial amendment. some
fOf the members OF the judiciary
Committee who represent agricul-
itlTa distTi IS will then try
IS smend the bill in several
-IpRrtieHlars so as to make il more favor
able to the agricultural classes than it
now IS. They think they viii be able to
get several amendments adopted looking
to this end. The bill Will probably be re-
ported to the House without material
amendment next month, and its passage
at an early day after it is reported is.
bankruptcy bill so far along in the Senate
that there will be no delay in its con-
sideration.
. THE PENSION BILL.
Congress will have to meetthe question
as to whether the limitation OF time IN the
arrears Of pension act shall be removed.
1t will be remembered that that act fixed
July |, 1880 as the limit of the time within
which applications for arrears ofpensiOns
should be filed. 1t is now proposed by
the amendment offered by Mr.. Browne, OF
Indiana, (RepUblican), to the pending
bill increasing the pensions of widows to
$12 per month, to remove that limit so as
to admit applications for pensions
for an indefinite period and there
fore, of course, an indefinite amount.
$l0OO0O,OOO would probably be
amOderate estimate of the sum neces-
sary to meet the demands which would
be made if Mr.. Brownies amendment
should become a law. 1t seems likely
that it will be ruled out on a technical
point of order. But this will simply post
pone the real question for short time
N is at least doubtful whether a ma
j0rity ofthe House will have the moral
courage to vote in the negative on such a
proposition.
HOURS OF LETTER CARRIERS.
MI. McAdoo, of New Jersey, has reso-
luton to be offered in the House tomorrow
calling upon the Postmaster General for
Information as TO whether the letter car
riers come under the operations of the
eight-hOur law.