The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-10

or nearly all that the South is called
upon to pay. II is q constant drain,
therefore, on one section OF the coun-
try, TO the advantage, the building up,
the enrichment OF the other section.
And yet in the face OF these facts the
gentleman from Pennsylvania has the
temerity 10 throw in the teeth OF
Southern men on this floor that all OF
these taxes are paid by "ihe great rich
North" Mr.. Chairman, as for the as
sault made upon the President OF the
Tn ted States by the gentleman from.
Pennsylvanis, 1t needs nothing at the
hands OF myself or any other member
in the way Of answer. The President
can stand such attacks made upon
him by the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vsnia or by any other gentleman on
that side OF the House who thinks
proper 10 indulge in that kind of de-
bate. The President is intelligently,
firmly and periodically discharglng his
duties as Executive OF this nation &C
cording TO his best understanding OF
those duties, and his understanding OF
them, ! submit to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, the country is far more
disposed TO adopt and concur In than
that which the gentleman's own judg.
ment might suggest for his approval.
Because the President has returned to
the Senate and House q number OF
special pension acts without his APP
prevail, the gentleman from Pennsyl-
vania reads him a lecture as to his
duties under the constitution. Mr..
Chairman, the President is required
by the constitution TO examine and
investigate every bill which passes the
two houses Of Congress and goes TO
him for his Signature, and it is his
duty under the cons tuition and under
his oath OF Office when he believes
that a bill has been passed which is
unwise or without merit, to append
his veto to II. Is there not GAUGE for
close scrutiny on the part Of the Presi-
dent? Why, cir, the spectacle has
been presented at this session in the
other houRe Of Congress of q number
of pension bills bting passed without
any portion of them being read ex-
cept the titles. Mr.. Chairman, be.
lieve the country is prepared to up.
plaud the action of the Executive
when he points out that mistakes
have been made in passing certain
pension bills and vetoes them. Not
one OF the bills he has vetoed should
ever have passed Congress. The
reasons he hes given in his veto mes
sages why they should not become
laws are conclusive.
Mr.. BSyne-Will the gentleman per-
init a question:
Mr.. Blanchard-Well, ask it,
Mr.. Bayne-I want to say to my
friend from Louisiana that II he cannot
appreciate the condition OF the sick or
wounded soldiers who are in INDECENT
circumstances, we at the North can.
He cannot, Of course, because he does
not have them at the South.
Mr.. Blauchard-That is not ques-
ton, but state ment. We can appre-
cla.e their condition; we do appre.
ciate it. Our action on this floor has
shown that we appreciate 1t. For the
last seven or eight years these special
Friday night pension sessions have
been going on, and all this time, even
when n major ty of the members on
this side Of the House were and a'e
from the South, no voice has been
IA sed to stop this Legislation aud this
Notwithstanding the fact that at these
pension night SESSIONS but handful
OF the peoples representatives.
are ever present, and the call
for quorum at any one
of them would have broken
1t up. 1t is Il feet that but few mem
beIs attend, these night sessions, from
twenty-five to forty out OF 1926 is the
rule. Many OF US from the South |
have long thought it is bad policy, a
vicious practice, which permits 80 few |
of the accredited representatives OF
the people to engage in the wholesale
passage OF bills taking money from
the Treasury, adding to the pecuniary
obligations of the government; but
out OF the delicacy OF our position as
OF ex-Oonfederate con-
Httuencie5, we have RETAINED from
attempts at checking it. We did not
wish our motives impugned or our
purposes misrepresented. Applause.