Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-01
NIIN.tONGRESS.
WAsHINGToN, March 81, 1856.
Ggnnfe

ASIllNGION, MaICu OIL, lOoO.
senate.
Mr. Edmunds presented in the Senate
a petition Of Frank W. Fubbesing for
pension. and had the petition read. 1t
Tecites long service in the late war, Sc
we're wounds received, and consequent
ply steal gripping; that by reason Of
having settled in Georgia after the war
he had lost sight Of all comrades who
could support his claim for pension,
and that his lawyers had withdrawn
from his case because he could not pay
their fees in urging his pension claim.
1t further recites that the petitioner had
held a small position under the Govern
ment in Atlanta, but was discharged by
the new Administration, and prays
Congress TO grant him pension in his
helpless old age.
MIR. Edmunds commended the petit
ton TO the careful consideration Of the
Committee on Pensions. This poor
fellow, Mr.. Edmunds said, had been
appointed stOrekeeper, or gauger, he be-
lieyed, under the internal-revenue sys-
TEN at Atlanta on the recommendation
of the late Alexander II. Stephens,
but the remorseless fate Of politics
had turned this poor, helpless, and
crippled soldier out Of the public SER
vice." though Mr.. Edmunds could not
see how any consideration Of politics
could have led to such an act. The
petition was referred to the Committee
on Pensions.
The army bill was again taken up,
and the debate was continued by
Messis. Logan, Plumb, and Allison.
At = o'clock the Chair laid before
the Senate the Washington Territory
bill, but Mr.. Dolph, who had the floor,
yielded to Mr.. Vance, who wished to
speak in support of his bill to repeal
the civil-seryice law.
Mr.. Logan desired, however, to an
swer one of Mr.. Plumb's points, but
the latter Senator objected, as he would
want to reply TO Mr.. Logan's remarks,
and did not wish to reenter on the sub
ect unless he could complete his re-
marks while on the floor.
Mr.. Logan urged, but Mr.. Plumb
was obdurate, and when the matter
was decided by the Chair announcing
that unanimous consent was necessary,
Mr.. Logan, with much Suayity, re-
marked, II am very much obliged TO
the Senator from Kansas for his kind
ness and courtesy y; TO which Mr..
Plumb, equally polite, responded,
THANK you, sir"
When the amusement of this incident
had subsidized Mr.. Vance created burst
of laughter by iemarking with affected
timidity, will proceed now, Mr.. Pres-
dent, if il is thought can do so with
safety" Mr.. Vance said that all the
present difficulties between the Presi-
dent and the Senate were due to the act
falsely called ian act to regulate and
improve the ciyil.Seryice Of the United
States.n lie had introduced the bill
which his present remarks were in
tended TO support for the purpose
Of repeating that act. Mr.. Vance
created much laughter by reading a
supposiuuouS conversation between an
imaginary "old Democrat" and an
equally imaginary representative Of the
Government. IN which the old Demo-
crat, bearing IN mind all the years Of
Democratic exile, confidently APP
proaches the representative of the Gov
eminent, expresses his JOY at "our vic
tory" and says he has come to get
place. The representative Of the Gov
eminent receives him rather coolly, and
assures him he is too old. When the
old Democrats disappointment has been
sufficiently expressed he recommends
his son, who is young and active, but
the Government representative, with
many "abems, explains the working
OF the ciyil-service system, and
when the old Democrat inquiries
whether all Republicans in Office
had got in under the ciyil-seryice
system and had been subjected
TO the necessary examinations, the Gov
S'HAN"s sNIAScSbNShfN kNliiSS tuii ut |
is troublesome that he should not ask |
impertinentq questions, and shows him to |
the door, saying, Away with you"
Mr.. Vance said this was no fancy picture; |
there were thousands and thousands of |
men like that old Democrat, and they |
were the strength Of the Democratic |
party. They had been its refuge in the |
past. Mr. Vance was not quite sure
hat they would be its champions in the |
future. They would not hghtto win Dem
ocrstie victories for Republican benefit.
They believed that If a man were
'aised TO the place Of his ambition by
ais friends he should give his friends
be preference over his enemies. So
lid Mr.. Vance. They also believed
hat man found wanting in gratitude
u,obf liknwiSa be fn,c1 sv.,t;o,. e., /