The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-07-08
FACTS AND FIGURES.
How Gallant Democrats Fought, Bled,
and Died I'm the War Of the
Rebellion.
The Administration and Civil Service
Reform-Speeoh of Hon. T. M.
Browne, of Indiana.
from the Congressional Recond. !


The House being in committee OF the whole
on the state of the Union, and having under
consideration the bill Oh. II. 1914 making appro-
priations for the legislative, executive. and ju-
dicial expenses of the Government for the fiscal
year ending June 30 1887 and for other pur-
poses, Mr.. Browne, OF Indiana, said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN-I move pro fCrnld to strike
out the line just read IL seems To me that tins
Is very appropriate time for me to relieve
somewhat the inonotony OF discussions upon
points of order and to submit few suggestions
ON civil service reform. have no desire TO re-
vive the memories of the unfortunate conflict
through which the nation has passed. III there
is single personal bitterness or sectional hate
still lingering as the result OF that conflict,
would, SO far as I could. send it with Uncle
Tobys oath TO heavens chancery and let the
tear of pity fall and blot il out forever
But there is something due TO truth, some
thing due to history and desire to correct a
statement inadvertently made by my amable
friend from Illinois Mr. Townshendl I'm his
speech of yesterday / do this for fear that
with his growing imagination the time may
come for he is yet "A young man when he will
believe in truth he put down the rebellion all
himself. Laughter. He says in the first place :
Il tell you, gentlemen, that IL the long roll
could be called of the dead and the living who
fought for the Union in the late war, and their
political sentiments could be ascertained you
would find that n majority OF these were DEM
ocrats.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, il is n matter OF very lit
tie importance whether they were Democrats
or not. l have the same admiration for the
gallantry and patriotism of one who differs
from in politics that l have
for the same qualities in one who is in political
sympathy with me But what are the facts? /
have here compiled from authentic records, the
votes OF the soldiers of those States who, by the
laws existing Mt that time, were permitted to
vote. In the year 1862 the States of California,
Iowa. Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
voted in the field. The aggregate Republican
vote was ~ $40, the aggregate Democratic vote
6,4ji, the majority for the Republican ticket be-
ing u 400.
I find that in 1863 there was an election in
| WI no Of tla Of
| Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wiscon-
sin wero allowed 10 vote in the held, and in
1864 the same privilege accorded the sol
diers of Maine New Hampshire Ohio, Vermont,
| Pennsylvania and Maryland and n number of
I other States, the record of which will print in
full. In these States in these years soldiers in
the field We're, l have said, permitted to cast
then votes for the party OF their choice.
In the last year, it will be remembered, Mr..
| Lincoln was n candidate upon the one side, and
! the distinguished soldier, now dead General
| Mcclellan, upon the other. will put in the
] Record tabulated statements of the votes; but
| simply desire TO state them here to show in the
| aggregate that eighty-two per cent. OF the
! soldiers voted the Republican ticket at these
! elections.
Now, continuing further read another ex-
] tract from the speech of the gentleman from
| Illinois. He says:
Il am warranted in making the statement, sir
that if you will ascertain the number of Repub-
| lican soldiers who have been removed from
office under this administration il can be shown
that an equal number OF Democratic soldiers
! have been appointed. Has the President not
| the right when n vacancy occurs in an ofhc
| filled by Union soldier, to select u Democratic
soldier TO fill his placer
! have here sir, n paper published at the cap
| ital of my State, in which il is said OF the Dem
ocratic Postmaster OF that city that
The Grand Army men are lodging complaints
against Jones for the wholesale discharge OF
crippled Union soldiers in the indianapolis post
office Jones has been in office now for little
more than year. In this time he has
discharged about twenty-five Union soldiers
some of them badly wounded and disabled
Their places have been filled by ward heelers OF
the worst sort Not single Union soldier has
| been appointed by Mr. Jones, and not n single
| Republican has obtained employment in his
office under the civil-service examinations had
from time to time.
This charge has been often repeated in the
Indiana press, and has passed without challenge
have seen il stated in the newspapers that DIR
Hunter, the gentleman appointed on the recon-
| mendation of my colleague, Judge Holman. n
collector Of one of the districts OF Indiana, has
| removed fifteen or twenty Union soldiers, and has
| largely supplied their places from the ranks OF
| civil life. l do not know-my colleague
| who is in hearing. knows-whether this DO true
| or not but say TO the gentleman that in my
own knowledge within my own Congressiona
district widow Of pensioned soldier, OF {
| soldier who was disabled in his countrys ser
| vice, turned out OF a little postohce, which
| furnished her a meager support, and her place
| was supplied by able bodied man. know
| of n number Of instances in which crippled
| Union soldiers were removed from ONCE, ano
one case where soldier hating through the
! world upon n wooden leg was removed To Civ,
place TO an able-bodied man ana while 90 no
| know that these matters are OF interest to the
! committee, or even to the Democratic party,
! make the statement in order that these asser
| tions OF my friend from Illinois may
not 90 upon the record unchallenged. The time
| is coming when the books will be opened, anC
! we will see who have been the friends OF the
| soldier Of the Union. And now, with the per
mission Of tho committee, after putting the
| promised election statement on the record,
! will extend my remarks on other branches o.
! the subject
In 1862 Union soldiers were permitted to vot'
In the field in five States only. That vote wal
! as follows: