Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-23

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that there was no information 90
which an intelligent debate could be
passed. The very object Of the reso-
luton was to get at facts upon which
debate might proceed, and be though;
be could pledge his side Of the House
to give the amplest opportunity for dis
cussion when the information called for
was given by the Secretary of the Navy.
But 10 undertake to come in now with
partisan statements was q waste OF
public time and an abuse Of the conf
dence Of the House.
Mr.. Reeds motion was voted down,
and after short wait the Sergeant-at-
Arms brought to the bar Of the House
Messrs. Sowden, Riggs, and Bingham.
After being considerably guyed by their
associates, the excuses presented by
these gentlemen were deemed satisfac-
tory, and they were released from Gus
tody.
At 2:30 o'clock Mr.. Herbert thought
be had secured quorum Of Democrats,
and, accordingly, further proceedings
under the call were dispensed with.
The previous question was then or
dered on the resolution-yeas, l59 ;
nays, 81.
Then was crowded into the next half
hour the most exciting political debate
that has been presented to the House
this present session. The debate was
opened by Mr.. Boutelle, who promised
his direct speech upon the resolution
with a remark calling attention to the
fact that the first legislative act Of the
House had been the passage by unani-
nous consent Of bill removing the po-
litlcal disabilities Of an ex-Confederate
who had waited more than twenty
years before discovering his de-
sire TO be placed in the line
Of eligibility TO an appointment
under the Executive Department OF the
United States. In contrast with this
he (Boutelle) had been tauntingly in
formed that fifteen minutes was an
olhpAN 0Albn AAikE IA " nllu ~
case Of outrageous dismissal of disabled
veterans Of the Union army from the
employment Of the Government and
the obliteration, debasement, and re-
moyal Of inscriptions cOmmemOra-
tive Of the success of the Union army.
He trusted that these facts placed
in juxtaposition would prove more
instructive to the country than
any remarks he could offer. The
resolution he had introduced had
related TO allegations that an officer
of the United States Government at one
Of the navy-yards of the Government
had ordered the obliteration of honora-
BILE inscriptions on cannon captured by
the tnited States and caused to be re-
moved from the dry-dOCk a memorial
tablet setting forth that it had been de-
stroyed by rebels in 1862 and recon-
structed in 1868. lie did not under
stand that the facts had been in any
way cOntradicted. On the contrary,
he found that a Norfolk paper, whose
editor was closely connected with this
officer. had stated that COmmandant
IruNton, in place Of censure, was en-
titled TO praise. The paper said that
when be had taken charge of the navy
yard he had found inscriptions intended
to keep alive bitter memories Of civil
strife, and had periodically ordered
them TO be removed.
Mr.. BOutelle then referred to the re-
moyal Of the superintendent Of ma
chinery at the maynard, because Of
his demurriDg to the DETACHMENT Of the
dry-dock, and the appointment of man
whose title TO the position rested on
service IN the Confederate army. He
considered that sufficient reason for
calling attention to the matter. lie
had found evidence that since the 4th
of March, 1885. there had been repeat
ed and systematic removals from posi-
tons in which they were placed as Off
GERS Of the Government Of wounded
and disabled veterans Of the Republic
to make place for men who had sought
10 destroy it. lie deemed that fitting
matter to call 10 the attention Of the
House and country. An attempt,
whenever made and by whoever made,
to set up plea that the tearing down
Of loyal memorials Of war was demand
ed by any broad sentiment OF patriot
ism was based on absolute sophistry.
If the time had come, or should come,
to obliterate the great memorials Of the
rebellion, the monuments Of the rebel
lion itself should be first torn down.
Let not work be begun by taking
down inscriptions commemorative of
victories Of the armies of the [ nited
States. He had list Of great marble
memorials growing up all over this land
TO perpetuate the cause Of treason and
rebellion. lie had a description Of a
monument erected in Georgia. bearing
inscriptions breathing anything but a
spirit Of loyalty to this Government
a monument bearing on its face evil
dence Of design TO perpetuate the
memory Of the sttemp; on the life Of
the republic. A soldier who comes to
might wander in vain
through the great art-repOsltory Of this
city looking for a counterfeit pre-
sentiment of one of sle heroes who
sustained the tag Of the Union, he would
find that the only men who were me
and remembered in the Cor
coran Art Gallery were Robert Z. Lee
and Stonewall Jackson. These repre-
sensations were not simply TO keep
alive the memory Of great war, but |
we're representation of soldiers. They !
we're depicted IN full Confederate uni
'orm. Two years ago, when the House
vas considering an appropriation Of one |
million dollars for the New Orleans
the people down there who |
we're so anxious 10 have Union memo
'ials obliterated were erecting a monu-
nent thirty feet high to Robert f.. Lee,
he chief military head Of the rebel
ion. There was no justice in the
lain that broad patriotism re-
luired the obliteration Of the records of
he grandest triumph ever made for hu-
nanity since the first morning stars
ang together. Applause on the Re-
publican side.l The people Of the coun-
~ ought to say, as old General Dix
aid in regard to the American flag,
: If any man attempts to pull down the