The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-01-28

The body of the republicans refrained from voting
and upon announcement of the result, Ill to 70
Mr.. Perkins, of Kansas, raised the point of order
that no quorum voted. 1t is evident then, said Mr.
Herbert, that the gentlemen do not want their own
interrogation answered l withdraw the report
Applause on the democratic side.1
Mr.. Boutelle-IfI may do so, I object to the
withdrawal of the report
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, suggested that the gentle
man from Alabama allow amendments TO be of
fered.
Mr.. Herbert denied, and moved a call of the
house. The republicans opposed the motion for a
call of the house, but it was ordered by vote of
yeas, 1853; nays, 123.
The call disclosed the presence of 20S members
there being but % absentees, and on motion of Mr.
Herbert, a resolution was adopted directing the
sergeantatarms to arrest and bring before the bar
OF the house such members as were absent without
leave.
Mr.. Reed moved all further proceedings under
call be dispensed with He called attention to the
fact that there was an unusually full attendance Of
members. The sole question which now existed,
was the question of liberty of debate. No un-
reasonable time was asked for by the minority. 1t
could not be that gentlemen the other side, with
q majority Of forty, were desirous of supPressing
debate from fear of any consequences No harm
ever come in q free country from the free discus
sion of Legitimate proposition.
Mr.. Herbert stated it was simply resolution of
inquiry and thOre was nothing to debate until the
inquiry had been answered
Mr.. Reed suggested that the committee on naval
affairs had added an amendment 70 the resolution,
which debate would show to be mistake and en-
tirely futile
Mr.. Herbert replied that this side of the house
entirely willing to accept the consequences of
any mistakes which might have been made by
amending the resolution.
Mr.. Reed insisted that the house had the right to
debate any subject coming before it, and it not
for any man, or any set of men, to decide whether
the provision was proper one to be answered.
Mr.. Hewitt of New York, agreed with Mr.. Reed
in maintaining the freedom of debate, but in the
nrp pn nlnt W. tA
democratic side has had to maintain, for many
years. the right of the representatives of the people
to discuss important political questions, and many
time had he seen the other side trying to sup
press debate. 1t did not lie in the mouths of the
gentlemen of the other side to taunt the democrats
with an attempt to limit debate. To undertake to
overcome itnow with partisan statements was a
waste of public time and an abuse of the conf
dence of the house.
Mr.. Reeds motion was voted down. and after a
short wait the sergeant-at-arms brought to the bar
of the house Messrs. Snowden, Riggs and Bing-
ham. After being considerably guyed by their as
sociates the excuses presented by these gentlemen
were deemed satisfactory, and they were released
from custody.
At 2:3O Mr. Herbert thought he had secured a
quorum o democrats, and accordingly further
proceedings under the call were dispensed with.
The previous question was then ordered on the
resolution Yeas, l59 nays, 81.
Then commenced political debate which was
opened by Mr.. Boutelle, who promised his direct
speech upon the resolution with remark calling at
enton to the fact that the first Legislative act of the
house had been the passage,by unanimous consent,
of the bill removing the political disabilities OF an
eX-confederate who had waited more than tive nty
years before discovering desire to be placed in the
line of eligibility to an appointment under the eX
ecutive department of the United States In con
trast with this, he (Bouelle) had been tauntingly
informed that fifteen minutes of time was an ample
allowance in which to present the case o.
the outrageous dismissal of disabled soldiers OF
the union army from the employment of the gov
ernment and the obliteration and removal of in
scrptions commemorative of the success of the
union army. A Norfolk paper had stated tina
Commandant Tuzton, in place ofscensure, was en-
titled to praise The paper said that when he hat
taken charge of the Norfolk navy yard, he hat
found inscriptions intending to keep alive the bite
memories of civil strife, and had patfiotically or
deTed them to be removed.
Mr. Boutelle then referred to the removal of the
superintendent of machinery at the navy yard be
cause of his demurring to the department OF th'
dry dock and the appointment of a man, whost
title to the position rested on service in the con
| federate army. "If,' said Mr.. BOutelle, the TIM
had come, or should come, to obliterate the
memories of the rebellion, the monuments of th
rebellion itself should be first turned down: lie
not the work be begun by taking down inscription
| commemorative of the victories OF tn
armies of the United States. He had lis
of great maFbls, ntssa asesosrng NJ
of treason and rebellion. The soldie
who came to Washington might wander il
througout the great art depository OF the cit
looking for a counterfeit presentment OF one OF TIL
| heroes who had sustained the flag of the union
He would find that the only men who were remem
| bered in the art gallery were Robert Il. Lee ant
Stonewall jackson. There was no justice IN th
| claim that broad patriotism required the altera
| tion of the record of the grandest trlumphS eve
made for humanity since the morning stars sans
together, applause on the republican side). The
people of this country ought to say as
| old General Dix did in regard to the American flag
IF any man attempts to pull down memorial o.
| the great triumphs of the loyal people OF this
country, shoot him on the spot prolonged ap
plause the republican side whether his position
| were that CT member of congress or citizen III
private life. He entered his protest against thi:
| morbid sentimentaity, against this false idea o
magnanimity which would tolerate for moment
the laying of hands of desecration on the memo
| rals of the triumphs Of union arms.
In the case of the Norfolk navy yard and custom
house. gallant, efficient and faithful public servant:
who had followed the flag of their country across
a hundred battle fields, had been turned out tina
their places might be given to men VINO had tough
to destroy the government.
Mr. Wise, of Virginia, said that the secretary o
the navy was called upon to report If any table
had been destroyed at Norfolk navy yard, whicl
commemorated the fact that the dry dock at Ports
mouth had been destroyed. He was glad of tn
opportunity to inform the gentleman from Main
that the dry dock at Portsmouth had neVe
been destroyed. Applause on the democratl
side The gentleman asked the secretary If tn
inscriptions had been removed from cannons cap
tured from the confederate army; lie would IN
form the gentleman from Maine that no cannons
with such inscriptions, had ever been in the Ports
mouth navy yard Applause on the democrati
side The gentle from Maine wanted to know
a union soldier had been discharged and a c0nted
crate put in his place. He would inform him tina
the man who was discharged had never been in tn
union army He never had been within thOt
sand miles of line of battle; had never heard TN
music of minnie bullet Applause and laughte
on the democratic slde
Mr.. Boutele-"Did he not render great services
his country p
0No sir" replied Mr.. Wise. "He, sir, was
receipt of a large salary in bOmb-proof position
while brave men fought the battles OF the country
Mr.. Brady of Virginia, asked permission to pr
pound a question. mo
mo, sir; no, sir! exclaimed Mr. wise, u WI
give my attention to you in one minute. The col
federate, or the one whom you (BOutelle) alleg
was appointed on account OF his services
the confederate army, was appointed on
competitive examination, and the man to who
you refer was removed for beastly intoXicatiOr
fApplause on the democratic side. One oth'
fact | commend to your consideration. DuriT
the Arthur administration, the postmaster
Portsmouth, who was a u.ion soldier and tw
wounded and twice promoted for gallantry, vi
/. removed at tine dictation of VIM. Malone. Al
plause on the democratic side.l
n "Oh, Mr.. Speaker, il is great thing to raise
fuss over this isn't it, said Mr.. Wise. "Your ft
low citizens of Maine, addressing Boutelle), a
anxious to know if confederate has been appoiI
f Have you forgotten that during Grants admin
, tratiOn, and during the administration of Hay
Z and Arthur, you sent the captain of cOnfedera
puerrillas, John S. Mosby. to represent the Cover
g ment of the United States in a foreign countr
: Applause on the democratic side) Have you fC
/ gotten that Longstreet, confederate lisutenar
Il General was selected by a repub
/ ii, ,t,,iaf imnprta