The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-26

reau non partisan, regretted that he had fallen
several degrees lower than any other depart
ment or bureau chief appointed under the ad-
ministration. Mr.. Henderson then went into an
analysis of the negative vote on the bill to in
the pensions of soldiers widows. The
total vote in the negative he said. was 66 The
total Democratic noes were &c The total lie
publican noes were O. The total noes from the
South were g. The total noes from the North
were 2 The vote of the gentleman from New
York mr. Hewitt did not disturb him much,
for the gentleman was not standing authority
on any great question. There was not an
economic scrap book in the land but had the gen.
tleman as leading authority on both sides of the
tariff question. He Mr. Henderson, lit
tie troubled about his friend from Wisconsin
mfr. Braggl who had cast the other Northern
negative vote. STILL the gentleman
could not go far as Northern author
ity, for the reason that man
who would vote against a widow. and at the
same time make his leading effort in this Con-
gress to restore to enormous pay and position
Fitz John Porter was not high authority any
where in the land. This was a significant fact,
and great lesson was TO be learned from it. In
the late campaign, in the North, the Republican
party had been charged with being the party of
sectionalism-the party that waved the san
culinary garment.
Mr.. Tillman, of South Misunderstanding
that the ConfederatesStates pay about one third
Of the taxes to the federal government for pen
sidering also that from the foundation of the
government to the present time, So month was
considered sufficient pension for widows,
the gentleman complain that Southern nemb ers
are trying to restrain the necessarily large ex-
penditures for pensions within the rules that
prevailed heretofore!
Mr. Henderson-There is no section of this
country that, before God is under deeper and
more profound obligations to pay every dollar of
its share of that debt than the Southern States.
have not read this vote for the purpose of stir
ring up bad blood The time has come when
sectional lines should be dissipated, but when
sixty-four members of that side of the House
say that $l2 is too much to pay widow, the
sectional line is kept up, and the bloody
shirt is waved to cover determined
effort to obliterate our pension acts.
state here and now, as my conviction, that if
these gentlemen respected the Constitution as
they say, they would not have control of this
chamber. If they represented the Constitution,
instead of ballot box stufing and shotguns. they
would not have control of the executive Office of
the Nation. Applause on the Republican side
and groanS the Democratic side. You may
groan, gentlemen, but you yourselves do know,
and you boast of it, too, that you will control
this government in spite of the Constitution, and
! tell you here and now, in this chamber, that
there are as grave crimes committed under forms
of law and the Constitution as there were when
Sumter was fired upon. And for one, protest
against sectional control of this country, with
the Constitution absolutely defeated These
my sentiments and l say the gauntlet was
thrown down in the vote. In closing, | desire to
say that sincerely trust that no gentleman, es-
pecially those who were in the ranks against me,
will misinterpret me, for / would rather spend
an eternity in hell with confederate than
eternity in heaven with Northern copperhead.
Laughter and applause.
AIR. Warner of Ohio, regretted that an oppor-
tunity had been taken to drag politics into the
debate. He wanted to call the attention of the
gentleman from Iowa Mr.. Henderson to the
IL. ~ la ~ %
Colonel Dudley. during the last presidential
and congressional election had left his place in
the Pension Office, and gone. to the State of
Ohio to take charge of the election there. He
had taken charge of the Republican campaign in
that State all the time drawing his salary as
Commissioner of Pensions Other officials of
the Pension Bureau had been detailed to that
State ostensibly on the duty of the office, but
really on political business Every Democratic
pensioner had been hunted down. and told that
ii he voted the Democratic ticket he need not
expect to get his pension. These men had filled
his district. Mr.. Warner then proceeded to con-
denim the use OF money IN elections, when he
WAS interrupted by Mr.. Browne, of Indiana,
with the question, why do you not speak of
money entering legislative bodies, and infuenc-
ing the choice of United States Senator!"
MIR. Warner-Let me assure my friend that he
will find nay record against that influence and
will never find any authority from me for any
such course.
In conclusion Mr. Warner defended Commits
sioner Black, and said that no complaint of him
had been made by any soldier. More pensions
had been allowed under his administration than
had ever been allowed in the same time under
any previous administration.
Nr Randall said this was the first time he had
ever partisan politics and seetionalsm
thrust into a debate on pension appropriation
bill. He should, perhaps, have remained silent,
notwithstanding the fact that whether intended
or not there might go abroad throughout the
country the statement that the Democratic party,
and more particularly the Southern element of
that party, had IN any way shown any hostility
whatever, to the payment Of pensions. On
the contrary, his experience had shown that
the Southern element has developed wonderful
disposition-af full heart-to pension Union sol
diers or the widows of Union soldiers. He placed
his experience against the impression carried by
the speech of the gentleman from Iowa, that
there was, on the Democratic side, any hostility
20 the payment of what was justly due to those.
no were disabled in the war for the Union.
~ r Randall.
Mr.. Browne, of Indiana, defended the action of
.xCom missioner Dudley, and maintained that
re had never prostituted his official position to
serve partisan ends.
Pending action the committee rose.
The Speaker appointed Mr. Wilkins of Ohio,
as a member of the committee on education in
place of Mr. Curtin, of Pennsylvania excused.
The House then adjourned.
THE SENATE.