The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-06-27
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
MR.. WHERLRRs SPEECH ON EX-
SECRETARY STANTON.
What a Republican Paper Says Of II
Discussion Of the Hot
Springs Bill.
loOnRrsroEDIEor OF rae ArrElL.I

OF Gen. Wheeler ON ex Secretary
Stanton, which excited considerable
discussion in the House and wide
comment throughout the country, is
thus alluded to In a recent editorial of
the New York Post, a Republican
paper: We cannot see that Gen.
Wheeler has come short of the due
need Of praise to Mi. Stanton for his
great qualities. Nor doeI it appear
hat the Stanton debate in the House
was OF Gen. Wheeler's seeking. 1t
grew out Of q hasty and ill.considsred
remark, which he almost Immediately
apologiEed for and sought to have
omitted from the Congressional Record,
being prevented "by the gentleman
from Pennsylvania" who insisted that
the word should appear. Which gem
tleman from Pennsylvania put himself
in the way OF an act of decoTum and
stirred up a rebel b~rigadier does not
appear from Mr.. Wheelet's speech,
but lift was Judge Kelley, he is now in
the queer att tude Of trying to ex-
purge twenty-four columns OF Mr..
Wheeler from the Record, 10 conse-
quence OF refusing to let Mr.. Wheeler
expunge himself 10 the extent OF ore
line. Mr.. Wheeler in bis twenty four
column speech says that Mr.. Stanton
was a man CT great abilities, trained
intellect, and untiTing energy, one OF
tt ose remarkable men who lsave their
impress upon the opinions and action
Of the time in which they live. "My
accidental and unpremedltated asser-
tion," he continues, that these talents
had been sometimes used to disparage
and even to destroy those who did not
conform to his views, is the extent of
my offending" II this is the remark
which Mr.. Wheeler apoloRized for and
offered to expunge iIom the official
record OF the debate, we have 10 cay
that a great many men on the Union
eide and In the Union army, whose
patriotism was equal TO Mr.. Stanton's,
agree with him. 1t Is bett to leave
these questions TO the judgment of
history in 80 far as we are not called
upon TO overhaul them now for the
sake Of justice TO the living. Mr..
Stanton's fame rests upon the secure
foundation of great labors rerformed
with the high purpose to serve his
country In q fearful crisis. No
victim OF Mr.. Stanton's prejudices,
II there were such victims, suf-
fered more cruelty from unjust
aspersion and suspicion than himself.
No one had greater need Of COURAGE
and the power OF endurance. We
agree entirely with Mr.. Wheeler that
Stanton would have preferred, as
Cromwell did, 10 be painted with all
his warts and blemishes rather than
to be emoothed and pc ished and
ironed out Of his own individuality.
1t would be more conductive TO
national peace and prosperity il the
rebel brigaoierS would spare Us any
criticism on those whom tho Union
cause has canonized. These ooca.
sional outbreaks Of hot words serve
only the interes's Of politicians OF the
"blopdy shirt" persuasion. But ia the
present case it must be admitted that
Mr.. Wheeler showed a manly spirit
when he withdrew a remark let fall
in the hurry OF debate, and sought to
eXpunge 1t from the Record, aud we
are sure that this DISPOSE
ton TO avoid wounding the
feelings Of his fellow members
will have a soothing effect upon
all fair minded r aders of the debate.
Between Senators Logan and Berry
the following colloquy ensued in the
Senate on Monday last, in the discus
sion on tie bill TO provide for the ION
troll OF the reservation Of public lands
aud the distribution OF hot water at
Hot Springs, Ark. Senator Berry en-
deavored to have the bill made a spe-
cial order a certain day, to which Soma
tor Logan objected. The latter said:
do not desire to do an ungracious
thing, and / am always willing TO &C.
CO mmodate my friend, for he is very
kind; but / must object to the bill be-
ing made a special order, and / will
state the reason why. OF course, with
out any reflection in any way, / think
the bill is such acne az oughtnot 10 be
enacted into a law, and for that rea-
son, by every means l possibly can
that Is proper, / shall object to its be-
coming q law, II Is, in my Judgment.
a bill to contiscate the property of
private individuals. That is the effect
Of il, and / shall certainly object to it
in every way | can.
Mr.. Berry, appeal to the Senator
from Illinois that he will allow the
bill to come up and be discussed, and
If it is not a proper bill then he will
have an opportunity to amend it.
The state OF affairs at the Hot Springs
at this time is such that the passage Of
no law is worse, in my opinion, than
almost any law which could be passed.
| am welded to no particular system,
but the present system is unjus,. 1t
10 n monopoly OF that water in the
hands of a few individuals. Two.
thirds OF the water escapes and Is not
being used and utilized, and hundreds
OF citizens there, and invalids, want to
useit, lfthis is not acorrecl bill lie: us
pass a correct bill, and | appeal to the
Senator from Illinois TO give it an op.
p~ortunity 10 be heard. He can sug-
gest an amendment, If he thinks this
is c%onfiscating property, aud the
amendment can be considered, and
the whole matter will be before the
Senate; but | ask him not TO defeat
action by objeCting 10 the considera-
ten Of the bill.
Mr.. Login--Becsuse l objected
to the bill the Senator regards me per-
haps as the individual who is in
charge Of the opposition to the bill.
He is mistaken in that. / merely ex.
amined the bill for the reason that at
one time l was connected with the
establishment Of a hospital at that
place, and l examined very thorough
" into the laws which related thereto.
When this bill came up my attention
wss called to it, and on reading it l
regarded it as / have said. But the
Senator is mistaken il he suppoSes
that ! have any interest in guarding
the Hot Springs in any way, shape or
form, except the interest l have as a
Senator in any law that may be passed
where property is affected by the pas
cage Of the law. ] do not care when
the bill is taken up. AS / said, l shall
object TO its being taken up next
Wednesday, because it would inter
fere with other matters which are on
the calendar. 1t is bill which can
not pass the Senate without consider