The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-01-28

~ lic RESOLUTION lnlTOuuCcu ldNt NC6k
by Mr. Boutelle OF Maine. calling on
the Secretary Of the Navy for infor-
nation relative TO the alleged eras-
ures of inscriptions on trophies of the
war and the dismissal Of Union sol
diers at the Norfolk Navy Yard. This
resolution vas reported back from the
committee ON Naval affairs to-day by
Mr. Herbert (Dem., Ala.), with an
amendment extending the inquiry to
dismissals made at the navy yard and
lighthouse district of Norfolk during
the terms Of the immediate predeces-
sors of the Secretary of the Navy,
Mr.. BoutelIe (Rep, Me- opened the
ball. His resolution, he said, related
to allegations that an officer Of the
United States Government, at one of
the navy yards of the Government,
had ordered the oblteration of honor
able inscriptions on cannon captured
by the Union army, and had caused to
be removed from the dry dock a me-
mortal tablet setting forth that it had
been destroyed by the rebels in 1862
and reconstructed in 1868. He did
not understand that the facts had
| been contradicted. Mr.. BOutelle then
referred to the removal of the Super
intendent OF Machinery at the navy
yard because of his demurring to
the deiacement of the dry dock and
the appointment of II man whose title
to the position rested on a service in
the confederate army, He had found
evidence that since the 4th of March,
1885, there had been repeated and sys-
tematic removals of wounded and dis.
abled veterans of the republic to make
place fer the men who had sought to
destroy it. He deemed that a fitting
matter to call to the attention of the
House and country.
'If the time had come or should
come" he continued, "to obllterate
the great memorials of the rebellion,
the monuments of the rebellion should
be first torn down. Let not the work
be begun by taking down inscriptions
commemorative of the victories of the
armies of the United States. The sol
dier who came to Washington might
wander in vain through the great art
repository of this city looking for
the counterfeit presentment OF one of
the heroes who sustained the flag Of
the Union He would find that the
only men who were memorialized and
remembered in the Corcoran Art Gal
lery were Robert f. Lee and Stone
wall Jackson. There was no justice
that broad patriotism required the
Obliteration of the records of the grand
est triumph ever made for humanity
since grst the morning stars sang to-
gether Applause on the Republican
side, The people Of the country
ought to say, as old General Dix
said in regard to the American flag
'lfany man attempt to pull down a
memorial Of the great triumph Of the
loyal people of the country, shoot him
on the spot. Prolonged applause
on the Republican side.
Mr.. Wise (Dem., Va } was glad that
he had an opportunity to state that
the dry dock at Portsmouth had nev-
er been destroyed. He would inform
the gentleman from Maine that no
cannon with snch inscription had ev.
er been in the Portsmouth Navy Yard
Applause on the Democratic side.
The gentleman from Maine wanted
to know if Union soldier had been
discharged and a Confederate put in
his place. H > would inform the gen
tleman from Maine that the mar
g who was discharged had never beer
! in the Union army; had never beer
: within a thousand miles of line O
| battle; had never heard the music o
MIME bullet. Applause and laugh
: ter on Democratic side.
Mr.. Brady (Rep., Va.) rose and ask
. ed permission to PROFOUND Il ques
ton.
: mo, sir; no, sir; )" exclaimed Nj
Wise. a will give my attention t,
you in one minute, The Confederate
> or the one whom you (Mr Boutelle
: alleged was appointed on account o
n his service in the Confederate army
8 was appointed after competitive ex
a animation, and the man to whom yol
: refer was removed for beastly intoX
q ication.' y Applause and laughter Of
If the Democratic side. One other fac
o / commend to your consideration
o During the Arthur Administrator
,s the Postmaster at Portsmouth, a Unio
+, soldier, twice wounded and twice PR
NOTED for gallautry, was removed 8
the dictotion Of William Mahon,
' [Applansc on the Democratic side
i All, Mr.. Speaker, it is good thing t
! raise fuss over this, is it? Your fe
3, low citizens Of Maine addressing NJ
Rnntellnl are anxious 10 know il