The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-19
AN EXCITING DEBATE.
Details of the Recent Controversy in the Naval
Affairs Committee.

Detaila Of the Recent Controversy in the Naval
Affairs Committee.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18.-It was an extremely
acrimonious and exciting scene that occurred
the other day in the meeting of the House COM
mittee on naval affairs. The resolution offered
in the House by Mr.. Boutelle. of Maine, calling
upon the Secretary of the Navy to inquire if it
was true that the authorities at the Norfolk
Va. navy yard had discharged ex Union soldiers
and sailors and appointed in their places ex con-
federate soldiers and sailors was under consid-
Grafton. Capt George D. Wise, of the Rich
mond, Va, district. made a very infammatory
speech against the resolution. denouncing it as
political move to investigate political ques
tion.
Mr.. Bourelle combated Mr.. Wise for some
time, explaining that the resolution was not one
TO investigate, but of inquiry. respectfully ask
ing the Secretary of the Navy if it was true that
the law which gave ex Union soldiers and sailors
the preference in securing employment under
the government had been violated It was not
question of politics, but of law. II it was
true that the law had been thus trampled upon
the country ought to know it. If untrue, the
OocIeIdTy VI tuo Navy nao an opportunity TO
prick bubble.
Captain Wise declared that the whole thing
was but newspaper story and that there was
not word Of truth in it.
Then" said Captain Thomas, of Illinois, "the
Secretary of the Navy can so report after he has
inquired into this matter. But we have positive
information that ex-confederates have been put
into places made vacant by the summary re-
moval of ex-Union soldiers and sailors Not
only that but the guns and tablets at the Nor
folk yard, bearing inscriptions to commemorate
Union victories, have been obliterated, and the
who reported the obliteration was dis
charged. was Union soldier, but have not
yet reached the point where l can say / am
ashamed of my service in the war;
You are a believer in the maxim that to the
victors belong the spols, are you notl" inquired
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York.
Yes, sir" replied Captain Thomas; 'and
voted against the civil-service bill because
think the party that wins should dispose of the
Offices under it. This is not spos matter.
however"
DO you think these reminders of the war,
like the tablets and guns you mention. should be
perpetuatedY"
Suppose the confederates should put up
monument of their victory at Bull Run, do you
think it ought to standl"
mo, it ought to be pulled down; and would
help do it, for the confederates did not, fortu-
nately, win victory at Bull Run. But the me-
mentoes of victory which were destroyed by ex.
confederate hands, at the Norfolk yards were
sacred to the Union. You should
be proud of them too as well
az the meE who fought for them. do not be-
lieve," continued Captain Thomas, pointing at
Mr. Hewitt, that the men who sympathized
with and fought for the Confederacy would have
been so proud of their victory had they won, as
they are of that won by their opponents / be-
lieye they glad they lost their cause, and
that they are better contented as they are but
many of them have feeling over the struggle
yet, and it breaks out to this day, as it did at
the Norfolk yard"
The debate was very exciting and occupied all
of the session. The resolution was not disposed
of. and will come up again at the next meeting
Much astonishment is expressed at the audacity
0f the aAx-c0nfqdarate