The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-21
lBLAIR'S NEWEST PROPOSAL
III Ex-Rebels Are To Be OfEiceholders He
Wants Soldiers To Have Preference.
Southern Senators Return Thanks, but Say
Nobody Is Asking Such Legislation. While
Northern Statesmen Oppose the Bill.
TIE SENATE.

CoE1uILIG9S
sndar were the following
To relieve the Treasurer Of the United States
from the amount now charged to him and depos-
tied with the several States; to encourage the
holding of a national industrial exposition OF
the arts mechanics and products or the colored
saee In the United States In 1859; to authorize
the Secretary Of the Treasury TO apply the SUR
plus money IN the Treasury TO the purchase OF
nnited States bonds and to the prepayment OF
interest; providing that pensions be rated ac-
cording to the rank held AZ the date OF dis
charge.
sale ard conveyance 80 the Minneapolis, Sault
Ste Marie 81 Atlantic Railroad Company OF
certain portions OF the Sault Ste Marie military
reservation.
giving preferences for civil-service appoint
Inents (among men who had been disloyal dur
ing the war) to those who had served in the con-
federate army and who were suffering from
wounds or disabilities. asked Mr.. Platt who had
objected TO the second reading OF the bill, to
Withdraw bis objection.
Mr. Platt said that he could not object to the
bill being read q second time aud referred TO
committee. His objection yesterday lad been
based upon what seemed to be an inference
from the title of the bill.
: Mr.. Blair said he had introduced the bill in
tire good faith. lie understood that in the one
State of North Carolina there were to-day TWEEN
~ Thousand ex-goldiers Of the Confederacy who
bad Lost limbs in the SERVICE and that very
large number OF them were in poor circum-
stances. Is seemed to him that IL the govern
Enent, under this administration, or unQer any
other administration, gave opportunities to men
who had been disloyal, preference should be Civ
en- to those who had served in the confederate
army and we're LOW disabled, other things being
Mr.. Hale inquired of Mr. Blair as to the pur-
pose of the bill. Was it to be applied to disabled
soldiers OF the Confederaey as against other sol
diers Of the Confederacy who were not disabled,
it to be applied to disabled soldiers OF the
Confederacy against individuals living in the
South who had been dlsloyal, but who had not
80 has Ea fnrn M
Bent to any such discrimination in favor of con-
federate soldiers as has been made in the stat
uteg in favor of federal soldiers.
Mr.. Blair said the bill itself answered the
question of the Senator from Maine
Mr.. Hale said it was very clear to him that
the same discrimination now made by statute
for the loyal soldier was to be made, under this
BILL for the disloyal soldier. The browning
merit of the latter would be that he had served
and been wounded or disabled in the army of
the Confederacy;Isnd that was to place him above
the man who had been disabled in the Mexican
war for the whole Republic. 1t is made merit
by this bill that the applicant for office had
served in the confederate army and had there
been disabled.
Mr.. Platt said he would ask for the yeas and
nays on the second reading Of the bill.
Mr.. Berry said the wounded soldiers OF the
South had not asked for such a bill, though they
would recognize the generosity OF the PROPOSE
ton. Any intimation that the confederate
soldiers were not equal in point Of love of coun-
try and In every other particular to any other
man, was unjust, unfounded and unwarranted.
Mr. Platt replied that when the Senator from
Arkansas (Mr. Berry, said that the confederate
soldier was the equal and peer OF all men in love
of country, some objection should be made to
such a statement in the Senate OF the United
States. He would not sit in his seat and have
the confederate soldiers loyalty. devotion and
love Of country put upon par with those of the
soldier who had fought to maintain the govern
ment.
Mr.. Blair said the bill had originated with
himself.
Mr. Spoonsr thought that the appointments of
con Moderate leaders, under the present admins
sration, were sufficiently potential in influence
70 take ample care of wounded confederate
soldiers without the Intervention of Congress.
Mr. Blair said that the wounded ex-soldiers or
the Coufederacy had not received that consider
alton in the way Of appointm ents that they
were entitled 10, when appointments were
during the war. He thought there was just
cause of complaint on their part. 1t seemed to
him that TO give preference to these men was
the proper thing 20 do.
Mr. Hoar said that the difficulty with the prop
osition was that because it was merit TO have
suffered in the cause of the country, it was an
equal merit to have suffered in the cause of the
Confederacy. That is precisely what the bill is.
The proposition Is that in dealing with this class
of persons shall say that the fact that men
have rendered services to the whole country
shall not weigh in the scale against the fact that
other men have served in the army of the Con-
federacy and have been there wounded or in
cured disease.
Messrs Hampton, Riddleberger and George
expressed their appreciation of the kindly feel
ing which had prompted the introduction of the
bill. but dselaimed all desire on the part of ekr
confederates for its passage.
Mr. Henderson did not think it dlscourteous
to the Senator from New Hampshire THAI the
Senate should refuse second reading to a bill
involving such strange and, startling PROPOSE
Eion. He believed that before the Senate could
enter on such legislation IL would be necessary
to repeal, by the action OF Congress and
cf State legislatures. the fourteenth amendment
20 the Constitution, which declared that neither
the United States nor any State should assume
or pay any debt or obligation OF the Confederate
States, bat that oil such debts. obligations and
claims should be. under the law. held void. He
submitted that the bill was in direct violation Of
che sPir4t. if not the letter of the constitutional
Mr. Daniel said that ne public question could
ever be belittled by question of courtesy. The
question before the Senate was the propriety of
the consideration OF the bill If it had gone 10
a committee in due course, without vote or COM
ment no one would have felt that there was
anything improper IN IL; but, since question
met and ne trusted that no ex-confederate in
the Senate would dodge that question, although
doubtless his emotions might incline him TO
with propriety decline to vote on the
question he would do so, because, in his judg-
ment 10 did not become a confederate soldier to
ruliar right or privilege The confederate SOL
der bad boldly laid down the gauntlet of war;
and when he came out Of the war he had con-
tempt for but two classes OF men engaged in il
-hrzs those who made apologies; ard, second,
those who demanded them. Questions of great
International strife and of great social con icts
never descended to personalities, but were gov
erned by the greet philosophers OF human ex-
istsnce. He had no doubt that the Senator
from New HAMPSHIRE had introduced the bill in
. spirit OF benevolence, kindness and generos-
lty; but Is had not been called for by any con
nor had is grown out OF the demands
of public sentiment. The wise legislation of
the world was generally that which had public
opinion behind IL. There had been no public
discussion OF this srbject. There had been no
wide debate about IL, either North
9r South. The Senator from New Hamp-
;aire had stated that he originated tho
bin, and he SIR. Daniel vsntured TO believe
that its oriRin was entirely confined 70 the Iucu.
hAtions OF the Senator'S owe mind. While he
FEEL that, In this instance he IMr. Blair had
acted wisely. or in consonance with the public
spirit OF the country. All the confederate sol
dier asked from the United States was that he
should stand equal before its laws and should
bave fair opportunity to work out his own sal