Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-12

n.
Butler had referred 70 as proof Of the
opposition 20 the division Of the Territory,
no read extracts q letter from Mr.. Springer.
chairman Of the House Committee on Terrific
ries, which he spoke Of as a "pronunciamento"
and "ukase," stating that those who were wait
Ing for q division Of the Territory might az well
postpone the realization OF their hopo 20 a more
convenient season, which MIR. Davis supposed
might refer % a time after the next presidential
election. Was Il any wonder. he asked. TINT
with such a lettcr az that read 10 ire Aberdeen
Convention, the people who bad met there had
abandoned the hope OF division, and had made
up their mind 70 take what ihey could get
Mr. Turpie obtained the floor and tho bill was
laid aside TIL tomorrow.
Tho senate then passed number Of bills. IN.
Guiding House bill 20 purchase ths swords Of
General James Shields; for tho erection OF
who ioll a. Bunker Hin, for public buildings at
Tallahassee. Fla. and birmingham, Ala; for
lighthouse on tho highland (mainlandl N the
westward Of Crooked river, Florida; appro-
priating $4,000 for a monument 70 Brigadier-
General William Lee Davidson; House bill
authorizing the construction Of bridge across
the tennessee river Al Chattanooga; House bill
Hppropratiug $4,000 for n reveoue-cutter for
ChadOstOn, =. c., 20 replace the McCulloch:
House bin Masking appropriations for tho sup
port Of the NJ iiary Academy for the fiscal yegr
ending June 80 1879 with but ono unimportant
aWCudmfuu.
The bill Tor the purchase from Miss Virginia
TayiOe Laws OF the sword Of Washington for
$4,000 was taken up and discussed for some
T I.
based chiony upon the amount asked Tor the
sword. The mater went over. and the Senate
adjourned al o'clock.
When The bin for the purchase OF Washing
tou's sword hal been read Mr. Cockrci remark
"a mat 10 seemed a very expensive sword, and
he inquired Whether there was any identihca-
lion Of a.
SIR Evarts (who had reported the bill from
the Library COmmittcC) said that the sword had
hceu useful 20 the United States when used by
It, former owner. In that relation II had value
as a mere scabbard ana blade: Otherwise II had
not any great value. lt was ono OF The I'VE
swords mentioned Ia Wsshngtons will aud be-
QuOathCi 10 various OF his kindred. 1he nrat
~ Thorn Was IN gt one which had the traditional
credit OF being presented 70 General washing
ton by Frederick the Great with tho message
that il was q present from the oldost General IN
the world 70 The greatest General In the WOrlu.
7 That sword VAS now owned by the state OF New
York. having been purchased, with other articles,
Tor the sum Il $4,000. This matter had now been
brought 80 tho attention of the senate, ana ne
price mouioDed IN the bill was that fixed by tie
rcpycseu tative Of the legdtee Of the sword. lis
Authenticity and It's relation 10 the great
event OF the surrender OF Washington
commission was not disputed. IL was
in the historical picture of that event The
/ Library Committee had not telt ht liberty 70
/ chtapcn the sword. II anybody else were 70
/ chonpen IL. IL was not 10 be the Senate Of the
/ United States The only proposition now before
/ TIE senate Xas whether tie United states should
| become the owner Of that sword. II not II
/ would not bo offered TO other patriotic organl2a-
lions ,bat ight desire IL. II was 70 be acquired
a; thac price, aud not any other price.
Nr. Cockrol said that he thought This blll was
2 carrying me matter a little lar, aud he hoped
I the senator from New ork would not insist
r upon a vote this evening, as tho senate was not
/ fun aud hs no (C0cSrolD would be compelled TO
I can TIE yeas ari nays upon H. lie did not
/ thins lie b.ll was right The price was o4orpi-
I tanL
/ Mr.. Hoar remarked that the Senate had passed
! q biI to-day appropriaung $4,000 for The pur-
/ chase of the swords OF General Shields.
Mr. Vest said that the bill provided that the
/ price should not exceed the actual cost oi me
/ swords.
Mr. Cockren said thors was no pretence that
! the ortuRi value OF the sword was over flOJ II
+ IT, Ike the shields swords had an intrinsic
/ value, II would be a different matter
sir Fvarts said int IN voting for the Shlelds
/ bill no A0nntor supposed that he was voting 70
/ purchase those swords as swords that couid
/ ne realized upon II put IN the market
] Tho question OF bnliiBnts which they contained
/ constituted no part Of the desire or duty OF me
] United states 10 own them. Did any one wish
/ 90 apply succ test or measure 70 TINS SWORD ol
/ NashugtOn7 lie had stated very distinctly iAat
. its owner velued IL at S22OO and II the tulteI
/ states bought il would 40 80 because II desired
. % possess It The price fixed had no relation 20
/ the money value OF the sword, but In one sense
/ 10 was inestimanle it was the sword oil WASP
Mr Vest said that az matter Of course this
I was not a commercial transaction, ana neltner
. was the purchase Of the sword II Shields. lie
lai no 4l-f N1ililN tN pht ilili-'il w ANN"A% -
/ dnUrcfating She gratitude, honor, and yenerd-
/ fo1 which every American citlZen hGd Tor ire
7 memory Of Washington. but he should not vote
f give ~ O)l for this sword. II tnis bill we're 10
! pass every relic Of Washington and other as
I fiuguishcd men would be brought here anc Con-
ere-s would be asked 10 buy them at enormous
/ prices.
/ Mr. Voorhees, said ne would Just as soon vote
] 500 900 Tor this sword "a any other sum. IL was
/ uar a Question Of money. This was the sword
/ Washington wore upon bis person when, at me
close OK q career Of giory such as DO oiher man
/ ever he'd ina the world. ne surrendered his com
/ mission at Annapolis and bowed LIS iOfty hebl
] tn tho civil auth critics OF the Government IL
+ was cheap az any price. The price ha1 no n can
/ ing 10 his mind ia connection with IL inns was
SLIM long blade OF steel. with plain silver nhl-
die and guard: but II was halowed oy such a.
T 7ocatiOns a. belonged 20 no oihsrrehc IL human
Nr. Uoar suggested 70 Senator Vest 10 put hia
/ oouosition in practical shape AID orcr an
rreudment striking out s2OD1 and inserting
Wr. Yes, said he had not had the slightest idea
81 provoking the bursts OF elOluencc which ire
senate had listened q on the subject lie was
/ willing % 60 - any rca enable Lengths 10 e''-
dencc his vcuerafOn 10 the memory OF Nashing-
ton. lie had never sniG anything WHICH WON
I Justify tie suggestion OF MIR. HOar o Ouet 800
FOR this sword. He had simply sag l1b'
7 the price mentioned was enormous. ii Ne!
wial 81 70 show their estimate o. the services ol
/ Washington they should make the price OF iOR'
sword ten millions. or, a. the senator from Norm
Carolina or. KhnsOml suggested, one huhdred
+ Millions Who. ne asked, bad brought tul,
sword here a. a matter of commerce. Wricn Of
/ The heirs and desceucGnts Of Washington was
/ willing 70 take money for that priceless rene
/ When they entered into the domain OF trace
what right had they or their advocates N 'hs
Senate TO complaint II asked 70 TX ihou' 0'o ""O
( reasonable price.
Mr. Reagan said the memory Of Washington
I was enshrined Ia the memory and hearts OF eil'
and that the American people had testified ~
I ,verv ,,av their gratitude. respect, and vonera-
| lion for him And now they were asked TO make
/ commerce Of this sword. tie thought American
( ism had changed very seriously within the Ns'
Z fhirtv or forty Years. and that honor and grail
| tude we're 20 be estimated in dollars ana cents.
After further remarks ny Mr.. Evarts the mat
I Ter went over without action.