New-York tribune., 1888-03-21
A LIVELY DEBATE IN THE SENATE
TO REWARD CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS.

FEATURTs oF Mr.. BLA1Es BILL-LADoh AAii'"'
IN THE HOUsH.
WASHINGTON, March 20.-Mr HALE prcscnscu .
letter ln the Senate from former lettcr carcrs VI
s,clphis asking for tho investigation OK vloIsons
OF the Civil Service law at that post once ana its os
management by Mr.. Harrity, tho postmaster. ~
x.s ordered printed and referred to tho seect oom
mittee on Civil Service.
Among tho bills reported from committees ana
p,aced on tho calendar wcre the following;
To encourage tho holding OF National ind"strisa
cxnostion OF tho arts mechanics and prohuc'' Oh 'h'
colored race IN tho United States I'm 1s88'e0.
Tn authorize tho Secretary of tho Treasury 10 Apply
ths sprulus money In the Treasury, to tho purchase
of nfted States bonds and to tho prepayment VI III
forest
Mr.. BLAIR spokp on his bill to give preference
for Civil Service appointments to those VINO haa y
in the Confederate army and who were suher'ns -
wounds or disabilities, asking Mr.. Platt, who h@i oo
,ected to the second reading Of tho bill, to withdraw
his objection lie understood that In North Cafohha
alone there were to-day 10000 exsodlers of tho .o"
fedcracy had lost limbs In tho service
large number of whom were in poor crcums'@noos
II seemed to him that II the Government gave appoint
ments to mon who had been dIsloya preference shoua
be given to those who had served In tho SonioN'a'
army and now disabled
NJ HALE said II was clear to him that the samo
discrimination now mado by the statute for the loyal
soldier was to be made under this bill for the dsioy&
soldier Ho felt that tho Introduction OF this Dill "as
premature.
Mr. PLATT said that the moro ne looked at the
bill the more he dsliked IT. he did not wish 10 engage
I'm any legislation for the benefit OF any Confederate
soldier.
Mr. BERRY said that the wounded soldiers OF inc
South had not asked for any preference over 'he'r
comrades. He recognized that the Senator had doho
very generous thing lie would say to tho senator
from Connecticut (PIatb that any intimaon that tho
love and in every other partc 10 a
other man was unjust. unfounded ana unwarrah'eu.
Mr. PLATT said that no would not slt IN ms scae
and have tho Confederate soldiers loyalty. devotion
and love of country put upon par WIN must VI ~. o
soldier m Whs had i1sa tha he 10 was much grsd to
that the proposition had not come frSm %
soldiers or Win iron Tho yproposion OF the senator Dm
New Hampshire was that because 1t was merit 10
have t % IN havs So sSeTd Il in thc
Mr. MANDERSON believed that, before the senate
sar r. rcpcai the Foure nth Amendment TO tie Con-
stifution which declared that neither the om.eo e
or obligation Of the Confederate States but that al
such debts obligations and claims shou,a 10 % u'iuer "o %
law held void H1 2 submitted n 'nst nSt Of o the letter Of
that Constitutional Amendment c.,,,,
erate soldier to ask the United States Government for
any peculiar right or Pyicgss ned M a1 ,s ates %as
sas at 1SG sSSr aSd caun p% 5ns its and
have fair opportunity to work ont his own saiva t d
on He would venture to say that there M p wa no,
town or hamlet from the Potomac to the Rio Grahdo
wbere Confederate soldier to be seen III rags or
tatters begging bis bread in its streets lie d.a
not think that the bill was wise ono IN con'e iuchco
of the public spirit of the country. ,
Mr. UAWTEY thouCht that the bill was fnndamen
tally mistake He not only dlsclaimed any 1eciing
of hatred toward those who had been Conieociatcs,
but he would not do anything to bar their progress
or to d!squafy or dishonor them. At the same tme
test hermit TO be placed on the statute book ANYTHING
which would In any degree reward man for fighting
on the Confederate side In tho war.
Mr. BLAIR argued that tho bill was not reward
for those who had fought to destroy Tho Union, brt
! that IL merely provided that. between those who
had been di;loyal. the preference should be given
(other things being cqual to those who bad served
and been disabled In the Confederate Army Finally
the bin was allowed to 60 over till tomorrow without
action. .
The Senate then proceeded to executive business,
and adjourned soon after.