National Republican., 1888-03-09
sUIELps,s SWORDS
70 he Purchased by the Government
from the Dead Bero's Heirs.

70 he Purchased by the Government
from the Dead dero's Heirs.
The bill authorizing the purchase for the |
United States OF the swords presented TO |
the late Gen. Shields by the Legislatures OF |
Illinois aud South Carolina came up for
consideration In the House yesterday. Mr.
Mansur briefly sketched the gallant services
which Gen. Shields had rendered TO his
country on the field Of battle where he
had displayed a courage OF an almost su-
perlatve order.
MIR. Baker, OF Illinois, reviewed the ro'
mantle life OF James Shields-a man, unit
ing the character Of lawyer, judge, senator,
knipht.errant, general-h man whose name
was Immortality connected with the fields OF
Cerro Gordo and Chapultepec.
One OF the swords which 1t was proposed
to purchase had been presented to the hero
by the legislature OF Illinois. The other
had been presented by the legislature OF
South Carolina. 1t was proposed to de-
posit the gifts OF these two states as histori.
cal mementoes In the capitol OF the nation
place Of deposit which represented the
united patriotism OF both the donating
states and Of all the states Nothing could
he more appropriate than an act which thus
served to lnterlsce the patriotic sentiment
OF the states.
Mr.. Macdonald, OF Minnesota, and Mr..
Hermann, OF Oregon, added tneir need OF
praise to the memory Of Gen. Shields, aud
eketched HE career In Legislative halls and
on the field OF battle.
Mr.. Warner, of Missouri, said that Gen.
| Shields had the courage of.a Marshal Ney
and was lmbued with the love OF patriot
| lem of a Winklereid. A grateful country
remembered the acts, the deeds, the suffer
| ings, and the trials Of one OF Its soldiers.
| Congress could not add to or take from the
| reputation Of Gen Shields, but 1t could re.
lieve the suflerlpgs OF his widow and
orphans, and the best tribute that 1t could
pay to an American soldier was TO remen
bef bie family In the days OF their adversely,
| not by words, that were the mere children
| OF the wind, but by deeds OF iu tice and
charity He trusted that the nation would
| never forget it's debt to the huudreds OF
Thousands of brave men who shouldered
the musket and fought with Gen. Shields,
rendering his illustrious career possible.
Might the day never come when the child
| or widow Of one OF tie least of them should
be teen begging within the confines Of the
republic.
Mr.. Oates, of Alabama, said that Gen.
Shields was a brave soldier, whohad proved
his devotion to his adopted country by the
liberal shedding Of his blood In more wars
than one. No one honored his memory
more than he Oates, but he was opposed
TO shp ,pmuing bin.. IT was alleged as a
reason for the proposition that the swords
belonged to the estate, anr-cQuld not be
divided. But they could be sold as other
property. He did not believe that Con-
gress could rlghtfully exercise the power
| OF appropriation In such manner as this,
and though he had kindly feeling toward
the family Of Gen. Shields, he was not
prepared to vote contrary to what he con.
sidered his duty under his oath Of office.
Mr.. Hare, OF Texas, protested against
| xyaiyinu M thp constitution. and npnnepl
the bill.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, referred to Gen.
Shields as a man who, by his own effort,
ability, patriotism, and devotion, had en-.
joyed all the honors which could be given
to an American citizen. The pending prop
osition was tribute which the country
owed to one OF the greatest men who ever
adorned our history. The swords would
remain in the country's archives as indices
pointing to the pages OF our history upon
which Gen. Shields's illustrious deeds were
recorded.
tribute to the gallantry Of Gen. Shields,
and alludipg to the fact that he was an
Irishman by birth, said that never had his
tory pointed to an Irishman who had not
fought with great courage on the field OF
battle. The people Of the Emerald Isle
had by their courage shed glorvupon every
flag that floated on the globe.
Mr.. Glover, OF Missouri, denominated
Gen. Shields as the Irish Lafayette. IL
glory could be appraised the swords were
worth millions, and belonged to the people
Of the United States as part Of the imper-
isbable glory OF its record.
Mr.. Buckalew, Of Pennsyl ylvania, expressed
his hearty approval OF the BILL
| Mr.. Tillmau regretted that there should
be any objection TO the bill and especially
regretted that that objection should come
from representative OF a southern state.
He felt burning sense OF indignation that
any member on this floor should propose
that these mementoes should be put up at
auction. IL they were putup at auction
| there were thousands of men In the south
who would willingly buy them and deposit
! them in some museum rather than have
them bawked about and bought and kept
| as trophies by some rich millionaire.
Referring to the admiration OF the south
for Gen. Shields's bravery in the Mexican
war, be stated that that admiration had not
hetn lessened by the fact that Gen. Shields
fought against the south In the unfortunate
civil war. Speaking for South Carolina he
declared that her people had been too sin
cere In their convection Of duty, as they saw
1t, to doubt the sincerity oi Gen. Shields's
conviction to fight on the side he thought
right; and whenever men anywhere were
ready 10 risk their live f1r the sake OF their
| convictions they deserved the respect and
charity Of honest men, even If they had
been In the wrong
The bill was then passed.