The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-28
HEROES OF THE SOUTH.
THE BLAIR PREFERENCE BILL
AGAIN DISCUSSED.

WASHINGTON, March 27.-In the Senate
to-day Mr.. Blair called up the question of
the second reading of the bill as introduced
by him sometime since to give preference
to disabled Confederate soldiers, as between
men who had been disloyal, in appointment
to civil office.
Mr.. Riddleberger said that he could not
see the force of the objections made to the
bill on the Republican side of the Chamber.
Most of the objections to it had come from
ex-Confederates on the Democratic side,
and it was to them that he proposed to re-
ply. He supposed that he was the only Re-
publican from the South who had been
Confederate, and he represented in some
measure the Confederate soldier element.
SILENCE OF THE EX-CoNFEDERATEs.
His colleague (Mr Daniel and two other
ex-Confederates had stated that no Confed-
crate soldier had asked for the passage of
such bill, but the ex-Confederate soldiers
had had very few men imCongress to voice
their wishes. They had had no channel
through which to express themselves He
had never ridden in an ambulance, never
been sick day, never was absent from
single fight in which his brigade and regi-
ment were engaged, and had suffered two
terms of imprisonment. The man therefore
who challenged his loyalty to the Confedera-
cy in the DastNlid so with the same hazard of
his veracity as if he were to challenge his 10y
atty to the Union to-day This was not a
pleasant discussion for him. He was sorry
that the crippled soldier of the South was
not represented here by some one ADLER than
himself, and was antagonized by those who
should have stood by him.
CHARGE OF DOTRTE DEAIJNG
He represented ext -Confederates who were
misrepresented by others who would go
home and claim to be their best friends
pleading patriotism at Washington and
talking Confederacy at home. In this con-
nection he made an allusion mot under
stood by the repOrter) as to some Confeder
ate officer inducing his men to exchange
Confederate money So bills for So of like
issue. and yet the Senator from Connecticut
(Mr. Hawley), he said, had congratulated
his colleague from Virginia on his
statesmanlike speech He (Mr. Riddleberger)
was not here as a persistent Confederate.
He was not here to ask for any other terms
than those which had been accorded to him
years ago, but he was here to answer every
accusation of the kind which he found in
the Congressional Record against the men
who had been Confederates, and
who had dared to express their
own Judgment, and to have the
courage of their own convictions. He
could not understand how three Confeder-
ate Generals and one Federal General
should oppose the bill.
BLAIR DEFENDS THE BILL.
Mr.. Blair defended the principles of his
bill, which he said he had introduced after
prolonged reflection and on the same after
noon he had had a conversation with a
crippled Confederate soldier. The bill was
not, as some seemed to think, an entering
wedge of pensioning Confederate soldiers.
1t was simply bill embodying an act of
humanity-of humanity blended with mag
nanimity-and which he thought a great
nation might well exhibit. So far as public
policy was concerned, he believed the propo-
sition to be a wise one He had received
very many letters of thanks and commenda-
ton from ex-COnfederate soldiers since the
bill had been introduced. He calculated
that there were at least $50, 900 ex-Confed-
crate soldiers still living, of whom perhaps
from $4,000 to 60, 600 were without arms or
legs. These men could not be pensoned
Nothing could be done for them by the
Federal government except in some indirect
manner. Ever since the close of the war
ex-Confederates had been appointed to
office, not only under the Democratic ad-
ministration but under Republican admin
istrations.
NOT NOVEL DOCTRINE.
He supposed that ninety-nine out of every
100 appointments to the court service made
in the South were of men who had been
disloyal during the war, and it was too late
for his Republican friends to say that it pro
truded any novel doctrine on the Senate.
He wondered whether if President Lincoln
occupied seat in the Senate, or if Gen.
Grant, or Gen. Sherman, or Gen. Sheridan,
occupied sesrs in it, they would object to
second reading Of the bill.
Mr.. Edmunds opposed the second reading
of the bill and remarked that in most par
Iamentary bodies in civilized countries the
chief discussion on the broad merits of the
bill took place on the question "Shall the
bill be read a second time" There was,
therefore, on a measure of such great i'm
portance no want of courtesy in taking the
sense of the Seenate on the question of
ordering the bill to second reading. When
measure so strange, so unique, so import
ant rs to attract attention on its broad
merits was introduced it was not only right
but wise that its principles should be con-
sldered and that if it were thought vicious)
IL should be put an end to then.
HIS IDEA OF THE MEASURE.
This was bill which either conferred
benefit on particular class of persons be-
cause of a particular quality and relation
which they occupied, or else it was a mere
sham or humbug. The Senator from New
hampshire bad shown that the bill would
be undoubtedly great benefit TO
The particular class of persons de-
scrlbed in it. 1t was not, therefore,
sham and humbug. There was now on the
statute book law saying that particular
class of United States citizens who had dis
tmguished themselves in fighting for their
country should be preferred in a certain
class of government employment. This
bill proposed that certain class Of United
States citizens who had distinguished
themselves in fighting against their country
should be in like manner preferred-and for
the same reason. That was the proposition.
NEVER EQUALLED.
He thought it safe TO say that no such
Proposition had ever before been made in
any legislative body, and probably no such
proposition would ever again be made. 1t
destroyed all distinction between patriotism
and the reverse Nobody objected to Con
tederate soldiers or Confederate citi-
z'ns sitting in the House of Con
gress. They did not occupy such
seats because they had been Confederates,
but because (the period of hostility having
passed away they stood just like every
other citizen-no better, and no worse. AS
70 the appointment of Gen. Mosby and
other ex-Confederates by Gen. Grant, he
hat I,...I a han,