The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-03-30
An Interesting Debate.

ced by Mr.. Blair, the New Hampshire
Crank" giving preference Cor civil
service appointment (ImOng men who
had been disIoyal during the war; 10
those who had served in the Confederate
army, and who were suffering from
wounds or disabilities, came up on
second reading. Several Southern Sen
ators, among them Wade Hampton, of
South Carolina. Mr.. George, OF Mississ-
ippi, and NJ. Daniel, the new Senator
from Virginia, who succeeds Malone,
spoke in opposition 10 the bill, for the
reason that tha South hadn't asked
for it and didn't want 1t. Gen.
Hawley, Republican, OF Connect
cut, also made few patriotic remarks
cOmpIimpnting Mr.. Daniel for his man.
" and concilatory speech Below will
be found what Mr.. Daniel and Gen.
Hawley said
Mr.. Daniel said that IL the question was
one of courtesy or OF discOuTtesv to the Sen
ator who had introduced the bill there
would be no Doubt IN his mind as TO how ne
should vote. He felt incapable OF offericg
discourtasv 10 any Senator, ard certainly he
should 90 very far to avoid doing so toward
one who had been inspired by such a mag
nanImous and generous sentiment as that
which the Senator from New Hampshire
had exhibited. But no puolic question
could eyer ne Del ON n NutSllou Ol
courtesy. The question before the Senate
was the proprIety of the consideration OF the
bill II it had gone 70 a committee In due
course without vote or comment, no one
would have felt that there was anything
imprOper in it but since a question had
been made upon IL. that question had 20 be
met: and he trusted that no eN-COnfederate
OF the Senate would dodge that question
although, doubtless MS emotion might in
cline him TO do so II he (DanieD could
with propriety decline TO vote on the ques-
tion he ~Ould do so, because, in his judg-
ment, IL dld not become a Confederate
soldier 20 ask the United States Government
for any peculiar right or privilege. The
Confederate soldier had boldly laid down
the gauntlet of war, and when he came out
OF the war he had contempt for but two
classes of men engaged In it-first, those
who made apologies and second, those who
demanded them. Questions OF graa.
international strife and great social
conflicts never decended To personalities, but
were governed by the great PHILOSOPHERS of
human existence. He had no doubt that
the Senator from NewhampshIre had intro
duced the bill in a spirit OF benevoence.
kindness and generosity 4: but Il had not
been called for by any Confederate. nor had
it grown out OF the demands OF public sen
timent- The wise legislation OF the world
was generally that which had public opinion
behind il. There had been no public dis
cussiOn Of this subject. There had been no
wide debate about il either North or South
The Senator from New Hampshire had
stated that he originated the bill. aud he
(Dauiel) yentured to believe that its origin
was entirely confined to the fluctuations
OF the Senator's own mind. While he had
great respect for that Senator, he could not
feel that in this instance he (BlaIr) had
acted wisely or in cOnsOnance with the pub
lie spirit of the country. All that the Con-
federate soldier asked from the United
States was that he should stand equal before
its laws and should have fair opportun-
ity 10 work out his own salvation ue
would venture to say that there was not a
town or hamlet from the Potomac to the Rio
Grande where a Confederate soldier was TO
be seen in rags or tatteTs OF begging his
bread in IFS streets. There was not a palace
or hut where the Confederate soldier was
not always welcome and hOnOred guest
There was no danger OF any honorable and
true man, however humble he might be- or
however small his fortune. dying on the
roadside because no gCol Samaritan would
come by To lend him a helping hand. All
that the eX COnfederates asked was not
special privileges, but TO be respected in
their rights OF American citizenship, whicn
they lad assumed knowingly and intention.
ally. and which they intended 10 abide bv
God helping them) in such 4 manner that
no man could justly lift against them the
finger Of scorn or apply TO them an insulting
epIthet.
Mr. HawIey expressed himself as person
ally grateful TO the Senator from Virginia
(Daniel) for his manly and statesmanlIke
speech. There had been nothing so disa-
gIeeable in cOans ctiOn with the bin as its
introduction by .he Senator from New
Hampshire. aud If rhe bill bad been referred
To a committee without notice he should
not have cared about the question being
raised, preferring 20 wait for the report Of
the committee But the point had been
made, and there was no proposition in the
hill FfaFtg aHrFHTFa ~.
stood and acted on now IL there were a
long report from a committee upon IL He
thought that the bill was, fundamentally a
mistake. lie not only d.sclaimed any feel
ing Of hatred toward those who had been
COnfederates bat he would not do ANYTHING
to bar their progress or 20 di.qualify or dis
honor them. The generous and manly
Confederate soldier knew as we'll as any Of
them that the Issue mad been lOined before
the greatest tribunal of the word. on a
question involving the very foundations OF
Republican government that IL had been
fought out as great armies of brave men
alone could fight. that somebody won /;
that some fundamental theory of ConstItu-
ton won, and the result had proved that iI
was causelesS, unconstitutional and wick
ed war That had been recorded by the
surrender at AppOmattoX. But should he
therefore. act ungeEerpusly toward anv
person on the other side? God forbid
should he try 10 bar his progress? Not at
ai'' ohouIu ne OBJECT 10 meeting him IN the
Senate chamber as lis peer? BY no means.
Did he object 10 the fellOw-citizens of a
Confederate soldier loving him because of
his gal!Autry . No DID any man think
less % the State of South Carolina for send
ing to the Senate two OF her gallant Con-
federGte Generals i? Not at all. On the
contrary, he should be ashamed of South
Carolina II she did not remember such men
IN the days OF her restoration. At the same
lime he would not, by his vote, or without
vigorous protest, permit 10 be placed on
the statue-DOOk anything which would in
any degree reward 4 man for fighting on the
Confederate side in the war. He was
obliged to the Senator from Virginia (Dan-
isD he hOnOTed bin for remembering with
gratitude and love the men who fought on
his side, and he thanked him for not asking
Senators from the North TO do that which
in his (Hawiey'S) judgment. If they did,
they wOuld be making fools OF themselves.