The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-21


Among the bills reported from committees
and placed on the calendar were the fol
lowing
To relieve the Treasurer OF the United
States from the amount now charged 10
him and deposited with the several States.
To encourage the holding OF national
industrial exposition Of the arts, mechan.
les and products OF the colored race in the
United States in lSSS-S9.
To authorize the Secretary OF the Treas
ury to apply the surplus money in the
treasury TO the purchase OF United States
bonds and to the prepayment OF interest.
Notice was given by Mr.. Aldrich, who
reported this bill, that he would call II up
at an early day.
Providing that pensions be rated accord.
ing TO the rank held at the date OF dis.
charge.
Mr.. Palmer introduced bill providing
for the sale and conveyance 10 the Mime
apols, Sault Ste. Marie x Atlantic Railroad
company OF certain portions of the Sault
Ste. Marie military reservation.
BY Mr.. Blair, who yesterday introduced
bill giving preferences for civil service
appointments among men who had been
.disloyal during the war TO those who had
served in the Confederate army and who
were suffering from wounds or disabilities,
other things being equal.
Mr.. Hale inquired OF Mr.. Blair ~ TO the
purpose Of the bill. Was II TO be applied
to disabled soldiers Of the coniederacy as
against other soldiers OF the coniederacy
who were not disabled; or was 1t to be APP
piled TO disabled soldiers OF the conied-
eracy rs against individuals living In the
south who had been disloyal, but who had
not served in the army2 lie, for one,
would not consent TO any such discrimina-
ton In favor OF Confederate soldiers rs had
been made, In the statutes in favor OF Fed.
eral sofyiiers.
Mr.. Blair said the bill itself answered
the question OF the senator from Maine.
Mr.. Hale said IL was very clear q, him
that the same discrimination now made
by statute for the LOYAL soldier was tn be-
made, under this bill, for the disloyal sol.
der. The browning merit OF the latter
would be that he had served and been
wounded or disabled In the army OF the
coniedcracy and that was 10 place him
above the man who had been disabled in
the Mexican war for the whole republic.
IL is made merit by this bill that the APP
nlicant for office had served In the Confed-
crate army and had thus been disabled.
Mr.. Plat said he would ask for the yeas
and nays ON the second reading OF the bill.
Mr. Berry said that the wounded soldiers
Of the south had not asked Tor such bill,
though they would recognize the gcner-
osiiy OF the proposition. ANY intimaiion
that the Confederate soldiers wero not
equal in point ol love of country and i'm
every other particular 10 any other man,
was unjust uniounded and unwarrantcd. |
Mr. Plaii replied that when the senator |
from Arkansas Berry, said that the Con-
iederale soldier was the equal and peer OF
iIl men Ia love of country, some objection
should be made Ia such statement in the
Senate Oft the United States. lIcwould not sit
In his seat and have the Confederate sol.
dier's loyalty, devotion and love Of conn-
Try put upon par with those who had |
fought TO maintain the government.
Mr., Blair said the bill had originated |
with himself.
Mr.. Spooncr thought that the appoint
ment Of confederate leaders under the /
present administration were sufficiently |
potential IN influence 10 take ample care
OF wounded Confederate soldiers, without
the intervention OF Congress.
Mr. Blair said that the wounded ex.
soldiers Of the cUnicdcracy had not re-
cciNcd that consideration ultimately Of
appointments that they were entitled
10 when appointments were made from
among those who had been disloyal dur. |
ing the war. lie thought that ther was
Just cause OF complaint ON their part. II |
t'cmcd 10 him that 10 give preference 10 |
these men was the proper thing 10 do.
Alr. lloar said that the difficulty with
the proposition was that because ii was A
merit TO have suffered in the cause Of the
country Il was an equal merit 10 have suf.
fcred In the cause of tho coniederccy.
This is precisely what the bin il. The
proposition u that In dealing with this
class of persons we shall aay that the fact
that men have rendered services 10 the
whole country shall not weigh In the
scale against The fact that other men have
served In the army Of the confedcncy
and have been wounded OF incurred
discme.
Messn Hampton, Riddleberyer and
George expressed their appreciation of
The kindly feeling which had prompted
the introduction OF the bill. but disclained
any desire on the part OF ex.Conicdoratoa
Tor it, passage.
Mr.. Manderson did not think Il dis.
courteous 10 the senator from New lamp
shire that the senate should refuse acc
ond reading 10 bin involving such
slnnge and startling proposition. lilo be-
leved that before the Senate could enter
ON such legislation Il would bo necessary
20 repeal, by action Of Congress and State
Legislatures, the fourteenth amendment
u the constitution, which declared that
neither the United States nor any State
should assume Or pay any debt or obliga.
Ton OF the Confederate States, hut that all
such debts, obligations and claims should
be, under the Law, held weld. lie sub.
nitted that the bill IA In direct violation
ol The spirit u not Of the letter OF the con.
ttitutional amendment
MT. Daniel said that no public question
could ever be bcltilcd by a question OF
courtesy. The question before the senate
was the propriety oi the consideration Of
The bill. II II bad come 10 a committee in
due course, without vote or comment, no
one would have felt that there was any.
Thing improper IN Il; but, since a question
had been made upon n, that question had
10 be met and he trusted that no ex-C0n.
fcderaic In the Senate would dodge that
question, although doubtless his emotion
might incline him TO do 10. II he (Daniel)
could with propricty decline 10 votn on
the question, he would do ~, because, In
bis Judgment, II did not become Con.
fcdcrnie soldier 10 ask the United STATES
government for any peculiar right or priv.
lego. The Confederate soldier had boldly
laid down the gauntlet OF war. aud when