The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-12
A RED.HOT PENSION DEBATE.
xr. Jones, Of Virginia, Ar1uses tho Ire
Of Northern Democrats.
PROUD OF HIS CONFEDERATE SERVICE
The Dill - Pension General McClernsnd
Defeated - southerners Criticized for
Their Views on Pensions.


was an unusually large attendance upon
the night session of the House, when
was devoted to the consideration OF
private pension bills. There was also
night session, when the controversy over
the granting of pensions usually ranges
with more or less intensity and force
Mr.. Springer Dem, Ill.) asked faVor..
able action upon the Senate bill to grai.e
q pension of S100 a month TO Major
General John A. McClernand. which ne
had unsuccessfully endeavored to have
passed yesterday and to-day in the House.
There was not q quorum present, ,ano
upon the vote Mr.. Jones Dem., NaD
made the point of no quorum. This
aroused Mr., Springer's Indignation. and
he criticized with severity the course
or those of his southern colleagues who
persisted I'm maintaining an attitude of
hostility towards the pensionlng of Union
soldiers. HE pointed out the fact that
but thirteen Democrats had been return
ed to the Fifty-fourth Congress from
the northern States, and said that II
this course were not changed there would
be no northern Democrats in the sue
ceeding Congress.
Mr.. Pence pop, COLI appealed to Mr.
Jones to withdraw his point of no quo
rum, referring TO the gallant conduct
and high reputation for patriotism Of
the beneficiary of the bill as a sufficient
reason for the request.
FATAL QUESTION.
AN unexpected interjection occurred
here, which created something of sem
sation.
Mr. Waugh Rep, Ind) asked If this
General McClernand was the same Gen.
John a. McClernand who was removed
from his command in front OF Vicksburg
by General Grant for unsoldierly con-
duct, and os whom General Halleck
wrote to General Sherman in 1864 that IT
would be murder to give him a command?
Mr.. Marsh QRep., Ill replied most Wig
orougfhly TO this question. lie declared
with GglOnafg p1rnpsfngSg that General
McClcrnand had never been guilty OF
unsoldierly conduct, and that the history
of the Vicksburg campaign would show
that he had never been removed by
General Grant for that reason.
What were the reasons?' asked Mr..
Waugh.
Il DO not care to enter into a discus
sion Of them here" replied Mr.. Marsh,
but / assert without fear of successful
contradiction that General McClernand
was as far as any man i'm the Union army
from being guilty of unsoldierly con-
duct. and | know what ] am talking
about. And | say il of man who has
always been opposed to the political party
with which | have always affiliated
loud applauseD
Didn't general Grant remove him for
causes for which he deemed proper
continued Mr.. Waugh.
81 do not desire to reflect upon General
Grant said Mir. Marsh, but | say that
while he acted for reasons that. seemed
proper at that time, his action was
mistake.
MR.. JONES REPLY.
Mr. Jones, of Virginia. took the floor
and attacked the policy of picking out
soldier here and there for big pension,
or the widow of one, who Is able to
gather influence enough to- get a bill
Through Congress. He aroused hiss by
alluding TO the widow OF General Logan,
I'm receipt of a pension of 5000 living I'm
luxury and spending lavishiy Tor toWers
for her social functions.
In regard to his own course of antag-
oniZing these pension hills, Whlch, ne
said was for the reason that II had not
been the policy of Congress TO make Sc
lection Of soldiers or soldiers widows for
especial pensions. he declared that many
members had come to him ana com
mended him for II, and excused their
own action on the ground that they could
not afford TO antagonize the granting OF
pensions.
The matter of his own military record
having been brought into the discus
sion. Mr.. Jones said that he was boy
when the war broke out notwthStanGinS
which he served more days and nights
in the trenches and in the line of duty
than thousands OF the men now drawing
pensions from the Government
con which side several members
asked.
Drawing himself up. Mr. Jones re-
sponded: "On the side Of the Confeder-
although IL went down in defeat ] am
as proud now as then. when ! defended
1t, an enthusiastic boy"
CHAMP CLAHK's TALE or WOE.
Mr.. Clark Dem. MOI said that having
been defeated for Congress, he proposed
now TO express his opinion. For the
gentleman from Virginia, personally, h
had much regard, but he wanted TO say
that I'm the late election there were
fifteen. twenty-five or fifty Democratic
candidates iu the North went down TO
their political death because Of the
speeches he has made.
MIR Jones II hope the gentleman from
Missouri was not one
Mr. Clark: "Yes. 1 did. and because of
the pension speeches you made here.
We are tired and sick Of having these
southern members come up here and
stab MS in the back"
Continuing, Mr.. Clark said that he be-
lieved that every old soldier who was in
need deserved and should receive a pen
sion. when Ben Butler was here" he
said "he suggested pensioning the sol
diers OF both armies. | don't know but
what that was a wise and patriotic
scheme. II certainly would meet with
less opposition than the present plan
UdughterD
Having favorably acted upon four
bills the committee. at l0SO, rose and
the House adjourned.