Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-01-12
A SCENE THE HOUSE.

The feature of last nights session OF
the House was the debate which grew
out of the attempt of Mr.. Springer, %
Illinois, to pass bill granting 500 pee
month to Major General John A. Nc
Clernand.
Mr.. Jones, of Virginia, insisted upon
making the point of no quorum. Mr.:
Springer in heated speech lectured
those of his southern democratic col
leagues who constantly assumed an at
titude of hostility toward the pension
of Union soldiers. He called attention
to the fact that but thirteen democrats
had been returned to the next House
from the north. He warned them that,
if their course was persisted in, none
would be returned to the succeeding
Congress.
Mr.. Pence, of Colorado, in an earn
est speech appealing to Mr.. Jones to
withdraw his point, spoke of the we'll
known distinguished patriotic services
of Gen. McClernand, when Mr.. Waugh,
of Indiana threw bombshell into the
discussion by asking if the beneficiary
of this bill was not the same General
John A. McClernand who was relieved
from command before Vicksburg by
Gen. Grant, and of whom Gen. Halleck
said it was premeditated murder to
place him in command.
The attack on General Nc
Clernand came from an unex-
pected source, and Mr.. Marsh, OF IL
Iinois. and others fastened to his de-
Tense. Mr.. Marsh declared holly that
Gen. McClernand had never been
guilty of unsoldierly conduct, and the
history of the transaction would show
that he had not been removed by Gen.
Grant for that reason.
Ibid not Gen. Grant remove him Tor
causes which he deemed proper" per-
sisted Mr.. Waugh.
~ do not desire to impugn the char
acter of Gen. Grant," replied Mr..
Marsh sharply, "but desire to say
that his action in this case was mis-
take"
"What reason did Gen. Grant as
sign ?" interrupted Mr.. Cox, of Tennes-
| see, was IL uOu DCOdQoO AO neAo wv
quick at Vicksburg?"
1 never heard it charged against
Grant, "repled Mr.. Marsh, "that he crit.
icized soldier for going i'll too quick. +"
Applause
The discussion was prolonged for
more than two hours, and was marked
by several sensational scenes, one OF
which was the Kissing of Mr.. Jones
when he said that the widow of Gen.
John A. Logan, who received o pension
of $1,000 year, was living in social
luxury iu this city, and annually spent
more than her pension money for flow
ers displayed by her at her social func.
tons. Later on when he proclaimed
his pride in the Confederate cause that
had gone down in defeat, the repubii-
cans in chorus shouted, 1--WE have no
doubt of it," but in the galleries many
of the spectators applauded vigorously
Mr.. Springer was finally forced to
withdraw the bill. But, even after the
bill had been Withdrawn, Mr.. Champ
Clark, of Missouri, got the floor, and m
a characteristic speech scored Mr..
Jones as he said on behalf of his demo
cratic colleagues of the North: He
began by saying that the demo
cratic party presented o dissolving
view, and would soon be lost to
sight though to memory dear. He
attributed much of the democratic
disaster last fall to the course of the southern
democrats on the pension question. and charg-
ed the defeat of at least fifty northern demo
Gratis to the speeches of Mr.. Jones. He then
paid a magnificent tribute to McClernand
II saw him preside at the St. Louis conven
tion." said he, (which nominated Samuel j.
Tilden, who was elected President Of the
United States and whom the towards on this
floor al owed to be swindled out of his scat. >
He declared that the greatest martinez who
ever ,uined a great cause was Jefferson Davis,
and next to him ranked Stanton. If Nc
Clernard had had fair chance, he gave it as
his opinion that he would have been as great
\ soldier as Grant After appealing to Mr..
Jones to allow this me;itorious bill to go
through, he turned to him and said impress
sive that the democrats Of the north were
81 k and tired of having their southern party
associates come to Congress and stab their
plrty in the back. eve are through with
with you," Mr.. Clark concluded. After pass.
ing two bills, the House at 1880 adjourned.