The herald., 1895-01-12
AN EXCITING NIGHT SESSION.
Pension for General McCler-
nand the Canse.
Come. Warm Words. Exchanged in
the House.
The Proposed Pension Attacked aud
Ropres, ntstive Springer Was Conn
PEELED to Withdraw II.

claim Of the hsirs Of William johnson
of Fayette county, Tenn. for $13, GOO
worth Of stores confscatsd during the
war. Three hours were consumed in
debate, but on account of the opposi-
ton the bill was finally withdrawn.
Before the regular order was de-
msnded nine bills were passed by un.
animous consent. Most OF them were
OF no Importance. The most important
was to amend the shipping act of August
10. 1890, so as to eliminate some OF the
penal provisions Of that act which had
proved unduly harsh in their applica-
ton to seamen on board vessels in the
coastwiss and nearby foreign trade.
Another bill was passed ia protect the
salmon fisheries of Alaska.
A night session was agreed upon.
Without action OH any bill the COM
mittee arose and at O'Clock the house
took recess until s O'Clock, the even.
ing session to be devoted to private
pension bills.
A NIGHT SESSION.
] Tho feature OF the night session was
the debate which grew out Of the at.
tempt Of Mr.. Springer, Democrat Of
Illinois, to pass a bill granting a 500
pension to Maj. Gen. John A. MoOler-
nsnd.
jones. Democrat OF Virginia, insisted
on making the point of no quorum. and
Springer. In q heated speech, lectured
those of his southern Dem ocratic col
leagues who constantly assumed an at
titude OF hostility toward the pension OF
union soldiers. He recalled the fact that
but Is Democrats had been returned to
| the house from the south. He warned
them that il their course was persisted,
none would be returned the succeeding
congress.
Mr.. Pence, Populist, OF Colorado. in
an earnest speech, appealing to Mr..
Jones to withdraw his point. spoke OF
the we'll known distin guished, patriotic
services OF General McClernand, when
Mr.. Waugh, Republican, OF Indiana,
threw bombHhell in the discussion by
seking if the beneficiary OF this bill was
not the same General John A. MoOler-
nand who was relieved from command
before Vicksburg by General Grant for
unsoldisrly conduct, and to whom
General Hslleok said it was premedita-
ted murder to place him in command.
DEFENSE OF M'CLERNAND.
The attack on General McClernand
came from an unexpected source, and
Mr.. Marsh, Rep, Of Illinois, and others,
hsstened to his defense. Mr.. Marsh
declared holly that General McClernand
had never bsen guilty Of unsoldierly
conduct, aud this history Of the trans
action would chow that he had not
been removed by General Grant for that
| reason.
Ibid not General Grant remove him
for causes which he deemed proper ?"
persisted Mr.. Waugh.
II do not desire to impugn the ohafac.
ter OF General Grant" replied Marsh.
sharply, "but desire to say that his
action in this case was q mistake"
"What reason did General Grant as
sign?" interrupted Mr.. Cox, Democrat.
of Tennessee. "Was it not becsuse he
was too quick at Vicksburg?"
81 never heard it charged against
Grant" replied Marsh, that he criti-
cised soldier for going in too quick. 1"
APPLAUSE
The discussion was prolonged tor more
than an hour and was marked by several
the kissing of Mr.. Jones when he said
that the widow of John A. Logan, who
received q pension of $1,000 year, was
living in social luxury in this city and
annually spent more than her pension
money for flowers displayed at her
social functions.
Later ON when he proclaimed his
pride in the confederate cause that had
gone down in defeat, the Republicans in
chorus shouted 1--WE have no doubt OF
it," and in the galleries many OF the
spectators applauded vigorously.
THE BILL WITHDRAWN
Mr.. Springer was finally forced to
withdraw the bill. But even after the
bin had been withdrawn, Mr.. Champ
CLARK, Democrat OF Missouri, got the
floor. and in q characteristic speech
scored Mr.. Jones roundly. as he said, on
behalf of hie Democratic colleagues from
the north. He begun by saying
that the Democratic party presented
. dissolving view and would soon be lost
to sight. though to memory. dear. He
attributed much of the Democratic dis
aster last fall to the course OF the south.
ern Democrats on the pension question.
and charged the defeat of at least five
northern Democrats to the speeches OF
Mr.. Jones. He then paid q magnificent
tri butte to General MoClornand.
II saw him preside at the st. Louis
uohSoheionS uo hhiu, WulOu uumluhsou
Samuel j. Tilden, who was elected pres
ident of the United States. and whom
the towards on this floor allowed to be
swindled out OF his aeat."
He declared the greatest marti-
net who ever ruined a great
cause was Jeffsrson Davis and next
to him ranked Stanton. If McClernand
had had fair chance, he gave
it as his opinion that he would have
been az great soldier "a Grant. After
appealing to Mr.. Jones to allow the
meritorious bill TO 90 through he turned
to him and said impressively that the
Democrats of the north were sick and
tired of having their southern party as
sociates come to congress and stab their
party in the back.
''We ars through with you" Mr..
Clark concluded.
Alter passing two bill Ia the house, at
10 80 p. M, adjourned.