Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-03-25
CONGRESSIONAL.


striction against the appointment, as
officers of the army or navy, persons
who held commissions in the regular
army or navy before the civil war, and
who subsequently took part in the war
on the side of the Confederacy, which
passed the Senate during the height OF
the excitement over the Venezuela
boundary question, passed the House
Yesterday after two hours debate, with
but one dissenting vote. The demo-
Gratis, except Mr.. Cummings, of New
York, who spoke, as he said, las one
of 100000 northern democrats who
fought in the Union army" and Mr..
Wilson, of South Carolina, who was
drawn into the debate by Mr.. Boutelle,
RETAINED entirely from participation.
Mr.. Boutelle was the only one who
voted against the bill, and was also
the only member who spoke against its
passage. He made frantic effort to
arouse feeling of enmity to the South,
but only succeeded in making himself
ridiculous. Representative Grosvenor,
who had charge of the bill, and many
other republicans who had served
either as officers or privates in the Fed
eral army during the war, spoke strong
" in favor of the measure, and while 1t
was generally admitted that it could
have no practical effect, because the
men who are thus relieved from dis
abilities are generally too old to serve
in any capacity in the army, it was
nevertheless urged as measure OF lm-
portance because it shows that the anil
mosities of thirty years ago have been
obliterated.
General Walker, of Virginia, an ex-
Confederate and republican, was the
only southern man who took part In
the discussion. He declared that in
the South the act would be regarded
with favor and would be final step
toward the complete and absolute
union of the sections. The old Con
federate soldiers. General Walker said,
have very kindly feeling for the re-
publican party to-day, and such feel
| ing would be increased if the bill were
passed. If the southern people had
been in error during and before the
war, if it were admitted that Stonewall
Jackson and General Lee had erred,
then it should be remembered that TO
err is human and to forgive divine.
General Walker called attention to the
fact that no southern man had asked
for the passage of the bill, but never.
theless he felt sure it would be appre-
c;ated nv the South because it had been
the voluntary action of republican
House.
The speech of General Grosvenor, in
which he did justice to the southern
soldiers and the loyalty of the south.
ern people, was frequently applauded
by the democrats and enthusiastically
applauded by the republicans.
Gen. Grosvenor pointed out the fact
that South Carolina contributes her
share toward the pensions paid Union
veterans, and that it was but natural
that her people should feel like doing
something for the men who fought in q
| cause with which they were all con-
celned at the time.
MIR. Boutelle charged that Mr.. Gros-
venor was speaking as the representa-
tive of presidential candidate, which
evoked chorus of grosns and led Mr..
Grosvenor to ask if matters had roach
| ed such stage that representative OF
the people could no longer arise in his
seat to advocate measure without be-
| ing accused of speaking in the interests
of political candidate.
The bill was advocated by Messrs.
Picker and Grow.
Bills were passed to make the sale OF
spirituous liquors under false brand
punishable by fine and imprisonment;
to turn over the property of the Nor
mon Church now in the hands of q re-
ceiver to the trustees, and sever oil
others of minor importance.
In the Senate after Messrs. Mills and
Morgan had spoken on the Cuban reso-
lutions the rest of the day was given to
the legislative appropriation bill, which
is not yet completed.
Senators Frye, Wolcott and Brice
have been appointed subcommittee
on behalf of the Senate committee on
Pacific railroads to act with the House
sub. committee in drafting Pacific rail-
road bill. The House committee on
claims reported favorably bill grant
ing $780, 07 to John Chowe, of Massa.
chusetts, for the infringement of his
patent by the government in the man
ufacture of cartridges.
The naval APPROPRIATION bill reported
yesterday carries an item Of 1878, 1873
for the increase of the navy.
The conferees of the two houses on
the Cuban resolutions held session
yesterday, but without reaching con-
conclusion adjourned until to-day.
MIR. RAYARD SPEAKS.
~ A. L.I 20 ~, N;+, &c T IN