The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-03-25
And Blue andsss Gray Are Once
More Brothers.
CONGRESS RECOGNIZES 1T
Wipes Out the Last Dishonor
able3 Distinction.
ALL CONFEDERATE DISABILITIES
Mr.. HiIPs "Christn1as Gift" Bill Passes
the House After Two Hours
Debate With Only One
Dissenting Vote.

Washington, March Ex-senator
Hills bill to remove the restrictions
against the appointment, as officers of
the army or navy, Of persons who held
commissions in the regular army or
navy before the rebellion and who sub
sequently took part in the war on the
side Of the Confederacy, which passed
the Senate during the height of the
excitement over the Venezuela boun-
Diary question, passed the House to-
day, after two hours debate, with but
one dissenting vote, that of Mr.. Bou-
telle. of Maine. The Democrats, e2-
cept Mr. Cummings, Of New York, who
spoke, as he said, "as 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, refrained
entirely from participating.
Mr. Hull, Of Iowa, chairman of the
Military committee, who had charge
OF the bill, admitted that it would sub
serve no practical purpose and was
largely sentimental Mr.. BOutelle who
led the opposition single handed,
thought it would furnish bad object
lesson for naval and military cadets
who were about entering on careers in
the service of their country and when
he got warmed up to his subject called
attention to the fact that many South
ern men in Congress in the past had
obstructed legislation in the interest
of Union soldiers, dwelling particularly
on the opposition to the retirement of
Gen. Grant.
Mr. Boutelle, in the course of his re
marks referred to the Fitz John Porter
case and also claimed the Democrats
had voted solidly against placing Gen.
Grant on the retired list. This was dis
puted by Mr. Wheeler, Of Alabama.
TO show that the South still held her
animus against the North, Mr.. Bou-
telIe said that in at least one State in
the South Union soldiers were dis
criminated against in the matter of
taxation, when Gen Walker, of Vir-
ginia, Republican, who was on Stone
wall Jackson's staff, jumped TO his
feet and denied the statement.
Il hold in my hand,' said Mr.. Bou-
telle, f1ourishing a pamphlet aloft, "a
copy of the Constitution of South Caro-
lima, which provides uniform tax on
all voters in the State save such as
served i'm the Confederate army, who
are relieved Of the tax"
This brought Mr.. Wilson Dem,
South Carolina) in the field to defend
his State. He had been a member Of
the constitutional convention, he said,
and the only discrimination in it in
favor Of ex-Confederates was that those
over fifty years should be relieved
from road duty South Carolina" he
added, "gives a pension to ex-Confed-
crates who were disabled in her service.
She is not ungrateful to her old sol
diers.'
us she grateful to the Union sol
diers who kept her in the Union?'
asked Mr.. Boutelle.
s'That the country is grateful to
them" returned Mr.. Wilson, lis attest
ed by the size Of the pension rolls. lie
added that the Confederate soldiers
were to-day just as loyal to the Union
as those who served on the other side.
There is no doubt Of that, replied
Mr. Boutelle.
Mr.. Boutelle, resuming his speech,
called attention to the condition Of af-
fairs in the South which had brought
thirty contested election cases into the
House because, he said, the right to vote
was persistently and Systematically
withheld over large portion OF the
territory of the United States. Does
that show a condition Of affairs that
warrants us ripping up the legislation
OF the war? he asked.
SIS it a light thing for men to take
an oath to support their country anu
then draw their swords against it?
do not desire to draw the line aginst
any man, but / do say / cannot see why
we are called upon to-day to give such
an object lesson to the boys at Annap-
oils and West Point"
Mr. Wilson, in the meantime, hav-
ing found the provision in the South
Carolina Constitution said IL applied
to the polI-taX and not to road duty
The poll-tax from which eX-Confed-
crates over so years OF age was relieved
was one dollar.
why were not the Union soldiers
exempted from the payment Of that
tax, asked Mr. Bogtelle.
"Why were not the Union soldiers
pensioned by South Carolna2" said
Mr. Wilson, replying with d question
"Jhe discrimination in favor Of eN-
Coufederates Yves imply gratuity
Down South he continued. they |
believe the war is over. 1t was not en-
nifty toward the North that led TO the |
addition OF the constitutional provision, |
"1he North" he continued, could not |
get along without the South any better |
than the South could without the |
North"
Mr. Grosvenor fRep,, Ohio, then got
"a n 4 4 L. 4 4 ~ 4
said, he would not have introduced the |
rnsnlmtinn hnt being hronght IN he ]