Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-25
passage OF the bin, and the latter replied


law at the time 1t was enacted. That SEN
tment was right then. he believed, and
the law ought not TO be disturbed now.
No good could be accomplished by these
measures, and they served only 20
awaken and arouse recollectons that
should be buried. While he had been ac-
cused OF some aggressiveness Of thought
on this subject. Mr.. Bouteile said he never
brought In any of these bills these dis
cussions We're not introduced by him.
Addressing the Republicans. Mr.. Bou-
telie said he recognized the fact that
there was a sentiment Of reluctance
among them Of expressing any views
which might seem TO reflect upon those
who fought on the Confederate side who
were IN public life. and especially those
who We're In the House with them. He
said he would remind them that the gem
tlcmen on the other side had never hest
tated TO express their views upon these
questions. and were not backward In sup
porting them by their votes He recalled
the effort 10 place General Grant on the
retired list OF the army. a proposition
which, he said, he was sorry to say met
the unanimous opposition of the gentle
men for whose benefit the present pro-
posed legislation was intended. These
men. he said had not hesitated to act
as jurors I'm the case Of the United States
| against Fitzjohn Porter. and voted solid
ly to place him on the retired list.
BOUTELLE BROUGHT TO BOOK.
Mr.. Wheeler OemocraO. Of Alabama:
| Name a man who voted against putting
Grant on the retired list. IT was unanl-
mously passed.
Mr.. B0utele retorted that the Demo
| Gratis prevented even an opportunity to
vote upon the bill. until the Republicans,
/ driven TO their wits end. and fearing that
/ the gavel would fall at the end OF the
/ session. and Grant would die before he
could receive honor at the hands Of Con-
/ gross. surrendered the rights of a repre-
sentative from Iowa. who sacrificed his
seat 10 the demands Of the Democrats,
and after his successor had been sworn
in and not until then, the Democrats
| consented to Il vote on the bill which
/ placed General Grants name on the re-
/ tired list
Mr.. BOutelle asserted that In the South
/ there was stnl prescription against the
/ Union soldier. and mentioned that legisla-
/ ton Of South Carolina, adopted only Inst
/ year. virtually taxed its residents who
served IN the Federal army by discrimina-
/ ting In the matter Of pOl-taX I'm favor OF
/ tho Confederate soldier He called upon
| any representative from that state TO
state the facts in regard 10 the matter.
Mr. Wilson DemocraO, of South Caro-
| lima, said that. according 10 his recollec-
/ ton, the Constitution exempted Confede-
rate veterans from all road-tax. which
/ was imposed on all other males between
/ the ages Of IS ana 80. The war had been
over thirty years. Adding that 10 IS.
/ made IS, 50 that the exemption applied
| only TO those old soldiers between the
ages of IS and 30 years.
The bill. Mr.. Boutelle contcndeG, would
not be effecWal. 1t served no good pur-
pose 10 be spending the time Of the
| House in the discussion Of a hi that
confessedly had no practical effect. IL
would not give TO any old soldier on thu
| Union side who was now In private life
the right 10 bear Il commission in the
army.
Mr.. Hull Republican), OF Iowa: Neither
does it give the right TO the Confederates.
Mr.. Boutelle sharply: Well, do you
want 10 give them that right?
Mr. Grosvenor Wepub ican), Of Ohio
said that he based his support Of the BIZ
on IN. belief that his action here should
be I'm the way Of aiding, so far as it was
/ possible for him 10 DO so, the encourage
ment Of loyalty and devotion TO the Has
in an parts of the country. (Applause)
Mr. Boute.le: Does the gentleman be-
lieve that the government should pass
legislation Of this kind?
GROSVENOR FOR THE SOUTH
Mr.. Grosvenor: ] believe that the gov
eminent ought 10 do what Is right.
lie said that after the war legislation
had been enacted which disfranchlsed a
large proportion of the people OF the South.
They were even denied the use Of the
mails for a time but one by one these
restrictions had been taken OF. AS far
back as the time Of General Grant. that
great and ilustriOus hero, who had re-
ceived the high encOmiums of his friend
from Maine. had taken one Of these Con-
; federatcs into his Cabinet; ne had MADE
MOsby. the great cavalry leader or the
South. Committeeman at Hongkong, and
| had appointed General Longstreet, VINO
he would say with all Difference to the
opinion of those who differed from him
was. in his judgment. the ablest rebel
general TO a position of high honor and
trust.
Mr. Boutele: And was not Longs,reet
oetracised for taking It? Cries of NO. y
Mr. Grosvenor said that for himself he
had always hoped 10 live TO see the time
when Il should be the policy OF his party
I 20 remove from the etatute-books every
! thing that tended TO discriminate between
the residents Of the different sections OF
the country
Mr.. Boutelle: Does the gentleman know
Of any southern man who has asked ioi
the passage Of this bill? Who Brought
IL in here?
Mr.. Grosvenor: God only knows. But
would not be so willing to grant II fci
the asking as l would be to give it freely
as matter of grace. Applause)
IN conclusion. Mr.. Grosvenor said tha'
It was his desire that all men snou.C
have an opportunity for displaying then
]
conditions. and that he would ask No
class 20 carry a load which he was no
himself willing 20 bear
Nj. Hopkins Republican,. Of Illinois
made the point Of order that the morn
ing hour had expired. but Speaker Rec
stated that. while Il was competent FOL
any gentleman 20 move that the morn
ing hour should be declared To have eX
pired, the hour did not expire of itself.
Mr.. Grow Republican, Of Pennsyl
wanna. made an eloquent and stiIrinl
speech upon the subject OF patriotism i
general. which. he said was implanted
i'm every mans breast. Slavery, h
said. was itself rebellion against tn
Government OF the United States an'
the men South. who lived under its III
nuence were animated. not by any In
trinsic antagonism 70 tho country. pu
because Of their associations and loca
ION. lie hoped the bill would pass.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Grow
remarks. Mr.. Hopkins moved to al
iourn. but by a decisive majority IN
House declined 10 do SO. and MIR. Pick
Ter Republlcan). of South Dakota, adyo
Gated the passage Of the bill in brie
ereech Referring to the statement b.
Mr. Boutelle that the passage Of TIN
nm would mean a reflection upon thos
who enacted the original legislation