The times., 1898-05-08
CONFEDERATE DISABILITIES.
The Last Discrimination Wiped out
in 1896.

in 1896.
More than thirty years this prohibition
has had living force upon the statute
books:
'NO person who held a commission in the
the Army or Navy of the United States at
the beginning of the late rebellion, and
afterward served in any capacity in the
military. naval or civil service of the
so-called Confederate States. or of either
of the States in insurrection during the
late rebellion, shall be appointed to any
position in the Army or Navy OF the
United States"
When the war closed all who had par
ticipated in the rebellion were dlsfran-
chised and disqualified from holding Of
flee. Gradually the asperities wore away
The franchise was restored Political
disabilities were removed at first in MI
nor forms and from one class of ex-
Confederates after another. Office-hold-
ing by those who had been disqualified
was made legal. But the prohibition
against appointments TO places in the
Army and Navy continued. At length
Congress passed a special act to let an
eX-Confederate get into the signal ser
vice. Later ex-Confederates became
eligible To the Army and Navy offices.
but the prohibition still applied to eX-
Confederates who had held commissions
in the Army and Navy before the war.
They We're the last to be entirely for
given and made eligible for military rank.
Discrimination Wiped Out.
In the winter of 1896 the whole country
was aroused TO a high pitch of patriotism
by President Cleveland's message on the
Venezuelan boundary, committing the
United States. under the Monroe doc
trine. against British aggression toward
South American republic. Southeruers
We'd with NOrtherners in their enthusias-
tic promises to sustain the Government
When this feeling was strong Senator
HUI of New York called attention 10 the
almost forgotten section quoted above
That the South should have no handicap
put upon its patriotism he suggested the
section should be wiped OFF the books.
He introduced bill 10 that effect ana
it became Il law on the 31st of March.
1896.
The repeating act made possible the ap-
pOintment of Fitzhugh Lee and Joseph
Wheeler to be major generals. They are
the first who held commissions in the
Army before the war and served in the
Confederacy to be appointed to places in
the Army. President McKinley's action
wipes out the last discrimination against
There still remains in the statutes a
provision that an ex-COnfederate cannot
be cadet at West Point. but il became
defunct a great many years ago.
Three of the major generals may be
obliged to give up good official posi-
tions TO qualify for military glory. The
law seems TO be explicit. Ii says:
mo person holding an office under the
United States shall be member of either
house tof Congress) during his contiu-
uance in said office"
Senator Sewell and Representa- tive
Wheeler do not think they will be obliged
To resign before they can become generals.
Law officers of the Army think they must
resign. Another provision of the statute
provides that an officer of the Army can
hold no civil office. Consul General Lee.
il seems. will have to resign the place he
now holds to enter the Army A major
generalship pays $500. while that OF a
senator or representative pays s, 600
Trying tn Evade the Law
During the late war several patriotic
senators and representatives, managed To
hold their positions in Congress and to
do military duty in the field with com
missions at the same time. Francis p.