The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-02-03
SPURNS THE PROPOSITION.
Senator Bate on the Federal Coy
eminent Pensioning Ex. Con-
federate Soldiers.

OeIldlOf DulIer, Oh NOFLL
Carolina, on Jan. Goth. call
ed up his amendment to the
, general appropriation bill,
providing that :ex-Confeder,
ate as we'll as Federal sol
diers be pensioned. There
was considerable division Of
sentiment among the Sena-
tors on the subject, and Mr..
Butler announced that he
would not press the amend
ment, Notwithstanding the
fact that he believed it was
right.
Senator Bate spoke as fol-
lows on the amendment:
Mr.. President, / was not aware,
because of the confusion in the
Chamber, that the amendment pro-
posed by the Senator from North
Carolina Mr.. Butler TO the bill had
been Withdrawn Immediately on his
finishing his speech. / am very
glad no. to; learn that it is with
drawn, but / do not know that /
ought to let it pass, after the very
elaborate speech of the Senator from
North Carolina, without a brief
statement. | have no criticism to
make on that part of his speech or
anything connected with it in rela-
ton to the rights of the States to
secede and their course thereafter.
There were many things said by
him that are historic truths and can
not be too often said.
But, Mr.. President, 1 have been
in the receipt of letters, kilograms,
and resolutions adopted By Exon
federate soldiers in their camps and
bivouacs that give different ver-
sion touching this resolution than
that put upon it in the speech of
the Senator from North Carolina.
He would have you believe they APP
proved of his resolution and were
knocking at the door of Congress
asking for pensions. wish in a
few words to put them in their true
light, for they are a brave, noble,
patriotic, self-sacriticing set of men.
They are not alms-begging, nor pen
sion seeking men. They are proud,
poor, and patriotic, and ask no pen.
sions of the Government. Neither
have they any apology to make.
They are proud of their history, and
we-for / am one of them-intend
to preserve our history intact. !
have never apologized, and never
expect to, for my course as a Con-
federate soldier. l believed it was
right, and / believe it now.
Indeed, Mr.. President, / am glad
to know that many of those who
fought us bravest' and hardest are
among our best friends and great
est admirers. They have risen
above prejudice and calmly look at
the truth of history. The Confed-
crate history is exceptional and
unique. 1t is distinctive feature,
and we shall not mar, but preserve
it as it has been made. We ask no
pensions of the Government that by
superior numbers and resources ex-
hausted us and then overcame us. "
l think there is no considerable
number of ex-Confederate soldiers
anywhere in our Southland who
have either sought or will seek pen
sions of the Government. 1t is.true
/ cannot speak for all, but am con-
stantly brought in contact with a
great many of them, especially in
Tennessee, who, in part, | have the
honor to speak for in this Chamber,
aud feel assured they do not favor
the resolution of the Senator. In
evidence Of this ] beg to read one of
the resolutions which have come to
my colleague and myself from our
State as a specimen of how our Con-
federate bivouacs feel touching this
matter Eof pensions by the United
States Government TO ex-COnfeder-
ate soldiers. 1t is a specimen of
others sent US, and being short and
directly to the point made ia this
resolution, and relates to the reso-
luton itself, besides putting the
Confederate soldier right on the rec,
ord, / read it. The resolution came
addressed to me, and it is as fol-
lows:
CLARKsvILLE, Tenn, January IS, 1899.
At the last meeting Of the Forbes Bivouac the
following resolution was passed unanimously, with
the request that our Senators read the same to the
Senate:
Resolved, That Forbes BivOuac condemns in
most unmeasured terms the resolution offered by
Senator Butler, of North Carolina seeking to pen
sion the ex-Confederate soldiers; and
Resolved further, That we do not recognize in
him one who has any right to voice the sentiment
Of Confederate soldier" CLAY STACKER,
Secretary Forbes BivOuac
/ have no criticism to make upon
the motive that actuated the Sena-
tor in Offering the resolution, nor
on what he said as to constitutional
rights of the States. / think the
Confederate soldier feels that be
has had to pay great deal, and a
great deal too much, for Federal
uanaiOnS He does not annrovn of