Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-27
BUTLER-DEFENDST THE SOUTH
A Remarkable Speech in the United States
Senate.
His Amendment Providing
but Later Withdraws IL.

announced some time ago providing for the
pensioning of confederate soldiers. Upon
| this he took the floor and delivered a speech
which, as he proceeded. developed into a
most unexpected utterance
While his colleagues on both sides of the
chamber listened with interest Mr.. Butler
| defended the position taken by the south
during the great civil conflict of a third of
a century ago. He declared that the south
was right, and that history would SO record
and that every shot fired by southern SOL
der was fired in defense of the rights of
his state conferred by the Constitution, in
self-defense and In defense of his home and
fireside
Mr.. Bate (Tenn.), himself a distinguished
confederate officer, declared that, while the
south believed it was right, the occasion
was not opportune for the proposition
which Mr.. Butler had made, and that the
southern soldiers as a body did not desire
pensions from the general government; and
he expressed his satisfaction that Mr.. But
Ter had withdrawn his amendment.
The Senate resumed business in open ses-
sion after the executive session at 40.
The pension appropriation bill was taken
up at the instance of Mr.. Perkins tCal), in
charge of the measure, and 1t was read.
The bill appropriates s1i5,233, $40.
Mr.. Sullivan Miss offered an amend
ment providing that no pension should be
paid to any person as dependent pen
sIoner under the act of June, 1880. who has
an income of $50 annually; and further
that dependent pensioner must affirma-
lively establish the fact that he has not an
income of $3.50 before he can draw d PEN
sion.
Mr.. Galinger On. HI, chairman of the
pension committee, said that at first blush
he was inclined to favor the amendment.
He believed Congress might well place some
restriction upon the granting of pensions TO
applicants. flis committee had not con-
sidered the proposition presented and was
not quite prepared to say that it ought to
be adopted He pointed out that widow
having an income of 500 was not eligible
under the act of 1890 to obtain a pension.
Mr.. Cockrell (Mo) inquired of Mr. Cal
linger whether If the proposed amendment
We're adopted widow would be entitled to
receive pension even though she had an
income of more than Sg6 and less than 500.
Mr.. Platt Comm said that the PROPOSE
ton ought not TO be burriedly acted upon,
but hoped the pension committee would give
1t serious consideration.
ar. Perkins made the point of order
against the amendment that it was new
legislation. The point of order was sustain
Mr.. Sewell IN. j. offered an amendment
providing that no part of the appropria ton
made by the pending bill should be paid in
pensions to widows who may marry pen
sloners after the passage of the act. II
also was ruled out on a point Of order
Mr.. Butler IN. 60 offered his amendment
providing for the payment of pensions to
confederate as well as to Union soldiers
he delivered a speech in support of it.
Mr.. Buffers Speech
Mr.. Buffers speech developed as he pro-
ceeded, into quite a remarkable utterance
After presenting an analysis of the COM
pact of 1IS7, he declared that mot a sin
gle southern soldier was a rebel or a
traitor He maintained that the great
fratrcdai conflict was forced upon the
south, and that the people of the south
simply defended their personal and constj-
tutional rights Under the compact Of 1857
10 haar-r CT
undoubtedly had right to withdraw from
the Union. He was inclined to think the
compact was not right, but it was a COM
pact, and ought to be and ought IN have
been respected.
Mr.. Butler said that his own state of
North Carolina fully and completely recog-
nized the right of South Carolina to with
draw from the Union, but decided herself
not to withdraw. 1t was not until forced
to defend herself did North Carolina vote
to withdraw. together with her sister south
ern states. This, Mr. Butler said was true
OF a majority Of the southern states. They
had been forced by the northern states to
take up arms in self-defense.
every gun fired by southern soldier"
declared Mr.. Butler, was fired in self-de-
Tense of the constitutional rights of the
southern states and in defense of his home
and fireside."
Further along Mr.. Butler said. speaking
or the war of the rebellion: 1T was a
most unnecessary war. The southern
only to be allowed to exercise their con-
stitutional rights and withdraw peacefully
from the Union. The south was right and
history viii SO record The south knew she
was right at the time and she knows IT
now. 1t is the duty of the sout bern people
not to permit prejudiced historian to
brand their fathers and brothers as rebels
and traitors
He believed that the states whose SOL
diers were being pensioned would not object
10 the pens1onlng of the eX-confederate SOL
diers.
Interrupting Mr.. Butler, Mr.. Chandler
said he had no doubt the ex-soldiers of the
north would be perfectly willing to set on
loot any reasonable testimonial of regard
and respect but he did not see how the gov
ernment of the United States could recog-
piZe, as Senator Butler had suggested those
who had taken up arms against the Union
Mr.. Butler protested against the language,
OF Mr.. Chandler. he had already eX-
planned, he said, that the south did NOT take
up arms against the Union except in self
defense
Il wish the senator would explain" in
CURED Mr.. Chandler a little later upon
what theory the United States government
could be asked to pay for property in the
south destroyed by the forces of the Union
Whenever" replied Mr.. Butler 1.-THE
senator will explain to me why We should
pay Spain s20,00O,00 for the privilege of not
being whipped by the Filipinos l will an
swer his question"
For an answer to his question" retorted
Mr.. Chandler, II must refer the senator TO
the senior senator from Massachusetts,
(Mr. Hoar). Uaughter)
At the conclusion of his speech Mr.. But
Ter withdrew his amendment
Mr.. Bates Remarks.
Mr. Bate (Tenn.), an ex-confederate SOL