The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-27

Fired in Defense Of the Rights
of His State, in Self-Defense
and in Defending His Home and
Fireside.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26.-As the
Senate seemingly was about to conclude
consideration of the pension appropri-
ation bill late this afternoon Butler CD
of North Carolina offered his amend
ment, announced some time ago, pro-
viding for the pensioning of ex-Confed-
crate soldiers. Upon this he took the
floor and delivered a speech which. as
he proceeded, developed into a most un-
expected utterance.
While his colleagues on both sides OF
the chamber, listened with interest,
Butler defended the position taken by
the South during the great civil con-
f1ict of a third of century ago. He
declared that the South was right, and
that history would so record, and that
every shot fired by a Southern soldier
was fired in defense of the rights OF
his State conferred by the Constitu-
ton, in self defense and in defense of
his home and fireside.
Bate CD of Tennessee, himself dis
tinguished Confederate officer, declared
that while the South believed it was
right, the occasion was not opportune
for the proposition which Butler had
made, and that the Southern soldiers
as a body did not desire pensions from
the General Government, and he ex-
pressed his satisfaction that Butler had
withdrawn his amendment.
At the opening of the Senate Plat
of New York, and Berry of Arkansas
each gave notice of a speech on Vests
anti-expansion resolution. Platt will
speak tomorrow Immediately after the
morning business, and Berry at the
same time next Tuesday. Platt's
speech Will be the first he has delivered
Der the last time.
A bill providing Mount Vernon
Square in this city as a site for a pub
lie library to be erected by Andrew
Carnegie at a cost of $250,OOO as a
gift to the city Of washington was dis
cussed for considerable time, but was
laid aside under objection
Mason of Illinois announced that to-
morrow he would ask for a vote on his
resolution declaring it to be the policy
Of the United States not to attempt to
govern the people of any other coun-
try without the consent of the people
themselves.
A House bill authorizing the Little
River Valley Railroad Company to
construct and operate railway through
the ChQctaw and Chickasaw Nations,
in the Indian Territory, was passed
Mallory of Florida was then recog-
nized. He said that in the very face
of the declaration of our disinterested-
ness in Cuba we proposed to take Porto
Rico and the Philippines. He thought
we ought not to be inconsistent We
could not, therefore, afford to take the
Philippines although in the case of
Porto Rico the case might fairly be re-
garded as different.
At the conclusion of Mallory's rev.
marks, Davis moved an executive ses-
sion, which lasted from 2:30 to 4:3O D.
M, when the Senate resumed business
in open session.
The pension appropriation bill was
taken up at the instance of Perkins of
California, in charge of the measure,
and it was read. The bill appropri-
ates S145, 49,, $50.
Sullivan of Mississippi offered an
amendment providing that no pension
should be paid to any person as a de-
pendent pensioner under the June 1S9U
law, who has an income of $3.50 annu-
ally, and, further, that a dependent
pensioner must affirmatively establish
the fact that he has not an income of
$3.50 before he can draw pension.
Gallinger of New Hampshire. Chair
man of the Pensions Committee. said
that at first blush he was inclined to
favor the amendment. He believed
Congress might well place some re-
striction upon the granting of pensions
Perkins made the point of order
against the amendment, that it was
new legislation The point of order
was sustained.
Butler of North Carolina offered his
amendment providing for the payment
of pensions to Confederates as well as
to Union soldiers. He delivered a
speech in support of it.
Buffers speech developed, as he pro-
ceeded, into quite a remarkable utter
ance After presenting an analysis of
The CUulpdct VI ItCts lie dSClaFeQ t0aL
mot a single Southern soldier was
a rebel or a traitor He maintained
that the great fratricidal conflict was
forced upon the South, and that the
people of the South simply defended
their personal and constitutional rights
Under the compact of 1887 the South
ern States, in Buffers opinion, un-
doubtedly had a right to withdraw
from the Union. He was inclined to
think the compact was not right. but
it was compact, and ought to have
been respected.
Butler said that his own State of
North Carolina fully and completely
recognized the right of South Carolina
to withdraw FROM the Union but decId-
ed herself not to withdraw Not until
forced to defend herself did North Car
DINA vote to withdraw, together with
other Southern States. They had been
forced by the Northern States to take
UP arms in self defense.
Every gun fired by Southern sol
der" declared Butler, was fired in
self defense of the constitutional rights
of the Southern States. and in defense
Of her homes and firesides.'
Further along Butler said, speaking
of the war of the rebellion. st was
most unnecessary war. The Southern
States did not desire the war. They