Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-27

policy or the united states NOT u dt-
tempt to govern the people of any otn-
er country without the consent of the
people themselves.
Mallory. Fla, addressed the Senate
on the Vest anti-eXpansion resolution.
The Senate then went into executive
session.
AT 4.20 P. NJ, the Senate resumed
business in open session. The pension
appropriation bill was taken up at the
instance of Perkins, Cal, in charge of
the measure and it was read. The bill
appropriates s125. 233. $50.
Sullivan. Miss, offered an amendment
providing, that no pension should be
paid to any person as a dependent pen
sioner under the act of June. 1890, who
had an income of $3.50 annually; and
further that a dependent pensionei
must affirmatively establish the fact
that he has not an income of $3.50 be
fore he can draw a pension. After
some debate Perkins made the point OF
order against the amendment that il
was new legislation. The point or or
der was sustained.
Sewall N. j., offered an amendment
providing that no part Of the appro-
priation made by the pending bill
should be paid in pensions to widows
who may marry pensioners after the
, passage of the act. Ruled out on 4
point of order.
Butler. N. c.. offered his amendment
providing for the payment of pensions
to Confederate as Union soldiers. He
delivered a speech in support of 1t,
which developed. as he proceeded, into
quite remarkable utterance. After
presenting an analysis of the compact
of 1887. he declared that mot single
Southern soldier was rebel or a trail
tor He maintained that the great
fratricidal conflict was forced upon the
South and that the people of the South
simply defended their personal and con-
stitutional rights. Under the compact
of 1855. the Southern states, in Buffers
opinion. undoubtedly had a right TO
withdraw from the Union. He was in
clined TO think the compact was not
right. but it was a 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
her sister Southern states. This, But
Ter said. was true of a majority of the
Southern states They had been forced
by Northern states to take up arms In
self-defence. Every gun fired by a
Southern soldier" declared Butler.
was fired in elf-defence Of the consti-
tutioral rights of the Southern states
and in defence of his own home and
fireside."
Further along. Butler said, speaking
of the War of the Rebellion: 1T was
a most unnecessary war. The South
ern states did not desire war. They
asked only TO be allowed to exercise
their constitutional rights and with,
draw peacefully from the Union. The
South was right and history will so re-
cord. The South knew she was right
at the lime and she knows it now. 1t
is the duty of the Southern people not
to permit prejudiced historian to
brand their fathers and brothers as
rebels and traitors.
He believed that the states whose
soldiers were being pensioned would
not object to the pensioning of the eX-
Confederate soldiers.
INTERVENING Butler, Chandler said
he had not doubt that eX-sOldiers OF
the North would be perfectly willing to
set on foot any reasonable testimonial
of regard and respect, but he did not
see how the government of the United
States could recognize, as Butler had
suggested, those who had taken up
arms against the Union.
Butler protested against the Ian
guage of Chandler, as he had already
explained, he said. that the South did
not take up arms against the Union,
except in self-defense.
II wish the senator would explain"
inquired Chandler a little later. upon
what theory the United States gov
eminent could be asked to pay for
property in the South destroyed by
the forces of the Union" whenever"
replied Butler, the senator Will explain
to me why we should pay Spain 500
100000 for the privilege of not beng
whipped by the F'ilipinos | will answer
his question" For an answer to his
question" retorted Chandler. Il must
refer the senator to the senior senator
from Massachusetts" (Hoar). daugh
teri.
| At the conclusion of his speech, But
| Ter withdrew his amendment.
| Bate. DEM. Tenn, an ex-Confeder-
ate soldier of distinguished bravery, IN
presenting some resolutions in oppo-
sition to the Butler amendment eX-
pressed the belief that this was not the
time to discuss the issues of the Civil
War. The Confederate soldiers, he
said, were not here Knocking and
kneeling in order to obtain pensions.
The South, aided by it's glorious
women. had thus far been able to care
for its brave soldiers. Monuments had
been raised to them in the past and
more would be raised in the future
While he in common with every other
ex-Confederate soldier. believed the
South was right in it's struggle. the
discussion of the question was thing
of the past and he was glad the
amendment had been withdrawn. Pet
tus. DEM. Ala, appealed to senators
not to attempt to renew the war. All
agreed that it had ended at Appomat-
toX and nobody wanted any more OF it.
AS several senators had expressed
desire to speak on the pending bill, 1t