Year: 1866

Now, am not disposed to let the mat


ter rest in that state We took what we


could get and all we could get, but 1 pro-


pose hereafter still to urge, still to insist
(if possible to the condition of the Treas


ury), to obtain something like a more


equal and complete distribution of boun-


ties, according to the classified rule origi-


nally passed by the House, and which I


reported, and not allow it to rest on the


insufficient provision now a part of the


law of the land.


1 have been asked to explain the legis-


lation which took place in connection


with the bill for the reorganization and


increase of the army. / will say briefly


in regard to that, from the beginning to
the end, | recognize that, without any


dispaTagement of the officers and soldiers


OF the regular army, the peculiar claims,


under all the circumstances, of those who


volunteered to defend the country in the


hour of our great peril, should be regard


ed.


Two or three bills in succession were


passed, and delayed by the dilatory &C


ton in one House or the other. Finally,


after the same bills have been acted upon


by the House and Senate, and each disa-


greeing to the amendments insisted upon


by the other, as in the usual course of


legislation, a Committee of Conference


was raised, and that being unable to agree


a second Committee of Conference-and


finally the bill was passed, and became


law embodying the main features of what


we had originally passed in the House..
Its features are briefly these: In organ


izing the army and adding new regiments,


it is provided that all the company off


GERS to fill these new and original vacan-


cies, created by the increase of the army,


shall be taken from the volunteers, and


also two-thirds of the field officers These


volunteers to be selected either from Off
/ GERS or enlisted men, no distinction being


made between them, upon condition only


that they shall produce evidence of good


character, and the capacity to stand an
examination.


VETERANS AND THE REGULAR ARMY.


There was further matter that had
nearly lost the bill, relating to the Veter-
an Reserve Corps. Men familiar with
army affairs know we have had twenty
four regiments organized during the war,
oficered by wounded men. If no proyis-
ION In the organization had been made
for wounded men, the wounded soldiers
could not have been permitted to serve
the country further. We know that
among both officers and men there were
many who had been disabled in the per-
formance of duty, who were still fit for
light duty of some kind, and who have
such practical knowledge of military
affairs as to fit them to be continued in
the employment of the Government. 1t
seemed ungrateful not only, but wrong,
as it regards the interest of the Govern
ment, not to continue to employ them if
they desire it. The Senate were opposed
to the employment of such men. But we
held out until it was agreed that there
should be employed four regiments of
the officers and men who had raceived-
wounds during the war, in the service OF
the country; and that men fit for light
duty might be admitted into the army,
and assigned to these easier duties among
these veteran reserves.


There was provision also made for
portion of the troops, retained as colored
troops by the organization of new regi-
ments, into which should be admitted
colored men and such as had served as
officers heretofore among the two hun
dred thousand colored men that had
been in the service of the Government, to
make the necessary corps officers for
these four regiments of infantry, and two
regiments of cavalry to constitute part
of our army.


CONGRESS AND THE FENIANs.


There is another subject which two or
three very earnest Milesian friends of
mine wish me to refer to. They wish to /
know what was my connection with, and I
my feelings in regard to Fenianism.-I
They desire to know how far have turn /
ed Fenian-or, if have not really turn |
ed Fenian, how far l have really felt
and been compelled to express a feeling |
of sympsthy-with the Irish in this
country in the struggle they have been |
making with their friends at home for
Irish nationsl lity. I belong to a party |
which expresses and always has ex-
pressed my own Individual feeling in re-
gard to these matters-that is feeling Of |
with the oppressed of every |
race and every country, everywhere-a
determination as far as possible to see
that justice and right shall be secured to
them Applause. When, therefore it
was found that this subject was attract
ing attention; and when Mr.. Ancona, an
old old Democrat, introduced q resolu-



course which she had pursued toward the
Irish people, who were thus struggling
with her for independence and national
ity, proposed substitute for that reso-
luton of his, in perfect good faith. But
the substitute will best explain itself


RssoIved, That the President of the
United States, in the opinion of this
House, should reconsider the policy
which has been adopted by him as be-
tween the British Government and that
portion of the Irish people who, under
The name of Fenians, are struggling for
their independent nationality; and that
be be requested to adopt the policy of
Great Britain on the occasion of the late
civil war in this country between the
United States and rebels in revolt, recog
nizing both parties as lawful belligerents,
and observing between them a strict neu
.rality. -.--- E-s s,Es


In other words, thought Mr.. Anco-
"a, who, with the rest of the Democrats,
mad become johnson man, was on the
wrong track, and instead of denouncing ]
Great Britain, there was no necessity for
going so far from home; and if there was
/ change of policy in any respect to be [
pursued toward these Irishmen, it could
better be had by asking the President to
modify somewhat his course. My idea
vas that our sense of propriety and JUS
ice demanded of US as nation no more
han to say, under the circumstances in
which we had been drawn by Great Brit
ain, We will measure out to you exactly
hat which you gave US; we will stand by
now to see fair fight. Laughter and
cheers. A voice, "Bully for Schenck."l


This resolution and the resolution to
which it was substituted, it was agreed
should both be referred to the Committee
On Foreign Affairs, with the pledge, which
was never reported, to report resolution
in some shape directly back. We did
get report modified very
changing the neutrality laws
IF the United States so as to adapt it to
Dur ideas, and the bill for that purpose
passed the House, and only failed in the
Sanata bv q small majority Now this