The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-11
JEFF Davis and conaistency-The
CONSUMPTION Law.

truth. II Is patent 10 all who will take
the trouble to investigate his political
career, that he has not only been incon-
sistent in shameful degree, but has
also played the hypocrite with an ex-
pertness which might well challenge the
admiration Of brother MavwOrme," in
play. In the latter character he enacted
the part Of good Unionist, until be
thought it cafe TO throw of the mask,
/, aud to strike for the leadership Of the
stakeholder rebellion. Protesting 70 be
Strict construction democrat, and deny
ing the constitutional power OF Congress TO
make appropriations to works of inter-
nal improvements, be, nevertheless found
ample warrant for government aid TO a
railroad TO connect the Mississippi river,
by Southern line, with the waters Of
the Pacific on the shores of California.
At the time, men were surprised at this
standardization but no one now, in
view of the oveuts Of the past two years,
will fail TO see that he had bold, bad
design in his inconsistency.
In February, 1861 on his journey TO
Montgomery, Ala, to take his position as
President of the so-called Confederate
States, he made speech at Stevenson, on
the Nashville and Chattanooga railroad.
in which miscalculating the patriotism
of the Northern masses, and the strength
Of the South, he laid down his pro-
gramme for conducting the war which be
anticipated. He did not intend to per-
NIT the Southern people to experience its
horrors. Oh mol He declared he would
carry this war where it was easy TO ad-
vance--to the densely populated cities Of
the North, where there was food Jor tho
slsoyd and ne torch. If the enemy came
down to destroy his crops, he would grow
them over again, but their cities could not rise
again so easily" He tried war, but he
soon learned that he could not carry his
rebel cohorts where there was food for
the "sword and the torch"-that he
could not sack, and pillage, and burn
Northern cities---that he had as much as
he could do to defend his capital and
protect his own cities The patriotic
soldiers of the loyal States carried the
war into his domains, bat they did not
as they might have done, destroy towns
and cities. They were governed by a
higher humanity than he, and spared
them. In some instances, however, ex-
cesses were committed, though few, if
any, not justified by the laws of war, and
Immediately the immaculate hero OF
the "sword and the torch" utters a wall of
woe, and pirates of Federal vandalism
and brutality. "Oh, shame, where is
thy blushW
In the following extract from the pro-
ceedings of the rebel Congress on the
2Gth ult, we have another illustration Of
the consistency of the rebel chief
Mr. Davis, OF Mississippi, opposed the
entire system Of c0nscription rs uncOn-
stitutional, He said that, during the
Mexican war the present head of this
Conrederacy had declined a brigadier-
generalahip on the ground that the Presi-
dent could not righlGnlly confer it; that
the troops of the different States were
distinct, and had the constitutional right
of the election of their officers. The
correspondence had been sent TO him by
Mr. jefferson Davis, who was DESTROYS
to obtain the opinion OF the speaker on the
constitutional question, which, however,
the speaker omitted to give, as be was
not prepared TO commit himself, He had
rather be "naygur" shan a victim of
the CONSUMPTION law. ILaughter.l
is Me-. REUBEN DAVIS who makes
this disclosure. JETr thought under
the Consultation OF tho United States,
"the troops of the different States were
distinct" Now he entersinto an elab-
crate argument to convince Gov. BaowN,
Of Georgia, that the troops of the different
Confederate States are no! distinct, and
that the conscrip. law, which conlers upon
him absolute authority over. the States
militia is constitutional Very conven-
lent Mr.. JEFFERSON DAvIsl What makes
the difference Is not the rebel Con-
stitution, like She rebel fas, poor
parody on that Of the United States (;
and are not the clauses Of the two
respecting the militia, and the gu
thority Of the President identical ?
All, consistent Me- DAVIS, in the one
case you we're offered but the straps Of
Brigadier lie the other, the baton Of
the despot was rendered you, aud you
swiftly reached forth your hand to clutch
H. May it burn your arm to the socket !
50 much for the consistency Of this
modern tyrant and despot Other Incl
dents, s,ill further illustrating il, might
be adduced, but these will suffice.
Before we close, let us direct the read
oFs particular attention to the last
sentence Of the above quoted remarks Of
Mr.. Congressman DAVIS
sHE HAD RATHER DE- A 'SAYGUR' THAN
VICTIM OF THE CONSUMPTION LAW"
II not very polite, this remark is sure
ly very honest We admire Mr.. DAVIS
for his opposition to the conscripton
law, and still moro for his candor IL
will be quite stimulating to the patriotic