Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-23
Jeff. Davis, or Chivalry in Pettlcoats.


1t seems fortunately destined that the proud
and arrogant South should be thoroughly humll-
ated before the world. 1t is doubtful whether
any set of circumstances could possibly bave been
devised better calculated to humble and take
down the bOastful pride Of the sef-styed chiv-
airy of the South, than those that were made
to attend the inglorious ending of the career Of
their now more than UNANIMOUSLY immortalized
chief, whose character they had so long labored
to invest with all the most shining attributes of
the hero and the statesman. A noted diplo-
matist and politician Of the old world once re-
marked of another public character by way Of
disparagement, that he had committed worse
than a crlme-he had made bunder Had
that heartess diplomatsl been speaking of jeff
Davis, he would, by that rule of Judging, have
added that the rebel chief not only made that
worse than crime--a bunder, but far worse
than all, he made himself contemplate. Before,
he. was execrable, and might have been made, by
the help Of few ingenious falsehoods, quite q
hero; but now he has spoiled all. He has made
himself too pitfully contemplate to talk about.
And as the world goes, such a remark would
be by no means wthoutits iorcean significance
Ridicule and its usual attendant contempt, when
fairly fixed on it, object, is death to the hero,
and scarcely less 30 to the politician and states
man. Either OF them can etand almost any e
thing but contempt and survive. But that ever
disarms them takes away their prestige, de-
strOys their influence, and in short places them
beyond all hope Of political resurrection.
Who does not recoect how Gen. Scott when
running for the presidency, brought ridicule on
himself aud injury to his prospects, by the fool
lsh remarks or ludcrous mistakes he made in his
speeches and letters, such as his "hasty plate Of
soup" &c? And who has not read how the
noted John Randolph used 10 put down his op.
ponents in Congress by his remarkable power:
Of personal ridcue, but how BIO himself was al
length nearly used up for the rost Of bis career
by the terribly cutting speech Of Burgess Of
Rhode Island Now If such bold satirlsts as
Burgess, or the later Wade and Samner, could
produce, with such means as they then had
such squrming in the ranks of Southern Con
gress members who are forever Boosting OF then
chivalry and manliuess, what could they not dc
with such pictures as they could draw OF The
great head of the chivalry trying to sneak away
in pettcoats2 Surprising every Southern Con
gresham we're pardoned for their treason anC
restored 10 their old seats in Congress- could they
hold up their heads when any allusion was
made to the patry conduct Of their leader
No aud much less would they dare, lest they
provoke such illusions, to domlneer over North
ern mem bers. These southern slave lords hare
been beaten at the ballot boz, their political
power has been broken and their armies utterly
0verthrown in the field, and it wanted only such
an exhibition Of pitilul cowsrdce as JEFF DAVIS
capture involved, to complete their humiliation
This may seem a small matter, but it is moi
so. This lmpotent and utterly contemplate
last act OF the rebellion has not only made Ddyi
a Kissing and scorn through all chrstendom
forever destroyed bis influence, deprived him o
all the sympathy Of bis heretofore too man,
admirers in England, and even among US, ant
made him powerless of all further mischief, bu
1t will attach itself to all his fellow traitor
through all time, and may be welded agains
them, should they ever attempt to regain thei
lost evil influence in our national affairs With al
effect that will whip them and their descendant
into good behavior Tor generations to come. T.