The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-16
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, September 16, 1865.
appeal for Je1rerson Davis, &c.

Saturday Morning, September 16, 1866
Appeal for Jenerson Davis, sc.
A resolution was submitted yesterday in
the Convention, appealing to the mercy of
President johnson, in behalf of the late
President of the Confederate States, Jeffer-
son Davis We speak of him as President,
and Of the Confederate States. That he
was such, and that these States were con-
federated, and in Government tle .Eacto,
is one Of those fixed facts which cannot be
gainsayed. The legitimacy of both may be
denied, but it is mere miserable affecta-
ton to employ any periphrasis to describe
or define them. The resolution also appeals
in behalf of Vice-President Stephens, and
Mr. Magrath, late Governor of this State,
and Mr.. Trenholm, late Secretary of the
Treasury of the Confederate States In the
appeal Tor each and all of these we fully
concur; and we entreat for them, not par
don, but mercy. We will leave to Others
to distinguish between these several objects.
Now, we have but one remark to. mako
These appeals are eminently proper, coming.
not merely from the people of South Caro-
hna' but from those of all the several States
Oh tic SollfedeTaoy. Low should; any OF their
people be able to lift their heads il harm
should como to any Of their leaders? Presi-
dent johnson must perceive that TO save
these people from shame, he must shelter
these, their representative men, from harm
We'have no doubt that he will do so, and
we are willing to leave this matter in his
hands He can entertain no base or little
revenges We take for granted that he will
dlsmlss-without impediment or bond-all
these eminent persons of State-that he win
give to Mr.. Davis the freedom of the conn
try, or the use of q frigate to convey him to
foreign shores He can do no less What can
the United States power gain by making
him victim on the scafold? He will be
distinguished all over the worid Us q martyr
to, constitutional freedom. Nor will it affect
his CLAIMS as such, even if you should prove
him IN error i'll his faith. It was his faith!
But ne cannot be proved in error. His de-
fence will be found, and that Of the South,
IN the written Constitutions of every State
OF New England and the North. 4Bnt sbonld
Inns avail not, what would Europe say
what the wor]d-what the futura-at the
ttaaas blind old man upon the
scahold-his people subdued-their arms
cast to the ground their homes and hopes
ruined-their concession ample, their sur
render complete; and they, with hands up
: lifted and with one voice, appealing for
mercy to the conqueror, which that con-
queror-everywhere secure, everywhere
triumphant longer baf6ed,- no longer
doubtful of his complete authority-refuses,
in the insolence of victory, in the bitterness
of revenge, in the malignity of hate-refuses
to accord What spectacle-what q
shame-what a reproach, for the finger of
scorn, through successive ages. And his
case is that OF the President, of Mr..
Magrath and Mr.. Trenholm. They have
been true to the principles in which they
had been trained, and which and their
justification in the laws of faith, conscience
and country, ,enunciated .by all the colonies
and States, amidst the rolling storms and
thunders of 1776. We have no reason to
doubt that President johnson is prepared
to relieve all these unhappy men from their
bonds. We should not be surprised to hear.
even while we write, that he has entered
" the cells OF the captiyes, and said to them
"Go, be free?' This would be noble. This
would be magnanimous. It would be wor-
thy OF a great man. 1t would prove hin,
worthy of n great people.
The proceedings of tho Convention, Oh
Thursday last, were of considerable interest,"
to the auditor. aharp skirmishing debate
took place, upon the introduction of {
variety OF resolutions from Mr.. Orr ani
Others, for the appointment of the severa
committees III which that gentleman, Judg.
FROST MIR. huger, Mr.. MCGOWAN and other
took part, and the debate was urged will