Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1866-07-26
Sflisttllaneons.
Thad. Stevens Volunteers to Defend
Mr.. Davis.

TnaQ. St6V0uS toAuuG6eTS 10 O6I6uQ
Mr.. Davis.
Our readers will ask whether the state
ment made in the following is true, or that
it is one of the many biting sarcasms that
frequently flow from The pen of the editor
of the Richmond Times. We certainly
do not know, but We extract from that
paper:
1t is reported, on the best authority, that
old Thad Stevens has written letteV to
the Hon. VIM. B. Reed, of Philadelphia,
volunteering to defend ex-President Davis
in bis approaching trial. We certainly
could not more astound our readers we're
we to inform them that the devil had turned
minister, or that he had given up his bust
ness and was killing himself off with drink.
Still it is perfectly consistent with Thad.'s
theory about the war, formed, doubtless, as
be gazed on the melancholy spectacle Of
his burnt mills and saw that huge under.
shot water-wheel revolving all alone in its
glory, to show where bis foundry had been.
He then came to the conclusion that Mr..
Davis was the head of an undoubted bellig.
erent power and consequently de facto
government. Having overthrown that gov
ernment and overrun the country, Mr..
Stevens insists that the United States have
right to dispose of the lands and property
of the conquered country after the fashion
of William the Norman. He wants not
their blood, but their substance. Mr. d.
Wis, according to his theory, was no more
suilty of treason than Harold, the Saxon
King, who fell at Hastings. Hence this
offer of his valuable services in the trial is
not at all atvariance with bis previous course
during the present session.
What the effect of this new development
may have on Underwood, we cannot imag.
inc. Were it possible for that jurist to
lose his mind, he would undoubtedly 60
crazy. With Stevens as leading counsel
for the defence, Greedy as Mr.. Davis bail,
and in all probability Wendell Phillips as
foreman of the jury, (for Congress will
doubtless pass law for the purpose,) think
of Underworld g feelings. This may be the
turning point in Stevens career
GAS long as the lamp holds out to burn,
The vlest sinner may return"
We may be allowed, however, in his case,
to doubt if there will be any rejoicing
among angels.
This tender of his services may be bid
for popularity-an extraordinary parade Of
liberality-or it may be one of those mental
alterations preliminary to suicide, which
genius of the Black Republican stamp, in
its 6tful flights, seems of late to be subject
to-e e., in Preston King and James q
Lane, of Kansas.
1t may be possible that Tbad. sees the
famous hand writing on the wall, and finds
that there is trouble brewing, that the faith
full are going to desert him, and wishes to
get the start of them and go over to the
enemy first. Or, it may be, that after all
Thad.'a radicalism is like that of good
many others, only lasting while they are
out of Office and power, and completely ex-
piring on their gaining the coveted position
among the "ins." Thad has undoubtedly
got the United States Senatorship from
Pennsylvania secure, and evidently has
aspirations for the Presidency, and now bis
conservatism commences to make its ap-
pearance. Seward was a great radical be.
fore be got what he wanted-before he got
into Office. Since that period, he has be-
con- quite conservative. There is nothing
like placing man in power to make him
conservative, and we would not be much
surprised were Stevens, who is now striving
for place and power, to become very con-
servative when be gets them. This offer
of his services to Mr.. Reed is good symp.
tom, and we hail the improvement.