The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-07-14
Thad. Stevens Volunteers to Defend
MIR. Davis.


Thad. Stevens Volunteer. to Defend,
Mr.. Davis.
! Our readers will ask whether the
statement made in the following is
true, or that it is one Of the many
biting sarcasnls that frequently. fiow
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 authori-
ty, that old Thad. Stevens has writ
ten letter to the Hon. VIM. 4.
Reed, Of Philadelphia, volunteering
to defend ex-President Davis in his
approaching trial. We certainly
could not more astound our readers
were we to inform them that the
devil had turned minister, or that he
had given up his business and was
killing himself off with drink. Still
1T Is perfectly consistent with Thad. s
theory about the war, formed. doubt
less, as he gazed on the melancholy
spectacle of his burnt mills and saw
that huge undershot water-wheel re-
volving all alone in it's glory, to show
where his foundry had been. He
then came to the conclusion that Mr..
Davis was the head of an undoubted
belligerent power and consequently a
de .f'1to government Having over
thrown that government and ovcrrun
the country, Mr.. Stevens insists that
the United States have right to dis
pose of the lands and property OF
the conquered country after the fash
ION Of William the Norman. He
wants not their blood, but their sub
stance Mr.. Davis, according to his
theory, was no more guilty 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 at variance with his previ-
ous course during the present session.
What the effect of this new deve-
lopment may have on Underwood, we
cannot imagine. Were it possible for
that lurist to lose his mind, he would
undoubtedly go crazy. With Stevens
as leading counsel for the defence.
Greeley as Mr.. Davis bail, and in all
probability Wendell Phillips rs fore
man of the jury, (for Congress will
doubtless pass law for the purpose
think of Underwood's fcelin gs. This
may be the turning point in Stevens
career
AS long as the lamp holds ont to burn
Inc rilest 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 eNtraordi-
nary parade of liberality it may
be one of those mental alterations
preliminary to suicide, which genius
Of the Black Republican stamp, in its
titful flights, seems Of late to be sub
Ject toe. g., in Preston King and
James II. Lane, of Kansas
1t may be possible that Yhad sees
the famous handwriting on the wall,
and finds that there is trouble brew
ing, that the faithful are going to
desert him, and wishes to get the start
of them and go over to tho enemy
first. Or, it may be that after all
Ihad. $ radicalism is like that of a
good many others, only lasting while
they are out of Office and power. and
completely expiring on their gaining
the coveted position among the ''ins. !"
Ihad. has undoubtedly got the United
States Senatorship from Pennsylvania
secure, and evidently has aspirations
for the Presidency, and now his con-
servatism commences to make it's
appearance. Seward was q great
radical before he got what he wanted
before he got into Office. Since
that period, he has become quite con
scrvativeS There is nothing like
placing Il 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 conservative when he
gets them. This offer of his services
to Mr.. Reed is good symptom, and
we hail the improvement.
The Ugly Club of the University
of Virginia had their celebration on
the 2Sth j. s. StubbS. of GlOuces.