Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-05-09

YOU can't look your man ID the face, AM
when that's the case, there'sno fun in tn
game; it's regular 'cut-throat. So now
Bob. farewell; remember would tell you, ant
you'll be- sure to win; and if .yon don't, i
sarves you right if you get 8kunked.'"
ELOQUENT Tribute tosMr. Davis.
The Fond du Lac (Wis.) Press, an able anc
distinguished conservatiyeSj Journal, pays th
following tribute to the illuStrious Statesman
and uncomplaining prisoner at Fortress Mon
roe, and makes demand aor his release Oh
the purest grounds of reason. 1t says:
We have always regarded itasa fixed fac
that sooner or later jefferson Davis would b'
released, without being bEsughttc trial, un
less, indeed, his eaptors- succeeded in theil
evident design to murder him, by the SLOW
torture of rigorous confinement to which ht
has been subjected.
1t would be impossible to convict him as 9
traitor before any court, except, indeed,
military commission, composed OF such crea
lures as the men who pronounced the deatE
sentence upon Mrs. Surrat whose memories
will be eSecrated through all coming time.
Not only did JefersonzD Davis commit nc
act of treason, but We believe that first, last
and always, his acts were governed by mo.
tives of the purest ard most sdisinterested
patriotism. He betray ID no sacred trust, he
made no effort to elevate. himself to positions
of honor and power, like selfish aspiring
politician; but of all the brilliant array Of
Southern talent, eloguence and genius assem-.
bled in tho Senate chamber atsW Washington,
he was the acknowledged leader and superior
of all. When the peopleEof the Stale be
represented called upon him, as their Repre-
sentative, to withdraw from Congress, he
promptly responded; andof all the Southern
members who bowed their naughty farewell
to the Senate, he made most polished and
courtly adieu.
AT the time the GoyerEment of the Con-
federacy was formed, hisysst experience and
unequaled abilities as ssatesman made him
enpbatically the political Header of the South,
while his pleasing address and his intellectu-
al superiority over oil tho ether distinguished
men of the South mad9him the idol of Che
Southern people. Hessecepted the position
of President, not with:Any, design of building
up for himself splendid fortune and endu.
ring fame, but because hey was chosen to fill
that position by heunanimous voice of eight
millions of people, aad because he deemed it
his sacred duty as apatriot to remain true to
the South in her hour of peril.
How far he errediin making this final de-
cision, which castslis fortunes with those of
the Southern people eeitis idle now t. inquire ;
to-day, as traitoEs though he is branded, we
honor and respect him, while we despise
such vile, base creatures as Bolts and Brown.
ow, and can trulf Believe that Washington
was not more admired and beloved by the
patriots of the kRevolllion than Jefferson
Davis is by the Southern people to-day. His
tory fails to point ns an example of more en-
lire unanimity-Ee search the records in vain
tc find an instance surprising the love and
deyotedness they have exhibited for him.
~ stIv r~-5 snpeflorIry ySnrISnnrsnn Davis
which has caused all his persecution and suf-
fering. The Abolition flends we'll know that
he was no ordinary man, whose splendid ge-
MUS was SO long the brightest star in the Sen
ate-they know it was no weak, common
mortal who, for four years, controlled the
destinies of eight millions of people, and
they fear the influence which his giant intel
lect and matchless cloquence would exert in
moulding the future destiny of America.
knowing that is impossible to convict him
of treason, they hope to dispose of him by
the slow torture Of confinement and privation.
But time and afliction has failed to bow
his lofty spirit-insuts. chains and dungeons
can never wholly destroy that superiority; ell
oquence and genius with which God has en-
dowcd him. To-day, emaciated with long
months of confinement 10 drcary fortress,
guarded by bayouets and surrounded by
Yankee spies and informers we recognize the
same calm, stately, superior being who fig
ured so grandly in The recent terrible drama
of American history-who crushed the North
ern Senators by humiliating conscious ess
of their own inferiority, when he made his
high-toned adieu to the Senate.
For Jefferson Davis, " ask no Executive
clemency, fer he has committed 40 treason.
For him we implore no pardon, for he'is no
traitor; all we ask, all We desire, is that he
shall receive fair, impartial trial, and his
guilt or innocence be.decided by a jury of
6is own countrymen. But this, of all things
his enemies are determined he shall not have
for thcy know in this event he would come
forth with no stain upon his characterize
tarnish upon his honos.
We are fortunate in having short extract
of the speech of Mr.. Davis when leaving the
Senate, and in conclusion with the above, VIC
| append it, as it is of sxtreme though me!an-
! choly interest OF present.
But we have proclaimed our independence.
This is done with no hostility or desire to in
;ure any Section of Hue country, nor even for
onr nesuniary benefit, but solely from the
high and solid motyyERs Of defending and pro
tecting the rights We Inherited, and transmit.
ting them unshorn 70 our posteElty. know
.iat I feel no hostility to you Senators here,
and am sura there is not one Of you, whatever
NAV have been the sharp discussion between
us, to whom ! cannot now say, in the pres
ence AMI of nv God, / wish we'll. And such is
the feeling, l am sue, the people l represent
have towards those you represent. l there
fore feel but express their desire when !
say bone, and they hope, for those peaceful
relations with you Though we must part)
that NAV be mutually beneficial to US in the
There will be peace, if you so will it; and
you may bring Disaster upon upon u the WnGi9 1aS e
country il you thus will have It. ana II
| Won will have it this, we invoke the God OF
our fathers, who delivered them from the paw,
of the lion, to protect US from the rayages of
the bear; and thusputting our trust in God,
and our firm hearts and strong arms, we will
indicate and defend the rights we claim. In
the course of my long career, have mot
with great variety of men here, and there
have been points of collision between US.
Whatever of o(fene have given, which has
not been redresses 1 am willing to say to
Senators in. this hour of parting, offer You
nv apology for anlthiug ] may have done;
and [ 20 released from obligation, remem'
herring no injury lave received, and having
discharged what ieem the duty of man,
offer the only repantion in my power for any
| ,vor ~ pfiotod