Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-01-29
and the Year of Jubilee.

During the Amnesty discussion in the House
of Representatives lately, in reply to the vim
dIciiye assault Of ex-Speaker Blaine upon JEFF
ferson Davis and the Southern people, Hon. S.
S, Cox, of New York made one Of his happiest
efforts. We give the conclusion:
Mr.. Speaker, like to speak of amnesty
It is a favorite theme was delighted at the
idea of getting majority of five years ago.
But here, after ten years Of struggle, after ten
years of contempt, after every expression pos
sble from southern gentlemen and statesmen,
including Jefferson Davis after all that can
be said by them of their adherence to the SEN
timents of patriotism and Union, we have, in
this year Of jubilee, 1876, the distinguished
member from Maine raliing up again the en-
berS Of dead hates for some bad purpoSe-l
may rs well tell all think about it, laughter
"a bad, mischeyous, malicious purpose, which
will never elect him to the Presidency if he
lives thousand years. [Applause.l do
not ask anybody to applaud these sentiments.
They will speak for themselves without APP
plause But remember, and the gentleman
from Maine may recall the fact, when q mem
Der of this House, distinguished gentleman
from Pennsy lvania, now deceased, Judge Wood
ward, once sent to my desk to be read the one
hundred and twenty-sixth Psalm. think |
will read it for the benefit of the gentleman
1t was after c. rus had relieved the Hebrews
from captivity ThePSr-mist touched his harp
and broke forth in the lyric loftness Of gratu-
latou
|. When the Lord turned again the captivity
IF Zion Ivn yvpra ike thpm that dream
2. Then was our mouth filed with laughter,
and our tongue with singing then said they a
mong the heather, the Lord hath done great
things for them.
3. The Lord hath done great things for us 4;
thereof we are glad.
4. Turn again our captivity, o Lord, as the
streams in the south.
There is an annexation by DR.. Clarke to this
psalm which in connection with it may very
well be poudered. 1t recites that once when
the Roman general had overcome Philip of
Macedon aud conquered Greece, and had put
all the cities of Greece under taxation and ty-
ranny, there was gathering of the people in
the circus at the ISthmian games, and without
the previous knowledge Of any one except the
general in command of the city, the herald, as
he proclaimed the games, was authorized to
proclaim in behalf of the Roman Senate and
the general of the army to the citizens that
their taxes should remain forever abolished, and
that no record or rule should remain Of the
tyranny which had been exercised by the Ro-
mans over the Greeks All the people listen
cd as if it had been an illusion. They were in
a dream, like the Jews, when relieved from
captivity They turned one to another, and
said "What means this what did the her
aid say after he blew the trumpet? Have we
been given our liberty?" One said to the
other, Did you hear what was said?" And
they went to the herald, and cried, Repeat
to us what you have said; :" and he repeated it,
and their hearte were full of gladness. Says
Livy, They lifted up their hearts and rejoiced,
for the year of their deverance had come. -
1t was the year of Grecian jubilee. And now,
when our jubilee has come 10 this year Of 1876,
would like to have herald from Philadel-
phia, or from this Capital 10 sound the trum-
pet and proclaim deliveranee to the South from
Republican exactions, from bad rule, and the
establishment of autonomy all through the
South. Then a glorious blessed light coming
from above-the white radiance of eternity it.
shine upon architrave, pillar and
dome of the temple of our American freedom.
[ Applause.