The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-01-24

The Amnesty BiTl-A Plea Of nm Ex-
limited States Senator for Jefferson
Davis. ...
In conversation with a reporter OF the
Commercial q day or two since on the SUBJ
iect of the amnesty bill the Hon. George T..
Puph expressed himself in this WISE
81 think it would be very uuSracetul-a
very disgraceful ac.-.o except Jefferson
Davis from the bill Of amnesty. According
to the law of nations in Vattel and Judge
Storey amnesty follows, Of course, upon the
conclusion Of an internal war. Mr.. Davis,
not to give him any higher title, has occu-
MED many of The most eminent stations IN
this country, and in the eyes Of the world.
He is man of perfectly pure character, re-
spec,ful in his behavior, irasclbte 10 temper,
but kind to those who know how to deal
with him. He IS a man Of religious Senti-
ment, strictly deyout according to the faith
of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
Reporter: Was not Mr.. DAVIS early in the
field as a sCceSSionst: ..........
Mr. Pugh: He was not Of his own opinion
in favor of secession. He believed in the
right of it. So did J, and SO do l now, not
as right stated in the Constitution, but re-
served. And it is not new claim. In the
first legal discussion Of the forms OF the
Constitution Of the United States By Will
liam Rawle, Of Philadelphia, it was distinctly
asserted. 1t was asserted by the State OF
New York at the time Of her ratlhcatio OF
the Constitution. 1t was stated by John
Quincy Adams in his speech on the com.
memoration Of the ratification of the Consti-
tuition. 1t was stated by Virginia at the
time when she by small majority accepted
the Constitution. 1t was asserted by the
n ohr- OF 10 mo nf ~
neyation of Texas. 1t has been asserted by
every convention Of the Democratic party
down to the year 1872. and it was never de-
MED but often asserted by the conventions
of the Wing party.
Mr.. Pugh alluded to the great debate be-
tween Webster and Hayne, and remarked
that when Webster, year la.er. engaged in
q debate with Calhoun, successor of Haync,
Webster was cut into mince. meat. Calhoun
was the Vice. President at the time Of the
first argument, but he resigned his office.
Haynes father was seized by the British
and hanged as rebel during the war Of the
Revolution, and that circumstance gave the
family importance in South Carolina. 1t
was the Influence of his name and family
which put him in the Senate. TO get rid OF
him they put somebody to fight Webster
Calhoun was the mainland he resigned the
vice. presidency for that purpose. Hayne
was elected Governor Of South Carolina,
aud that vacated his senatorship. The Sc
cond deb2 te WAS perfectly cruel. Calhoun
broke every bone in WebStel's body. OF
the resolutions which be proposed, every
one was passed in The Senate by majority
of more than two thirds. l know 1t TO my
cost, for voted for every one Of them when
they were proposed again by Jefferson Da'
yis except the modification, or addition
rsther, in respect to one, and 10 RESOLUTION
not included BY Mr.. Calhoun, and they
Lsssed the Senate.
rrhe reporter referred to the structures Of
Journalists and others on jefferson Dayis.l
MIR. Pugh replied 1t is simply idle for
gentlemen to put on vast robes OF pety and
integrity, and to deny that which they know
themselves to be guilty of. IF guilty it is,
let Us all say it. Those who think otherwise
at present ought to confess their sins and
make an exhibition OF penance. For myself.
/ am not convinced, and remain of my opin'
ion. The right of every State 10 Secede is
not queDched by her lack of power, bat re-
mains, and will forever remain, the right OF
her people. Why, what are those p'or PEG
pie to do in the Danubian provinces Robe
sphere, Danton, st. Just, and others re-
served the sacred right of insurrection,
which it would be very we'll now for the
tsx. payers of Cincinnati to assert, and I
think We are in the place where we need it.
Reporter: The fact that Davis was not one
of the earliest advocates of secession will be
new to great many.
Mr.. Pugh: Well, Mr.. Davis, to my per-
sonal knowledge, was not in favor OF seces-
sion at the time at which it occurred. He
was so situated, however. By his relations to
the crisis of the year 1860, that he had to
follow the lead of those who had been bis
opposers. Indeed, it was singular spectacle
that Robert ToombS, senator from Georgia,
who bad been Union man (so.called) in
1850, led the column Of secession in 1860,
whereas Herschel V. Johnson, who had
been seeessionist in 1850, allowed himself
to be proposed and did serve as q candi.
date for the vice-presidency under the
lead of Stephen A. Douglass. believe if
Davis had been left to his OWL judg.
ment the southern States would not have Sc
eeded. found that opinion not merely on
bis public speeches, as reported at the time
dn the Congressional Globe and made else
where than in Washington, but on my per-
sonal acquaintance. The Hon. Mr.. Blame,
Of the State Of Maiue, having been Speaker
of the House of Representatives, and pro-
posing himself as candidate for the pres
degcy OF the United States, besides bis ex.
IRENE folly of intending 10 insert into the
Constitution d propositions concerning the
education Of children question with re-
speet TO which the Government of the United
STATES has no possible or decent jurisdiction
now proposes to except Jefferson Davis from
the act of universal amnesty.
4
Reporter: What do you suppose the effect
Of such proposition would be if adopted ? |
Mr.. Pugb: 10 exit Jefferson Davis 10 the
highest point of admiration throughout the
,iviffzsd world. u the proposition should
'revail he will be represented as oppressed,
nd Ia his person all The oppressed through,
NC the world will appear by statues, by pic
uress, by poetry, epic and heroic, TO the dis.
race of our country. Ispeak for our toun.
~, netmefely for Je ferson Davis. We can.
OF afford to disgrace ourselves in that fash.
IN.
4