Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1876-01-31

credit as a man in his command. and
who ever was a prisoner in the hands Of
the Union forces. who viii say that he
ever was cruelty treated, and that be
ever was deprived Of same ratiOns which
the Union soldiers had. or the same
food.
Mr.. Cook. Of Georgia-ThOusands Of
them.
Mr.. Blaine-Well. | take issue on
that. and say that not one can truth
fully SO state. As for measures Of re-
taliatiOn, though goaded by this terrific
treatment Of our friends in prison by
Mr.. Davis. the Senate Of the United
States especially refused to pass resO-
luton Of retaliation as contrary to mod
ern civilization aud to the first precepts
of Christianity. There was no retalia-
ton attempted or justified. 1t was re-
fused and jefferson Davis knew it was
refused, Just as we'll as be knows it to-
day. because what took place in Wash
ingtOn or what took place in Richmond
Of that kind was known on either side
within day or two after.
Now this is not proposition to pub
/ hSh Mr.. Davis. There is nothing at
tempting to do that | very frankly
say that always thought that the in
dietment of Mr.. Davis at Richmond IN
der the administration of Mr.. johnson
was weak step, for he was indicted
only for that for which he was guilty
in common with every other gentleman
who went into the Confederate move
ment. and therefore there was no partie-
ular reason for singing him out for in
dietment. But I will undertake to say
this. and with good deliberation, that
there is not civilized government on
the face of the globe-very certainly
not an European goyernment-which
would not have arrested Mr.. Davis, OF
which when it had him in its power
would not have tried him for maltreat-
ment of prisoners of war and shot hin
within thirty days. France, Russia
England. Germany. Austria, any o.
them would have done it. The pOOl
victim Wirz. deserved his death for the
brutal treatment of prisoners, but | al
ways thought it was weak movement
on the part Of the Government to allow
Jefferson Davis to 20 at large and hans
Wirz- Wirz was nothing in the wOrlc
but mere subordinate tool, and there
fore no philosophy in selecting him 70
J punishment. Still. do not say tha
he did not deserve it, and he deserves
, no mercy. But at the same time hi
execution pat me in mind of skippin
, the President, Superintendent. an
Board Of Directors of Railroad compa
/ ny in case of an accident, and hangin
: the breakman on the rear. Laughter.
. There is no proposition here to puI
: ISL Mr.. Davis. Nobody is asking to d
; it. The time for such thing has gon
by. The statute of limitation and Ii
{ common feeling of humanity would il
5 teryene for his benefit; but what 70
: ask Us to do is to declare fer a vote {
q two-thirds of both branches of Congress
e solemnly. that we consider Mr.. Day
= worthy to fill the highest Offices in Il
!. United States, if he can get constitl
It ency to trust him. He is a voter;
l. can buy and he can sell he can 90 an
d come he is as free as any man in Il
d United States There is long list
v subordinate Offices to which he is elig
re bic ; but this proposes, in view of Il
IS record which l have read, to declare |
re a twO-thirds vote of the Senate and
to two-thirds vote of the House, Mr.. d
Is Wis eligible and worthy to I'll any Off
at up to the Presidency of the Unit
y. States For one. Oh ful celebration,
ed will not do it.
b. 1t has been frequently said in nj
70. CATION Of Mr.. Davis action in the Al
tie nesty matter, that the men who died
lie. such large numbers (the victims, l |
d lieye, number 10000 fell victims to
be epidemic and died of diseases Viii
1t could not be avoided Now, the reco
w. shows that out of $4,000 men abe
h thirty-thee per cent die1-that is, Q
en- in three OF the soldiers who were
. camped within half mile Of the stoC
BE- ade, and who guarded it, but one m
in four hundred died. Now, as to 2,
s., eral amnesty, it is too late to debate
his Whether it has, in all respects. b
en-. wise or unwise. | shall not detain
he House by discussing. Even if l
be convictions on that question, | do
ida know that it would be productive of 3
if great good to discuss it But, at
ev- same time, it was very singular 50
Da- tacle that the Republican party, in !
Of session Of the entire government, de-
tn erately called back into public POI
hat the leading men Of the South, eY
not one Of whom turns out its bitter. reIs
= less, and malignant foe and that
any day. from the Potomac to the Bio Ora
an the very men who have received I