New-York tribune., 1879-03-04
ZACH CHANDLER IN REPLY TO LAMAR.


ZACH CHANDLER IN REPLY TO LAMAR.
A CRUSHING SPEECH IN ANSWER TO TUE EULoGIEs
UPON JEFFERSON DAvIs-FoUR HOURS OF
TnRI0NG EPISODE.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TEIBUNE1
WASHINGTON, March 3.-Old frcquenters OF the
Senate gallery are unanimous in the opinion that
the session of last night. or rather of this morning
was the most remarkable one which has occurred
since the days Immediately before the Rebellion.
The hours between midnight and in the morning
were crammcd full of the most thrilling episodes to
which no synopsis and no pen description .can do
justice.
The much considered Arrears Of Pensions Appro-
priation bill had come back for reconsideration,
and seemed on the point of being rcGnacted III the
same objectionable form as before when Mr.. lloar
submitted an amendment to the Mexican war clause
prohibiting the payment of pension to Jefferson
Davis. In the opinion of most observers and indeed,
Of many of his party associates TINS movement
seemed ill-tmcd and nCalled for. The senator was
left quite alone for more than an hour to defend his
measure against the bitter and offensive assaults
from the rebel side of tine chamber. This he proved
we'll able to do however, He maintained hl3 tem-
per under the most provoking taunts while hls or
poncntsl lashed themselves into whitehead passion
over what they termed an outrage against the dear
est sentiments of large and honorable portion Of
tins now united people.
Senator Lamar was especially personal ard
offensive in his remarks, and seemed completely
carried away with rage He shook his fist at the
Senator from Massachusetts, whose act ho char
acterizcd as a wanton insult. He was called TO
order by the chair, then occupied by Senator
Edmunds, and in words and manner bade
it defiance. He was commanded thcrcupon to
take his seat while the ruling OF the char
was LAID before the Senate. During the roll call the
hot tc,npcrs cooled of and as several Republicans
did not vote, the ruling Of the chair was reversed
and the remarkable fact placed officially upon
record that the Senate of the United States con-
siders a motion to except Jefferson Davis from tho
provisions of general pension q" wanton insult
TO the supporters of the late COnfederacy.
The debate ran on for an hour, the Democrats
denouncing the attempt (as they called III to revive
the spirit of sectionalism out Of which so many
disasters had already grown. The most glowing
eulogcs were paid to the leader of the lost cause,
whose glory il was said exceeded that of Greece,
and whose honOrs OvertOpped those OF Rome; he
had not asked for n pension; be would scorn
pension; his name was the synonym of all that was
honorable and chivaTic, and he was enshnned III
the hearts of the Southern people as worthy to go
down i'll history with 4 Washington and a Hamp-
ION. His sins. it was said with apparent pride,
shared by many now filling seats on the floor of the
Senate.
To all this Senator Ioar replied quietly, and with
the utmost self-command, that Mr.. Davis had
never bv word or act manifested his repentance for
his part in the rebellion as had the Senators who
had shared with HIM in the acts of rebellion. He
had never sought to he rcinstated in his citizenship.
and il was inconsistency on the part of the Gov
ernment he had tried to destroy. to be thrusting
this honor upon HIM while yet to all appearance lie
maintained the attitude OF rebellion.
Other Republicans were at last aroused, and short
work was made of the inc-spun nonsense by which
il was sought make acts of treason appear glorious
and TO cast blame upon Republicans for their alleged
attempts to bring out ill-foeling between the sec
tIOns.
"Who." asked Senator Blaine. drought Jeffer-
son Davis here tonight p "This mans name is
never heard in Congress-" said he, except when
some favor is TO be asked for him. Who asks pen
sion for jefferson Davis now No Republican has
brourht him here The Senate has been told that
jefferson Davis had never since the war cOunscllcd
1nsurrection. How grSteful,' lie continued sarcas-
tically fought the country to be for such leniency
Not c0unsclled nsurrectiOn and for this are We!
asked to grant him pension"
Mr. Blaine extOrted a reluctant confession from
Senator Lamar that the Government, under Rcpnb-
lican control since the rebellion, had been most
cnient in its treatment Of those who had sought to
destroy II.
No single event of the night however could COM
parc i'm absorbing interest with the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
made by Senator Chandler at quarter TO 3 o'clock
The hour and the events which Immediately pre-
ccdcd 1.-THE man and the prominent part he had
naycd i'm the most stirring episodes in Our National
mstoTv-Seryed to give 10 the words be uttered
slgni irance ont of all comparison with the ordinary
c,alIse of political debate. Hc SAID:
Mr.. PREsDENI: twenty years ago. !, in company
with Mr. jefferson DAYS. stood np IN lihs cbalnbtf,
support Constitution OF the Uned states Jefferson
Davis came from the Cabinet of Franklin Pierce into
,he h Se1S'e oath With T G me To be faithful to is
Government. During four years sat in this body with
daV 10 DAY FOR the overthrow OF this Government With
treason ms heart aud perjury upon ms Is he TOOK
s,r there was method in n, madness. He in coGpera
Cabinet Of Mr buchanan made careful plepala-
ton for the event that was TO follow Your
where they could not be used IN an emergency.
Your fleets were scattered wherever The WINDS blow
and water was found 10 float them, where they could
net be used 10 put down a rebellion. Your
Treasury was depleted until your bonds bear
sold for ~ cents on the dollar for current
expenses and no buyers were found 1 % were
reDty innocent clause IN nm army 9l pfoSidihg thG
arms as he deemed fit for the Government to sell.
SIR eighteen year ago last month sat in this han and
listened TO Jefferson Davis delivering his farewell ad
dress informing what our constitutional duties 70
this Government were aud then Inc left and entered INTO
a rebellion overthrow the Government that he mad
/ Iremaned here sir during the whole OF that ter
r;be rebellion saw our brave soldiers bv thOussnds
Nigh. almost miiiOns-as they passed on 10 the
theatre of the war saw their shattered ranks
ing. Isaw steamboat after steamboat nndraroad train
after railroad train bringing back the wounded. /
was with my friend Wontmg to General BnInsdel
when he commanded the Army OF the Potomac, and saw
piles OF legs and arms that would make humanity