The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-03-11
CHANDLER.
A Defiant Utterance at the Right Time
and In the Right Way.
senator ChandIer's speech ON Jess-
erson Davis.
From the Cincinnati Gazette.

|
erson Davis.
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
WASHINGTON, March 3.-The debate
in the Senate on the amendment ol
Senator Hoar to exclude Jefferson
Davis from the benefits Of the arrears
OF pensions bill, which began at
o'clock this morning. was not conclud.
ed until broad daylight. The exciting
character of the discussion may be i'm.
| agined, when ID is stated that nearly
every Senator remained in his seat
throughout its duration, while very
few of the spectators in the galleries at
time of its commencement left until its
conclusion. IL was unquestionably
one OF the most animated and vehem-
ent political debates that has occurred
in the Senate in many years. The ar
gument used by the Democrats in de-
tense o. Jefferson Davis was that he
had but obeyed the summons of the
southern people TO lead them in their
attempt to overthrow, and that he was
no more guilty OF treason, and no more
deserving Of the stigma sought to be
placed upon HIM by Mr.. Hoar's amend
ment than any of those Southern Sen
ators who had participated in the re-
bellion. Mr.. Lamar went still further
but laudedj Davis TO the skies, and in
an eloquent strain referred to Davis
exaulted character, brilliant talents,
aud we'll established reputation as n
statesman, patriot and soldier. The
speaker, in the highth OF his enthus-
iastic admiration for the ex-Confeder-
ate chieftain, declared that DAVIS was
n worthy disciple of Washington, and
that posterity would not fail to place
both names side by side. This was
more than Senator Zach. Chandler
could bear, and in an outburst of i'm
passioned oratory which greatly sur
prised his closest friends. who had no
idea that the veteran .stalwart could
speak so well, said:
Mr.. PREsIDEsT,-Twenty-two years
ago tomorrow, in the old hall of the
Senate, now occupied by the Supreme
Court of the United States, /, in COM
pany with Jefferson Davis, stood up
and swore before Almighty God that /
would support the Constitution of the
United States. Jefferson Davis come
from the Cabinet of Franklin Pierce in
to the Senate OF the United States and
took the oath with me TO be faithful to
this Government. During four years /
sat in this BODY with Jefferson Davis,
and saw preparations going on from
day TO day for the overthrow of the
Government. With treason in his heart
and perjury on his lips he took the
oath TO sustain the Government that he
30 Aunrfhrnur Cir tharA
method in that madness. He, in CO.
operation with other men from his sec
tion, and in the Cabinet Of Buchanan,
made careful preparation for the event
that was TO follow. Your armies were
scattered all over this broad land,
where they could not be used in an
emergency. Your fleets we're scattered
wherever the winds blew and water was
found TO float them, where they could
not be used TO put down the rebellion.
Your treasury was depleted until your
bonds bearing six per cent, principal
and interest payable in coin, were sold
for SS cents on the dollar for current
expenses, and with no buyers. The
preparations were carefully made
Your arms were sold under an appar-
tnl luuONGht NAhhbG III III
providing that the Secretary of War
might, at his discretion, sell such arms
as he deemed il for the interest OF the
Government 10 sell.
Sir, Is years ago last month sat in
these halls and listened to Jefferson
Davis deliver his farewell address, in
forming us what our constitutional
duties to this Government were. Then
he left aud entered into a rebellion to
overthrow the Government that he had
sworn TO support. i remained here,
Sir, during the whole Of that terrible
rebellion. / saw our brave soldiers, by
thousands and hundreds OF thousands,
aye. might say millions, pass through
to the theatre Of war, and i saw their
shattered ranks return. / saw steam
boat after steamboat and railroad train
after railroad train arrive with wound
ed. I was with my friend from Rhode
Island (Burnside) when he commanded
the army Of the Potomac, and saw piles
OF legs and arms that made humanity
shudder. / saw the widow and orphan
in their homes, and heard the weeping
and wailing of those who had lost :heir
dearest and their best. Mr.. President
/ little thought, at that time, that /
should live to hear in the Senate OF the
United States eulogies upon Jefferson
Davis living-a living rebel eulogized
on the floor OF the Senate of the United
States. Sir, / am amazed to hear il,
and j can tell the gentlemen on the
other side that they little know the
spirit Of the north when they come
here at this day, and with bravado on
their lips utter eulogies on a man
whom every man, woman and child in
the north believes to have been
double dyed traitor TO his Government.
Applause in the galleries.
The presiding officer Mr.. Mitchell in
the chsir)-Order must be preserved in
the galleries.
Mr.. Morgan-If the Senator, or any
other man in the United States be-
lieved that, why did they not proceed
to try him; and, / ask, who went on
on his bond when he was released from
prison?
Mr.. Chandler The Democratic can
didate for the Presidency, / believe,
went on his bond.
This was the speech OF the debate.
Strong as the text may appear the
vigor. earnestness aud boldness that
attended its delivery enhanced it's effect
ten-fold, The Democrats were COM
pletely unprepared for such utterances.
They have been so unaccustomed TO
such speeches for the past three or
four years that they hardly expected to
hear the like again, especially on the
very eve Of their again resumlng con-
troll OF the Senate.
Mr.. Chandler sat down, looking de-
family toward the Democratic side OF
the Chamber, and evidently anxious
that some OF them would come forward
TO reply, but there was no answer. The
Democrats remained quietly seated
and stared at one another, none being
willing TO cope with the Michigander.
Even the loud applause that greeted
Mr.. Chandler's conclusion did not
arouse them TO action, and after wait
ing few moments for some demon
stration by the Democrats, be arose 10
receive the hearty congratulations OF
his Republican brethren.
THE SENATE DEBATE.
The debate in the Senate early this
morning has had its effect, and there is
a bitter political feeling which may
stand in the way OF an agreement on
political legislation in appropriation
bills. The Republican Senators regret
that Senator Hoar brought in the
.oxo.a ~ Iaff Davia hnt aa long "a IN