The Portland daily press., 1879-03-11
Jefferson Davis.
What the Southern Senators Think of
Him,

The following extracts from the speeches of
Southern Senators on the amendment of Mr..
Hoar. excluding the name of jefferson Davis
from the pension-roll in case pensions should
be granted to the survivors of the Mexican war,
will be read with interest. We give them in
the order of their delivery. Mr.. Garland OF
Arkansas said:
So far as Mr.. Davis is concerned, do not
suppose be wants pension. do not suppose
he ever thought of it moment. AS ons VINO
served with him in civil capacity in the late
war, wish had the power and the authority
now, but have not, although know it would
accord with every impulse of is heart, to enter
here upon the record before the people Of the
country receipt in full to the Senator from
Massachusetts and all others who occupy the
same position toward that distinguished gen.
tieman. He would scorn it if rendered grndg-
ingly. He does not ask it, and ne would not
receive 1t unless given freely and in the spirit IL
IS bestowed upon others. He was q gallant
soldier in that war, HIS services are upon the
record of this country, and while they may not
surpass, yet they will equal in history all Gre
clan fame and all Roman glory.
Mr.. Maxey of Texas condensed his compli'
ment into a single sentence:
1 leave this question not here, but leave it
to the men who TO lowed the flag of the Union
in those wars. Let them say whether this
battle-scarred, knightly gentleman, who is
now totteriDg upon the brink of the grave,
whose white hair blossoms for the better land
which is soon to be his home, shall have this
stigma placed upon him.
Mr.. Lamar said among other things:
The senator, it pains me to say it, not only
introduced this amendment, but he coupled
that bonored name with treason; for, sir, be is
honored among the Southern people. BE did
onIy what they sought to do; he was simply
chosen to lead them in a cause which we all
cherished, and his name will continue to be
honorad for his participation in that great
movement which inspired an entire people, the
people who were animated by motives as sacred
and noble as ever inspired the breast of a
Hampden or a Washington. / say this as a
Union man to-day.
Mr.. Harris of Tennessee, who was governor
of that State while the rebellion was maturing,
said:
shall vote against the amendment, and am
resolved that Neither my vote nor my silence
shall ever cast q stigma upon the name OF JET.
ferson Davis. L have known him long, ard L
know him well, and take pleasure in saying
that, broken in health and fortune as he lie, In
all the elements of true manhood, taleI1t at
tainments and purity of personal character. ne
stands To-day, and proudly stands, the pSfr OF
any senator upon this floor.
Mr.. Gordon of Georgia took the proposition
as an affront to himself:
The Senator from Massachusetts, who has
offered this amendment excluding Mr.. Davis
from participation with all the other soldiers
who contributed blood or service TO give victory
to American arms in Mexico must have taxed
his ingenuity to place Southern men upon this
floor in an attitude most disagreeable. He
kuows full we'll that our self respect must OF
necessity rebel at the thought of such an
amendment. He knows full we'll that vote
by us to exclude Mr.. Davis is to place brand
upon those who fought or fell with Us in the
late war. He knows that whatever poison is
carried to the breast of Mr.. Davis by this Par
THAN arrow, sent back from recently defeated
Republican ranks, must of necessity find lodge
ment in the breast of every man at the South
whose sensibities are capable of q wound.
Mr.. Coke of Texas also put himself in the
same boat with Jefferson Davis:-
hold, Mr.. President, that Mr. Jefferson
Davis is no worse man than other gentlemen on
this floor; than the mass Of the Southern peo-
pie who selected him as their leader during
the great civil war. L hold that be is not more
guilty. no more criminal; that he is exactly
the same man morally that the great mass of
the men of the South are in this regard 1 am
neither ashamed nor afraid to record my vote
on, this amendment just as my heart and
Judgment dictate.