West-Jersey pioneer., 1879-03-13
OLD ZACH'S REPLY.

A effort was made by the Democratic
members of the U. s. Senate. during the
last night session of the late Congress, to
pension JEFF Davis, who was soldier in
the Mexican war. Messrs. Thurman, La
mar, Garland, and other Southern Senators
eulogized Davis as one of the greatest men
the country had ever produced, and COM
pared him to Washington. These eulogisms
aroused the Republicans as the following
will show:
"Who," asked Senator Blaine, drought
Jefferson Davis here tonight ?" 'This
mans name is never heard in Congress, !"
said he, "except when some favor is to be
asked for him. Who asks pension for
Jefferson Davis now? No Republican has
brought him here. The Senate has been
told that Jefferson Davis had never since
the war oounselled insurrection. How
grateful, he continued sarcastically, fought
the country to be for such leniency. Not
counselled insurrection land for this are
we asked to grant him pension p
Mr.. Blaine extorted a most reluctant con-
fession from Senator Lamar that the Gov
the rebellion, had been most lenient in it's
treatment to those who had sought to de-
stroy it.
No single event of the night, however,
could compare in absorbing interest with
the ten-minutes speech made by Senator
Chandler at quarter to o'clock. The
hour and the events which Immediately
preceded 1.-THE man and the prominent
part he had played in the most stirring epi-
sodes in our National history-served to
give to the words he uttered significance
out of all comparison with the ordinary
course of political debate. He said.
Mr. PRESIDENT: Twenty years ago, I, in
company with Mr.. Jefferson Davis, stood
up in this chamber, and with him swore by
Almighty God that l would support the
son Davis came from the Cabinet of Frank
lin Pierce into 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 the preparations going on from
day to day for the overthrow of this Gov
ernment. With treason in his heart and
perjury upon his lips, he took the oath to
sustain the Government that he meant to
overthrow.
Sir, there was method in this madness.
He in cooperation with other men from his
section and in the Cabinet of MIR. 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
were scattered wherever the winds blew
and water was found to float them, where
they could not be used to put down rebel
lion. Your treasury was depleted until
your bonds bearing per cent interest, pay
able in coin, were sold for So cents on the
dollar for current expenses and no buyers
were found. Preparations were carefully
made. Your arms were sold under an ap-
parently innocent clause in an army bill
providing that the Secretary of War might
in his discretion sell such arms as he deem
ed fit for the Government to sell.
Sir, eighteen years ago last month I sat
in this hall and listened to Jefferson Davis
delivering his farewell address, informing
us what our constitutional duties to this
Government were, and then he left and en-
tered into a rebellion to overthrow the Gov
ernment that he had sworn to serve.
remained here, sir, during the whole of
that terrible rebellion. l saw our brave SOL
diers by thousands-I might almost say
milions-as they passed on to the theatre
of the war. l saw their shattered ranks re.
turning. saw steamboat after steamboat
and railroad train after railroad train bring
ing back the wounded. 1 was with my
friend (pointing to General Burnside) when
be commanded the Army of the Potomac,
and saw piles of legs and arms that would
make humanity shudder. saw the widows
and orphans made by this war.
Mr.. President, little thought at that
time that should live to hear in the Senate
Of the United States eulogies upon Jeffer-
son Davis living-a living rebel-on the
floor of the Senate of the United States.
Sir, am amazed to hear it, and I can tell
The gentlemen on the other side that they
little know the spirit of the North when
5hsy come here at this day with bravado on
their lips. uttering eulogies upon him whom
every man, woman and child in the North
believes to have been double-dyed traitor.
No man ventured to interrupt ; none felt |
nsulted. 1t was simply crushing.