Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
The Jeff. Davis Debate.


IhtAsoN tuioGIED AND EFFECTUALLy RE
BUKED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE
The jeff. Davis debate in the Senate at
daybreak on the Monday morning preced-
ing the final adjournment was of such re-
markable character as to deserve more than
record is illumined by the patriotic utter
ances of several Republican Senators, no
tably of the venerable lack Chandler, who
electrified the Senate by his eloquent and
singing rebuke of treason.
Mr. IIoar's proviso excluding jefferson
Davis from securing pension under the
Shield amendment extending the pension
arrears bill to soldiers of the Mexican war
was under consideration.
Mr.. Iloar said that the name in his proviso had
not been singled ont by any selection OF his own
or OF any person who agreed with him politically
The name had been selected by Mr. Davis him
self, by his own act, in marked and conspicuous
character by an attack on the life OF the country
which educated him. That gentleman had never
given utterance to an expression OF regret for
such attack nor had he followed the example OF
so many Of his confederates by asking Congress
to remove his political disabilities. lie spurned
the clemency OF the Republic to-day. II was now
proposed to put the name OF this person, whose
treason had not been repented Of on the pension
rolls of the country and to tax the loyal widows
and orphans to pay the pension.
Mr. Garland (dem, Ark. } said he did not know
what motive the Senator from Massachusetts had
In introducing his amendment, but it was a Gu
rOns spectacle to exhibit to the American people
at this late hour Of the day, while the govern
ment pensions Longstreet by small post-ofiice in
Georgia, Republican administration sent Cover
nor Orr as Minister to Russia, and Mosby-who
boosted that he was the Marion In the second war
to China as Consul He felt satisfied that JEFF
ferson Davis would scorn pc sion; he did not
ask it. lie had served under Mr., Davis in a civil
capacity. Mr.. Davis was a gallant soldier in the
Mexican war His services were on record and
although they did not surpass they equaed those
Of Greece and Rome.
Mr.. Thurman said that the amendment asked
him to single out jefferson Davis for punishment
| when other men who went rs far as he did were
| not only not punished, but have been appointed
| to the highest stations in the government. In
| this connection he might mention the names Of
| Akerman, formerly United States Attorney Gen
| eral; the present Postmaster General Key; Gen
eral Iongstreet, postmaster at Gainsville Mosby,
of guerrilla fame--all and many others of the
same class who had been appointed by Republican
administrations. He saw on the bench, too, men
who were actually engaged in the confederate SER
| vice, who were just as guilty as jefferson Davis
| THE proposition before them came from the Sen.
ator of state (Massachusetts) whose treason had
| been more violent and longer than that OF any
| other state in the Union.
| Mr. Hoar said with regard to those who had
| been engaged in the Southern cause, and had
| been appointed to office, that they had acquesced
| in the results of the war, and the people of the
state he represented would always welcome
| those whose present controlling feeling was love
| of country.
| Mr. Lamar (dem., Miss said he must comics,
| his surprise and regret that the Senator from
| Massachusetts, should have wantonly, without
provocation, flung his insult.
| Mr.. Hoar (interrupting) said he wished to as
| sure the Senator that in offering his amendmen
| he did not place him in the same position as JET
| ferson Davis.
| Mr.. Lamar replied that the only difference be
| tween himself and Jefferson Davis was the latter
| exalted character, prominent talents and well es
| tablished reputation as n statesman and patrio
| and soldier. This character of Mr.. Davis cause,
| hi to be chosen leader of the Southern peop
| who enthusiastically followed him Not one Wort
has he uttered since the close Of the war iuconss
tent with the greatness and glory of the Republic
| The Senator could point to no utterance which ad
vised the people of the South to cherish animosit
or hostility to the Union nor did he cherish hos
| tty himself The name of Mr. Davis would al
ways be honored by the Southern people in com
pany with those of Hampton and Washington
To offer such an amendment required no courag
or magnanimity. 1t required no courtesy, bu
only bitter, malignant feeling and sense of pei
sonal mpunty. In conclusion he caused to b
| read letter of jefferson Davis to Representativ
Singleton, dated Mississippi City 1878, in whic
the writer said he wished his name to be no ba
to voting pensions 10 others than himself VIII
fought in the Mexican war.
Mr. Blaine (Rep., Me- abiding to the remark
of Mr.. Thurman, asked him who brought JEFF Ell
son Davis here tonight, and who brought hir
into Congress at different times. No Repubca
had made reference to him. The other side ha
vote or remain silent The Senator from Missi'
sippi said that jefferson Davis had never coui
selled instruction since the close OF the wa
Why not pension man who had shown sue
lenity, and that man was brought here as th
| compeer OF Hampton and Washington fightiD
in the same cause and going down together
posterty.
Mr. Lamar, in reply to Mr.. Blaine, said he ha
stated that his own position was that of all VII
had acquiesced in the results of the war
Mr.. Blaine inquired whether he understood IL
Senator to hold that the government and Repp|
lican party were intolerant to those in the Sout
who had taken part in the war.
Mr.. Lamar replied that he certainly though
that the government which emancipated the Sc
vile class of the South, and excluded the SoutheI
people from share in their own government WI
intolerant and ungenerous in putting them und'
the domination OF their former slaves.
Mr. Blaine said that the government never di
eliminated against more than fourteen thousar
persons in the South, and there was now scarce
a person there who was not relieved OF his poll
zeal disabilities. jefferson Davis was a candida
for the office of United States Senator and G
pec.ed to sit on the other side of the chambe
and next session the Senator from Ohio On
Thurman) would be exercising his eloquence
have Davis disabilities removed.
SPEECH OF SENATOR CHANDLER.
Mr., President: Twenty years ago, |, in compar
y with jefferson Davis, stood up in this chambe
and with him, swore by Almighty God that
would support the constitution OF the Unit,
States. Mr.. jefferson Davis came direct from d
Cabinet of Franklin Pierce into the Senate OF Il
| United States and took the oath with me, to
, faithful to the government During four yea
| sat in this body with jefferson Davis and sa
| the preparations going on from day to day for Z
! | overthrow of this government. With treason
his heart and perjury upon his lips he took q
oath to sustain the government that he meant
: overthrow. Sir, there was method in this ma
, | ness He in cooperation with other men from /
= section, and in the Cabinet OF Mr.. Buchanan, ma
. careful preparations for the event that was
!, follow. Your fleets were scattered wherever
| winds blew and water was found to float the
where they could not be used to put down
: bellion. Your armies were scattered all over Il
broad land, where they could not be used in
T emergency. Your treasury was depleted un
: your bonds bearing six per cent. interest, prin
pal and interest payable in coin, were sold
thirty eight cents on the dollar to pay current
= penses, and no buyers. Preparations were ca
fully made Your arms were sold under an q
e parently innocent clause in an army bill prov,
a. ing that the Secretary of War might, in his
| erection, sell such arms as he deemed best for I
l. interests Of the government to sell.
y Sir eighteen years ago last month sat in q
hall and listened to Jefferson Davis delivering
It farewell address-informing us what our cons
n tutional duties to this government were-and tn
he left and entered into rebellion to overthr
s. the government that he had sworn to support.
# remained here sir, during the whole of that
~ rbe rebellion. | saw our brave soldiers, by thu
e. sands, might almost say millions, they pass
q | through here TO the theatre OF war. saw Tn
shattered ranks returning saw steamboat al
re steamboat, and railroad train after railroad tr
20 bringing back the wounded ! was with
y friend from Rhode Island Mr.. Burnsdel when
s, commanded the army of the Potomac, and 4
In piles of legs and arms that made humanity sh
der. saw the widows and orphans made
0. this war and heard them wall and mourn o
the death of their dearest and best.
Mr.. President little thought at that time 9
&c should live to hear in the Senate OF the Uni
in States eulogies upon Jefferson Davis living
| living REBELLION the floor OF the Senate OF
NJ United States, Sir, am amazed To hear 1t, al
al can tell the gentlemen on the other side that u
little know the spirit of the North when u
II come here at this day with bravado on their j
NJ. uttering eulogies upon him whom every II
woman and child In the North believes TO h
IN been adouble-dyed traitor.
of
n The New RULER.-Yakoob Khan, v
he has duly become the new ruler of Afgh
I'd istan, finds things uncommonly lively TO
la, prince of his humble pretensions. Az
| L: n nr e.,