The Portland daily press., 1879-11-07
Senator Chandler's Noted Speech

Senator Chandler's Noted Speech
The last notable effort of Senator Chandler
was made late at night on the Sd of March,
when the Senate was considering the amend
ment of Senator Hoar excluding Jefferson Da-
Wis from the benefits of the provisions of the
Mexican war pension bill. Senator Lamar had
made fiery speech declaring that secession
was iustifiable and that Jefferson Davis was
not traitor, but noble and high-minded
man. Other Democratic Senators, including
Mr. Thurman, had apologized for Or defended
the secession movement. At.this iuncture in
the debate Mr.. Chandler took the floor and
ended it by the following crushing and wither-
ing speech:
Mr.. President: Twenty-Five years ago to-
morrow, in the old hall of the Senate, now oc-
cupied by the Supreme Court of the United
States, /, in company with Mr.. Jefferson Da-
Wis, stood up and swore before Almighty God
that would support the constitution of the
United States, and he took the oath with me
to be faithful to this Government. During
four years l sat in this body with Mr. Jefferson
Davis, and saw the preparations going on from
day to day for the overthrow of this Govern
ment. With treason in his heart and perjury
upon his lips he took the oath to sustain the
Government that he he meant to overthrow.
this broad land, where they could not be used
in an emergency; your fleets were scattered
wherever the winds blew and waters were
found to float them; where they could not be
used to put down rebellion; your treasury was
depleted until your bonds bearing per cent,
principal and interest payable in coin, were
sold at lightweight cents on the dollar for cur
rent expenses and no buyers. Preparations
were carefully made. Your arms were sold
under an apparently innocent clause in an ar
-o--idi iyof hot apu of
might, at his discretion, sell such arms as he
deemed it for the interest of the Government
to sell.
Sir, eighteen years ago last month l sat in
these halls and listened 10 Jefferson Davis de-
livering his farewell address, informing us
what our constitutional duties to this Govern
ment were, and then he left and entered into
the rebellion to overthrow tho Government
that he had sworn to support! | remained
here, sir, during the whole of that terrible re-
bellionl saw our brave soldiers by thousands
and hundreds of thousands-aye, might say
millons-pass through to the theatre of war,
and | saw their shattered ranks return. | saw
steamboat after steamboat and railroad train
after railroad train arrive with MANNED and
wounded. was with my friend from Rhode
Island, Mr.. 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 i'll their homes and
heard the weeping and wailing of those who
had lost their dearest and their best. Mr..
President little thought, at that time that
should live to hear in the Senate of the United
States culogies upon jefferson Davis, living-a
living rebel eulogized on the lioor of the SEN
ate of the United Statesl Sir, am amazed to
hear it; and 1 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
upon a man whom every man, woman and
child in the North believes to have been
double-dyed traitor to his Government