The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-03-08
THE UNITED STATES SENATE
AND JEFFERSON DAVIS.
A LIVELY DEBA tn.

Senator Hoar offered an amend
meut to the effect that no pen
sion shall ever be paid under this act
to Jefferson Davis, late president oil
the so-called southern confederacy.
Senator Hoar said the name in his
proyiso had not been singled out by
any selection of his own or from any
person who agreed with him politically,
The name had been selected by Mr..
Davis himself, by his own act in a
marked and conspicuous character, by
an attack on the life of a 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
associates by asking congress to re-
move his political disabilities he
spurned the cfemency of the republic
to-day, and it was now proposed to put
the name of this person, whose treason
had not been repented Of on the pen
sion rolls Of the country, and to tax
loyal widows and orphans to pay the
pension.
Senator Garland said he did not
know what motive the senator from
Massachusetts had in introducing his
amendment, but it was curious spec
tacle to exhibit to the American people
at this late hour of the day, while the
government pensions Longstreet by q
small postoffice in Georgia: q Republi-
can administration sent Gov. Orr as
minister to Russia, and Mosby, who
boosted that he was q Marion in the
second war, to China as consul. He
felt satisfied that Jefferson Davis would
scorn O pension, and that gentleman
did not ask it. He had served under
Mr.. Davis in civil capacity Mr..
Davis was gallant soldier in the Mexi-
can war; his services were on record,
and although they did not surpass they
equalled those Of Greece and Rome.
Senator Shields took q different
view from both sides; he thought that
by singing out Jefferson Davis from
ten million of people in the South,
was giving him q distinction greater
than he deserved
Senator Bailey said the country was
to-day longing and asking for peace,
and he appealed to the senators on the
other side to do nothing to prevent 1t.
The people of the South having lost all
in the war were poor, and they desired
to restore their industries.
Senator Maxey briefly spoke of ser
vices rendered by Mr.. Davis in the
Mexican war, and said he would leave
it for those who fought with him to
pass judgement on the amendment of
Al r,,a,,,
Senator Thurman said that the
amendment asked him to single ont
Jefferson Davis for punishment when
other men who went as far as he did !
were not only not punished but have
been appointed to the highest stations in
the government, and in this connec-
ton he mentioned the names of Aker-
man, formerly United States attorney
general, the present postmaster general .
Key, Gen. Lonstreet, postmaster at
Gainesville, Ala, and Mosby of
geurilIa fame, all and many others of
the same class, being appointed by
Republican administration. He said
there were on the bench two men who
were actively engaged in the Confeder-
ate service, and who were just as guilty
as Jefferson Davis; the proposition
before them came from the senator Of
the State of Massachusetts,, whose
treason had been more violent and lon
ger than that of any other State in the
Union. Senator Thurman said he did
not want to pick out Jefferson Davis
as a martyr, when all others who had
acted with him, walked the earth I'M
challenged.
Senator Lamar, replying to Senator .
Hoar, said he must confess his surprise
and regret that the senator from Mas 2
sachusetts should have wantonly and
without provocation flung this insult
Chairman Edmunds called the sena- .
torto order for this language.
Mr.. Lamar. suppose it is in order .
to fling insults but out of order for
those who are insulted to hurl back o
the blow; L appeal from the decision
Of the chair. o.
The question being taken, the decis-
on of the chair was oyerulad; yeas, -
5 ; nays, 27, -
Senator Lamar proceeded, eulogising .
Davis and protesting against attempts :
o single him out for obliquy from the
,ody Of the Southern people who had 2
chosen him for their leader in a cause
lear alike to him and all his followers. 2
The debate was continued by Blaine,
1oar, Lamar, and others. 2
Senator Chandler said that eighteen
ears ago he and Jefferson Davis came 9
nto the senate together, and both at
he same time swore to support the l
constitution of the United States. .
Davis had come from Pearce's cabinet
nd when he took the oath there was
reason in his heart and perjury on his .
Ups I; he took the oath to support the
government he meant to overthrow;
e (Chandler) considering the conduct
i Davis during the war, did not expect =
o hear eulogies on Jefferson Davis on
he floor of the senate he was surpris- 2
d to hear them, especially as every
nan, woman and child in the North 2
believed Jefferson Davis to be double
lyed traitor
Senator Coke said that Mr.. Davis was .
lot worse than he was, and very many
'thers of the Southern people who Sc
ected him as their leader. He was
lot ashamed to vote for Davis any
more than he was to vote for any other 2
nan, or any other subject 81 was"
aid he ''as much of rebel as Jefferson 2
Davis"
After further discussion, in which 2
dessrs. Gordon, Window, Ransom
nd others participated, and the last
named saying that the Mexican vote
ans amendment was voted in with OF
he aid of eight republican votes and II
h at the bill was passed with four .,
cen republicans voting for it, and :,
mt for the republicans he wanted it to u
'e understood, the bill would now be "
he law of tln land