, 1879-03-10
THURMAN AND JEFF DAVIS,


THURMAN AND JEFF DAVIS.
Tho speeches brought out by HoAn's
amendment to except JErr DAv1s from the
benefits Of tho Mexican Pension net havo
naturally attracted moro than usunl ntten-
Hon. Senator LAMAR delivered himself Of
eulogy go extravngant in terms as to occasion
surprise, and Zach CHANDLER evincod q
power Of oratory in recalling tho scenes of
tho War, and DAVIS part therein, Of which
most people would not hayo believed him
capable. It is said that the Democrats who
spoke in bohalf Of DAVIS havo modified
their expressions as they aro to appear in
tho Record, aud this indicates IN appr ohon-
sion that They havo mado mistake. THUR
NAN will probably find ho erred whom ho
spoke as follows:
"btH. PRESIDENT: l hnvo already stated that I
am Instructed by my Legislature to support tho
granting pensions to soldiers OF tho Mexican War.
do mot read anywhere in those Instructions that
am to except Mr. JErFEnsox DAVIS, nor do SEQ
In their spirit TINT it Is the opinion Of tho General
Assembly Of tho State Of Ohio that puntshment Of
the people Of tho South ought to bc vtcar1ons Of
JEErENsoa DAVIS, aua do not anywhere SEQ in
those instructions that 1t Ia The dcsIre Of tho people
or Ohio to single out JEFFERSON DAVIS and rnaka
him martyr. while other mon, who went quite a.
far as he did, aro not only not punished but aro
cciyed into tho highest stations in tbls GoYcrn-
mont; and not tho least bit afraid Of the yor-
dict Of tho people Of my State upon this subject,
tnor Of the pcop!o Of tho nineteen other Btatea
J whose Legislatures have passed resolutions In IN.
yor Of thcse pensions"
Tho attitude Which DAVIS occupies ia not
accurately stated by THURMAN. It is truo
that nobody desires to single out DAVIS per-
eonallylfor n,artyrdom, nor for punishment
disproportionate to that moted out to otherg
who partook in the Rebellion. Nevorthe-
lesa THURMAN misapprohonds tho sentiment
Of tho North Il he imagines that It will be
popular thing to admit JEFF DAVIS to any
special benefits at tho hands Of tho Govern-
ment. Politically ho was ono Of the yilcst
of oil tho traitors, ind bocame tho chief OF
tho Robol Government, and personally he
remains obstinately unrepontant and glorles
In 1t. ANY service which JEpR DAVIS may
lavo rendered his country In tho Mexican
War was o1pungod by hia subsequent be-
trayal Of tho Government Tho Northern
people hayo 80 fur forgotten tho rancor Of
tho War TINT they aro willing to let JErY
DAVIS 60 in pence rs other ex-Rebela 60; but,
so long ns ho makaa an ostontatious e1hibi-
tion Of his continued hostility to the Govorn-
mont, thoro is no desire to ponsion him, or
to romove bis disabilities 80 that he may On.
tor tho Senate md live upon Government
pay in TINT why. Tho anxiety Of tho South
ern people to got 0 recognition Of DAVE from
tho Government ia not due to any foellng Of
affection or respect for DAVIS himself, but in
order that, by such recognition, they may
complete their reassortion Of dominion over
tho people Of tho North;, nothing would be
! so typical Of tho accomplishment of their
purpose rs to have JEFF DAVIS, tho ex-preal-
don't Of the confoderaoy, resume place in
tho 6onata in spite Of the oath le had
brokon, and thon detond tho doctrine Of TO-
ceaRion and excuse the horrors Of Andorson-
vile. In thus restoring tho chief of
tho Rebellion 10 the honors and
omo1unents Of tho Government he
sought to break down, there would DO
almost an approval Of the Rebellion, and Ger.
tainly au encouragement for mon of similas
ambition III the future. It would be saori-
foo Of principle, sef-reapect. and good pol
Icy to thus surrender to JEFF DAVIS while la
romains In an irraconcilab'o and defiant atti.
tuds. Democrats loyal to the Government
aro 10 moro anxious to witness spectacle Of
this kind than arc the Republicans, and Mr.,
TuuIIa1Aa mado mistake in assuming TINT
his coming to tho defense Of DAv1s will not
injure his Presidential flight, for le confos.
sediy had that in view, al may be gathered
from tho tnno tf 11ja rnn,nrka Tia rnov IN