Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-13
JEFFERSON DAVIS ON THE
CRIME.
His Sympathy for the wounded
President and DetestatIon OF the
Deed.

In an interview with a staff corres
spondent of the Philadelphia Press. at
his home near Mississippi City, Mr..
Davis said:
This assault on General Garfield is 8
horrible crime. There can be but one
sentiment among the people of this coun.
try on the enormity Of the offense. What
1t may forbode to the country is hard to
determine. When a man will kill the
President because he refuses him office.
what may not be expected? Assasslna.
ton is usually the outgrowth of seasons
OF calling oppression. Even then it is
the resort of a force or sentiment too
cowardly for revolution and too con
temptibIe for civilization to tolerate. But
this crime is without even the excuse
of excitement. A vulgar man murders
the President in his wild delirium
about Office. Such crime makes the
whole nation kin, halters all preiudices.
and bushes partisan thoughts Il is evi-
dent that the crime is the outgrowth of
the greedy scramble for Office which has
Of late years been so marked. It is TO
be hoped that the reaction which this
great crime will produce may correct this
alarming evil. 1t has for long time
been growing into our system of govern
ment until it appears to have finally re.
suited in the murder Of the Executive.
The South had much hope of Garfield's
administration and will sincerely mourn
his loss as it joins in the national sorrow
over the assault upon his life. I earnest
ly hope he may speedily recover.
Appointments and removals for
political considerations is a bad use of
executive power. When the Confederacy
was organized at Montgomery, it was
provided that no man should be removed
from Office by the Executive except for
cause, which the law required should be
specifically stated. The political power
concentrated in the hands Of the Presi.
dent by his contFlo of patronage has been
growing greater every day, and its ad-
ministration has for a long time been
vicious"
Didn't it begin in Jackgon's time
when he fathered the doctrine that to
the victor belong the spoils 2"
''It is a common error that jackson
was the author of that declaration.
That is not true, nor is it true that re-
movals aud appointments for political
considerations began during bis admins.
tration. Mr. Marcy, while making q
speech in the Senate, made use of The
expression, TO the victor belong the
spoils, while stating what might follow
as the line of policy under certain con
tingencies. Another Senator. after the
speech. called his attention to the phrase
and said:
That statement viii be considered
and treated as an open avowal OF party
policy, and you had better have # |
stricken out
No; that il not what intended. |
but it io there, and / will not change it,
replied Mr.. Marcy.
The first removals for political con-
began during John Quincy |
Adams administration in the State De-
when Mr.. Clay was at the
head of it, and removed the printers who
did the public printing. The State De-
partment then also indirectly controlled |
the Post Office Department, the Post
master General not then being Cabinet
officer"
at this point the conversation was in.
terrupted by the arrival of the mail. Mr.
Davis stepped down to meet the messen.
ger before he had reached the upper step
OF the porch. He took the New Orleans
paper, seated himself. and quickly began |