Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-13
ACONSPIRATOR
SHERNIAN'S CHARGES TAKEN UP
IN THE SENATE.

OF the Cause of the EX-Presideut-
Senator Sherman Sticking Up for His
Brother.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-The Chair laid
before the Senate a resolution, heretofore
offered by Mr.. Hawley, calling on the
President, ,ifnOt incompatible with the pub
lie interest, for a copy of the historical
statement concerning the public policy of
the Executive Department OF the Confed-
crate States, filed at the War Department
by Gen. Sherman.
Mr.. Harris said that # Mr.. Hawley thought
that any action of the Senate was proper
with regard to the paper or papers referred
TO. he would not object to the call, but if no
such action was to be taken, MIR. Harris could
see no object IN the call for the papers. They
were IN possession Of tue War Department,
and would appear in the rebellion record.
Mr.. Harris had examined the papers at the
War Department. They consisted of a some
what vOluminOus argument by Gen. Sherman
Of his side Of the personal issue made through
the newspapers between himself and Jetfer
son Davis.
Mr.. Hawley had presumed that the papers
would find their way into publicity. and he
had desired a complete and not partial edition
Of them published.
Mr.. Harris had not the slightest objection to
the broadest publication of the papers, but
saw no reason why they should be sent to the
Senate to be merely printeG as an executive
document and then slumber there.
Mr. Hawley said that the papers related to
the last year OF the war, ana would not prob
ably be published in the rebellion record for
couple OF years to come.
Mr.. Harris doubted the prOpriety of calling
FOR the papers.
Mr.. Vest regretted the introduction Of the
resolution, not that he wonld oppose the
largest publication of the history of the Con-
federate states. but because the Senate would
be making Itself indirectly, at least, a party
10 the controversy that has been going on in
the public press.
COMMITTING THE SENATE.
There might be said to be great diversity of
opinion about jefferson Davis, but still he
was entitled TO a fair hearing. and il was but
justice to him to say that the adoption OF the
resolution would indirectly commit the Sen
ate to that side of the controversy maintained
by Gen. Sherman. 1t was said that Gen
sherman had stated that the late war had
originated IN systematic way, and he had
seen letter from gentleman, once
Governor of one of the Confederate
states and now a member of this Senate,
which said that jefferson Davis had threat
ened to cOerce any one of the South
ern states that might try 20 secede from the
COnfederacy, Mr.. Davis thereby giving the
he to his expressions of belief in States rights
and falsifS ing the very issue upon which the
southern States mad gone into the war. When
Mr.. Davis heard of this statement he said
the statement slander.
Gen. sherman said that he would answer
through the War Department. The papers,
Mr.. Vest said, had been published by the
press. Was 1t fair, he asked, was it manly,
when Mr.. Davis could not be heard on the
floor of the Senate. unless through the mouth
of some one who might choose to espOuse and
advocate his side of the controversy, to use
the government of the United States and its
lnstrumentalltles IN personal controversy?
THE RESOLUTION A BAD ONE.
No matter what its merit. no good could
come of the resolution. 1t would arouse BIT
ter memories. jefferson Davis was to-day an
old man. broken IN fortune and health, but
lYlng among people who hOnOred him. If the
resolution were passed it would necessitate
on Mr.. Vests part public avOwal, for he
was member OF the Confederate Senate.
that he opposed such of MIR. Davis measures
as he Vest thought were not for the welfare
of the people OF the South. But it would also
necessitate an avOwal that he believed that
an overwhelming majority of the Southern
people DelleVed ana Will continue to believe
that jefferson Davis was as true and lOyal to
the cause he espOused as ever was wife to
husband, as ever was religious devotee to the
God he wOrshlped. MIR. Davis may have
made mistakes, as who had not? Who would
not have made mistakes In the terrible ordeal
through which he passed? But Mr.. Vest
would hold himself recreant to all the past, as
well as TO his hopes of the future as an hon
Orable man, if he did not state here and now
tnat Gen. Sherman was mistaken in the OBJ
servation that the people of the Confederate
States did not sYmpathlZe with their leader in
that terrible struggle.
A PERSONAL CONTROVERSY,
Mr.. George regarded the controversy In
question as purely a personal one between
two private citizens, and could see no pro-
priety in the Intervention of the Senate. He
did not think that it should throw theweight
of its influence on one slde or the other
Mr.. COnger did not quite understand that
1t was contest between two private citizens.
lie aid not see on what authority Jefferson
Davis was called a citizen of the United
states. He thought that there was something
Tor Mr.. Davis to do, and for Congress to do,
before Mr. Davis could be brought into
equality OF citizenship with Gen. Sherman.
Mr.. George maintained that although labor
ing under political disabilities jefferson Davis
was still a citizen of the United States and
subject to the laws of the United States He
(Georgel had his opinion, and a very decided
one with regard TO the controversy under dis
cussiOn, but the passage of the resolution
offered would not nelp 1t. He was perfectly
satlsned to have that controversy go down to
history. and be settled according to the judg-
mcnt of history. He had no fear that any-
thing In that judgment would be averse to
the patriotism of Mr.. Davis.
HAwLEY's ONE-sIDED STAND.
Mr.. Hawley did not coincide with the view
that by passing his resolution the Senate
would be taking sides in a private quarrel.
Personally, however, he did not hesitate to
say that IN the controversy between Mr.. Davis
and Gen. sherman he (Hawley) was on Gen.
Sh rman's side all the time. He believed that
Gen. Sherman was on the right side, personal
", politically and military in the war for the
Union.
Mr.. Harris asked what good would be ac-
cOmpiished by merely printing the paper re-
ferred to in the resolution.
Mr.. Hawley said, in reply, that there was
matter in II that, in his mind, established be-
yOnd controversy the fact that before the war
there had been an elaborate conspiracy in
Washington, by which certain Senators had
decided upon the Confederate government,
had appointed committee of Senators to go
70 10, f1,o Ifsa,f, cfo
its formation, and agreed that others should
remain here to prevent such legislation as
might interfere with the success of the con-
spiracy. The matter under consideration was
no more personal quarrel than the four
years war for the Union had been personal
quarrel.
MR.. VESTS LOGIC.
Mr.. Vest then said that Gen. sherman had
said he would make his reply to Mr.. Davis
through the War Department. OF course the
paper was part of the personal controversy.
Mr.. Morgan inquired whether in :he name
Of common humanity we should deny to Jef-
fersOn Davis the right TO send his reply to the
War Department. While il may be true that
Mr.. Davis was labOring under political disa-
bility it was not rue that he was any less 8
man than Gen. Sherman because of that. 1t
was not less true that he was yet
beloved by millions in the United states.
While 1t may be true that he Davis acted IN
open warfare against the United States as
President of the Confederacy, it was not true
that he was any more distinctly enemy of
the United states than Mr.. Morgan or other
Senators now on this floor had been. Sena-
tors were here representing sovereign States,
and were here uuder the constitution of the
United States. There seemed to be disposl-
ton to make the question be-
fore the Senate party question.
The Democratic party could not be involved
in it, but if they were compelled to take
ground they would take the ground that all
men should be treated alike, and when the
Senate called for papers that would have the
effect of wOunding the reputation of any man
in the United States that man should nave
the right to reply.
tion arose in which jefferson Davis was in
vOlved the Democratic party would alWays
be found on the side of jefferson eDavls, He
had heard the senator from Alabama Nor
gam repeatedly air the same sentiments tnat
he had expressed to-day.
MR.. INGALLS, CHALLENGED.
Mr.. Morgan challenged Mr.. Ingalls, to specify
Mr.. Ingalls, replied that occasions had been
frequent when the senator from Alabama
tMOrganl. and his associates Of the Democratic
party. had, in debate in the Senate, taken
sides with jefferson Davis. They had always
indOrsed him, always approved his course,
and had declared that there was nothing
wrong in his record that would convince pos
terity that he was not man OF honor and a
patriot. And the Senator from Alabama
,MOrganl and the Senator from Missouri
Vest, had now taken occasion to inform the
senate that tltefe were hlilIOhs u ReSpLo RS ~
the United States to-day who loved Jefferson
Davis, and to whom Jefferson Davis
was endeared by the memory OF
/ common hardships, common privations,
and common calamities. We had just wit
messed the spectacle of an ele ;tion OF a Presi-
dent of the United States by the votes of men
| who declared to-day that jefferson Davis was
| a man OF honor and a patriOt-by the votes
| of those who loved jefferson Davis. So long
| as men were found TO stand on the floor of the
senate and declare that jefferson Davis was
| a man of honor and patriot, and that there
were millions of men in this country who