Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1885-01-31
JEFF DAVIS PATRIOTISM.
What Bradley r. johnson Gays OF
the legal status of the
Confederate Chief.

From the Baltimore American.I
An American reporter scrambled up
the steps leading to the law Offices OF
Gen. Bradley II. johnson, on Court
land street, yesterday, ani found TWO
closed doors confronting him. Very
naturally, he rapped OH the wrong
from within, exclaimed, "Come in
Into the room bounced the reporter.
and saw only chairs and desks, but ir,
general. ''Over this way" repeated
the voice in tones that sounded like the
command to a regiment. "Over this
way went the reporter and stood be-
fore Gen. Johnson, who behind his
desk, was carefully attending to his
law business.
"WelI. what can 1 do for your"
asked the general.
The reporter stated that he had COM
to ascertain the generals views as TO
the life and character of jefferson De-
Wis.
ssTake a. seat" said Gen. johnson
with great alacrity, and will gratii!
the Americans curiosity"
Gen. Johnson then, with much spiri
and force, said: Sin my opinion, Mr.
Jefferson Davis is a statesman and a
patriot. In his long, life, devoted t.
the service Of his people, he has always
been faithful and above criticism.
While opinions do differ rs to the wis
dom OF his administration of the Affairs
of The confederate states while presi-
dent, no man can question his fidelity
| to the principles he had maintained al
his life or the cause he had esIoused.
The ostracism OF Mr.. Davis by diSfral,-
chisement twenty years after the war
is disgrace to the people who insist
upon continuing it. He was neither
cunspirator nor traitor, and have the
best of reasons for asserting that the
! federal administration was afraid tU
bring to the test the question of treason
bv trial OF judicial determination. The
principles laid down by the supreme
court of the United States, in lons
series of decisions, established two pro
positions:
81. That i'm civil war citizens who
take sides with either party can no
civil conrts. This is as old as the stat
utes of treasons.
=. That .lie war between the state!
was civil war, with all the cOnse
quences to its adherents Of war inte
gentes. Therefore, the war was a wa
between the states, and its supporter
were not traitors. In the opinion o
! Chief Justice Chase, this was admitted
and established here by the third sec
ton of the fourteenth amendment t
the constitution of the United states
which was a declaration by all tn
!. states that participants in the civil wa
should be punished by disfranchise
ment, and in no ether way. The re
cent attack on Mr.. Davis was an indie
cent attempt by the perpetrators of it
disgraceful to themselves-tO stir u
J, the dying embers of sectional hate TO
a miserable partisan purpose. 1t Wa
unpatriotic, and desel yes the reproba
ton of all good citizens, which | be
: lieve it will receive. The ex-cOnfedel
! ates are as much devoted to the unio
I under the constitution, to liberty, t
l republican institutions and to deinu
: cratic principles as those who support
ed the union side. Many have dislimc
e ly renoumced all belief in the old con
3 stitutional doctrine that the states hav
! the right to judge of the attractions {
mode and measure of redress; and the
: all agree tn 1t the federal judiciary
: the supreme and only arbiter. The
: have entirely repudiated all desire f,
Il a separate autonomy, and they are
determined that the union shall |
}, maintained, that its honor, ils glnr
u its power and It's prosperity shall ,
9 Supported and "xrenied, as anv riiizD
); Of our common country. We are
l the union AMI the union is nf ,ls. "
will carry the fl ~ as tar, AMI stand /
v it as gailumil,, as we did ill.,. stars al
u bars. and there j. no reservation w!a
u ever in ou sincere devui ion to it. "
3 desire to he q tratermal terms with (;
u our fellow citizens, north and sout
uninm and ex.contederate, republics
IL and democrat. GOOD feeling is grow
: ing daily. The wounds OF tie war a
q nearly healed, and l dcnnnnce as III
IL worthy of American ci liz IIship q
% sriaIors who have m de lhi- wrelrl,,
attempt Ia revive M lice b, prrachii
; The doc rlle Of hate.