Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-18

Status Of jefferson Davis.
For many years ex-Presideut Davis has
been the object of the most unjust abuse
heaped upon his aged and honorable head
by soft-brained nincompoops and narrow
minded partisans. Many Northern jour
nalists who seem to he sane on some sub
lects begin to gnash their teeth and foam
at the mouth whenever the name OF Mr..
Davis Is. mentioned Republican cam
paign orators and all kinds Of liars seem
10 deli hit in inventing falsehoods, both as
| 70 his political acts and his personal his
! tory, in order to try TO bring odium upon
him and the cause he represented. Men
who are ignorant OF the first principles Of
the constitutional, statute and common
laws Of the country delight in Expanding"
him-they call it-as IAN arch traitor"
''an outlaw" and IAN alien In the land OF
his birth"
1t is to the credit OF the Southern people
that they have not, since the war, endeay-
ored to use Mr.. Davis as a scapegoat, Or
to refuse to acknowledge their full re-
sponsibility for the secession Of the South
ern States. Mr.. Davis did not lead them
out Of the Union; he simply went out with
them, and was made their chief public
servant. Neither he nor the Southern
people committed treason against the
United States. This fact was in the most
conspicuous manner acknowledged by
the highest legal authority in the refusal
TO prosecute any Of the Confederate lead
ers for Treason, and SO make test OF the
question Of their guilt. The Southern
people believed they had a right to with
draw from the Union in a legal and CON
stitutiOnal manner. Ii they did not have
that right, they were accorded belIigerent
rights, which alone lifted them far
above the level of conspiratOrs and trail
tors. They commanded the respect and
admiration of the world al large, as well
as Of the bravest and best of their foes
The question as to the right of the
Southern States to withdraw from the
Union was, from the nature Of the great
case, and the temper of the great parties
to it, taken from the jurisdiction of the
constitutional courts and submitted to
the arbitrament of the sword. The award
was accepted in good faith by the South,
and neither Mr. Davis nor any other
Southern man has sought to set it aside
or 10 evade the performance Of its legiti-
mate and honorable conditions.
The character OF jefferson Davis, as
exemplified by his life, has been singularly
noble, patriotic and pure. He may
hsve made mistakes-and who has notf-
but his record is one that any fair and
honorable man will read with respect
and admiration. Before the war between
the States, his gallant conduct won him
fame as a soldier, and his public services
gained for him an enviable distinction as
a citizen and official.
Whatever difference of opinion may ex
ist as to his policy and the motives that
led to some Of his official acts as Presi-
dent of the Confederate States, no one
will deny that he was faithful and earn
estly devoted to the cause over whose des-
TIMES he was called to preside.
Since the war he has been a peaceable,
refined, dignided, and benevolent citizen
of the United States and OF the State OF
his residence. Though he is denied some
political privileges, he has as much right
to call this country his own, and to ex-
press his choice for officials or his views
on any public questions at the polls or
otherwise, as any man in the land.
He is as much protected in his person
and property by the constitution and law
of the United States as any other citizen
even his vilest traducer. The assertion
that he is an outlaw or an alien is as false
as it IS senseless.
Mr.. Davis recently wrote letter to the
New York Herald correcting in dlgni-
fed and unimpassiOned manner some
falsehOods that have been circulated oOn-
corning his capture and subsequent treat
ment. These falsehOOds have often been
branded as such by others, but the treat
ment OF the subject by Mr.. Davis affords
notable evidence of the admirable qualities
Of the man. He not only N1ndlcates him self
from the charge Of craven conduct, but he
vindicates the troops that captured and
guarded MIN from the imputation of das.
tardly acts--Of submitting their distin.
gulshed prisoner TO insult and indignities
and even attempting to murder him.
But the war is over. The Southern
people, including Mr.. Davis. have unre-
servedly accepted its legitimate results.
and are truly loyal to the new Union and
the constitution, which they pray may
be perpetual.
The Supreme Court Of Maine has lust
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