The Butler weekly times., 1885-03-04
rEFF DAVIS PATRIOTISM.
CHAT Bradley 7. johnson says OF
the Legal Status Of the Con
federate Chief.

ices Of General BfAdIeF ot''io''''
= cour,land street. Yesterday, and
,ornd two closed doors confronting
,;n, Very naturally, he raped at
he wrong door first. A loud voice.
apparently from within, exclaimed,
Come ln." Into the room bounced
he reporter, and saw only chairs and
desks. but no general. over this
wav, repeated the voice i' tones
,bat sounded like the command 70 4
regiment. "Over this way "e"s
the reporter and stood before Gen
eraI Johnson, who, behind his desk,
was carefully attending to his Law
business.
..Wen, what can ! 10 for YOU:
asked the general.
The reporter stated that he had
come to ascertain the general views
IS to the life and character jefferson
Davis.
Take seat said General
lohnson with great alacrIty, ''and |
viii CRAFTY the Americans curio,i-
g."
General Johnson then. with much
spirit and force, said: In my
opinion, Mr.. Jefferson DAVIS is
statesman and patriot. In his long
life, devoted to the service of ms
people, he has always been faithtul
and above criticism. While opin-
IONS differ as to the wisdom of his
administration OF the affairs of the
confederate states while president,
no man can question his fidelity to
the principles he had maintained al
his life or the cause ne had cspoused.
The ostracism OF MIR. Davis by dis
franchisemcnt twenty wears after the
war Is a disgrace to the people who
insist upon continuing It. He was
neither conspirator nor traitor. and |
have the best Of reasons tor asserting
that the federal administration was
afraid to bring to the test the ques-
ton OF treason by trial or judicial
determination. The principles laid
down by the supreme court OF the
United States, in long series OF
decisions, established two PROPOSE
tons:
81. That in a civil war citizens
who take sides with either party
cannot aftcrwerds be convicted of
treason by CIVIL courts. This IS as
old as the statute of, treasons.
-. That the war between the
states was civil war, with all the
consequences to Its adherents or
war inter gentes. Therefore. the
war was war between the states.
and its supporters were not traitors.
In the opinion of Chief Justice Chase,
tins was admitted and established
mere by the third section of the four
teenth amendment to the constitu-
'ion OF the United States, which was
declaration by all the states that
PARTICIPANTS III the civil war should
De punished by disfranchisement.
and m no other way. The recent
attack on Mr.. Davis was an indecent
a''emp; by the perpetrators of it
disSraceful to themselves-to stir up
the dying emhers of sectional hate
or a miserable partisan purpose. L
was unpatriotic and deserves the
feprohation Of all good citizens.
which believe it will receive. The
tNfNt SkNN ssi < -S llIi&1lA tkSt OtCN4
10 the union under the constitutions.
% iioerty. to republican institutions
and 70 democrats PRINCIPLES as those
"ho supported the UNION side.
'1"ny have distinctly renounced all
0ehef IN the old constitutional dos
1lne shas the states have the right TO
ladse OF the miraculous OF the con
ana 10 decide upon tbs
mode and measure Q. redress. ani
.seY al a%ree Eaat ;Ae fedora, iud.c.
~ ) she Supreme agd only arin5i,r,
. 'sE have entirely sepuiaa5e,i Al.
iesi'e Tor 2 separate autonoa1v- an.