The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-13
CP IN THE SENATE.
THE SHERMAN-JEFf DAVIS CONTRo'
VERSY GIVEN AN AIRING.
George and Lamar Come Vigorously to
the Defense of President of the
Confederacy Matter Laid
Aside to Keep Warm.

w ASHINGTON CTTf, Jan. Io.-ln Tux /
senate Monday Van Wyck, from the com
mittee on public lands, reported favora |
bly, the house bill to prevent unlaw
full occupancy of the public lands, with an
amendment authorizing the president to us
civil and military force to remove illega |
fencing. Mitchell introduced bill to in |
crease the pensions of widows and minol |
children, from IS to S12 month and pro |
viding that mastering into the service should |
be prima facie proof of soundness.
Hawley's resolution, calling for Gen Sher |
mans historical statement filed in the wal |
department, was then taken up. Harris |
asked Hawley whether there was anything |
III the papers filed in the war department BY |
Gen Sherman in relation to the persona |
controversy with himself and jefferson
Davis which re quired the action of the
senatai Hawley replied that the docu
ments were an interesting contribution
to history, and could not be published in the
war OF the rebellion record for some year.
to come.
Vest regretted the introduction of the
resolution, not as an ex-Confederate, but be
cause it made the senate party to a per
sonal controversy. He said: "Is il
IlShJ, - 1t IdiII II II uidllJ "ueI
Mr.. Davis cannot be heard on this floor,
except through the mouth of some one who
chooses to espouse his side of the con
troversy. Is it right to Use the government
of the United States in a personal contro
versy no matter what may be its merits?
He continued: Il was a member of the
Confederate senate, opposed with all my
force, measures advocated by Mr.. Davis; but
| believe he was as true, as loyal
to the cause he espoused as ever was wife to
husband, or religious votary to the God he
worshipped" He expressed his earnest opin.
ion that Gen. Sherman was mistaken in the
assertion that the people of the Confederate
states did not sympathiZs with their leader
in TIE terrible contest 1--WE have no more
use" he said, "for the personal opinion OF
Gen. Sherman than for shroud or a coffin.
George wanted to know what the senate
had to do with IA controversy between two
citizens. Conger did not understand this
was a controversy between two citizens.
Some action was necessary on the part OF
Mr. Davis and of congress before Mr.. Davis
became a citiz9n. George replied that pos
Sterity would pass upon the acts of Mr..
Oav.s, and he had no fear that lis judg
or his patriotism.
hawley expressed his opinion that Gen.
Sherman was in the right, both in the per.
sonal and military side of this controversy.
These papers established clearly to his
[Hawley'sl mind, that there was deliberate
conspiracy here in the city of Washington
as early as 1861 for the establishment of
southern Confederacy; that it was
determined to make its head
quarters at Montgomery, and that Messrs.
Mason and Slidell were deputed to attend
to this, while other senators remained here
to attend to legislation.
The yeas and nays were then demanded on
the passage of Hawley's- resolution calling
for the publication ofsthe papers.
Morgan, in explaining his vote, said al
though it was true Mr.. Davis had
engaged in war against the United
States he was no more guilty
in that respect than himself [Morganl
and many senators on this floor, and Mr.,
Davis was still beloved by millions in this
country. What connection had Gen Sher-
man with the army of the United States
that authorized him to make reports to that
Department. If the senate published Gen.
Shermans attack, it could not, in justice
refuse to publish Mr.. Davis reply.
Ingalls, said that whenever any question
arose in which jefferson Davis was involved
the Democratic party could always be found
on the side of Jefferson Davis. We had just
witnessed the spectacle of a president
of the United Ssates elected by
gentlemen who declared Jefferson Davis to
be a man of honor and a patriot If
the memories of the war are to be forgotten
it is desirable that the senator from Mis-
souri, should not so repeatedly allude with
pride to the fact that he was member Of
the Confederate senate. He would state to
the senator that he was never accredited to
the Confederate senate by the state Of Mis-
souri,, and in the name Of the loyal people Of
Missouri, he protested against the sentiments
which the gentleman had given utterance to-
Sherman said that from motives Of deli
cacy he should have abstained ifrom taking
any part in this discussion, but for the fact
that gentlemen on the other side took the
ground that this was a special controversy
between two citizens. He knew it would
surprise Gen Sherman to learn that it was
supposed he had any personal controversy
with Mr. Davis, for he stated that he
did not know him. He simply, in
view of certain historical facts, characterized
| Mr. Davis as a conspirator and a traitor.
| This was no more personal controversy
| than it would be personal controversy with
the descendants of Aaron Burr to apply
similar epithets to their ancestor. Ii
the facts disclosed by Gen. Sher-
man, that members of this senate
met in private room and sent three of
| their number mot two as enormously stated
| by Hawley) viz; Messrs. Slidell, Mallory
and Davis, to make arrangements for the
esta hlishmcnts of a Confederacy, whilst
| other senators remained here to carry on
| legislation-if that was not conspiracy, in
the name of God, what was it9 He [Shermanl
| had seen the original of Mr. Stephens letter to
| Herschel V johnson, and knew it to be Mr.
| Stephens handwriting. That letter sustained
Gen Shermans assertion as to Mr.. Davis
! change of mind in regard to state rights, as
did the secret message of Mr.. Davis to the
| Confederate congress, now for the first time
| published.
Lamar said that the issue between these
| two distinguished men, Mr.. Davis and Gen.
| Sherman, was not the issue stated by the
senator from Ohio. The issue was this: Gen.
Sherman, led away by his feelings, stated
| Lndb ue Hiiu Setn IL let1ei AIOm J6uefSOu
Davis to a senator now on this floor asserting
that if a certain state should secede
| from the Confederacy he would
put that down by military force. That
statement was false, and this was the issue.
He concluded by saying that no man in his
presence should calI Mr.. Davis a traitor
without his stern and emphatic denial.
Without reaching a vote on the resolu-
tions, the senate shortly after 2 o'clock went
into executive session on the Nicaraguan
| treaty.
| [The communication referred to in the de-
bate in the senate referring to Gen. Sherman
and jefferson Davis goes over the ground
heretofore covered by Gen. Sherman in the
controversy, and declares that there was q
! conspiracy in Washington in the winter Of
| 1S60-Gl and thai he himself was approached
| by a member of the Knights of the
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