Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-01-23

Gen. Sherman had, by invitation, attend
ed Il reunion of an army post i'll st. Louis,
and in the course of some impromptu re-
marks, Us reported by the newspapers, per-
haps correctly enough, said he regarded
Davis Us not only II rebel but cOnspira-
tor and that he had seen certain letters
and papers while on his march through
Georgia. tending to show that Davis. while
the war was in progress, had abandoned
/ his State rights convictions and had be
come, practically, IL dictator in the south.
/ But there was no personal matter of con
/ troVcrsy between Davis ana Gen. Shcr-
man. Gen. Sherman had simply insisted
ON the right to class Davis as Il cUnSpirator
and traitor. Did that make Il personal
quarrel between tine two men Ear from
/ 1t. lie (Mr. Shcrinan,) might aS well he
said, in the same way, to make Il personal
quarrel with the descendants of benedict
Arnold by repeating historical fact. Dn-
Wis had written Il bitter article, not adj
dressed to Gen. Sherman, but substantial
/ ~ giving him the lie. ten. sherman did
not respond to that article 10y any letter to
| Davis or to any newspaper. lie did the
very opposite. He was still i'll every sense
an officer of the army, even though ON the
retired list. He was subject to the Pres-
dents orders. As an army officer, Therefore,
he properly gave to his military superior
| This he was bound to do. When IN officer
of the army, whether retired or not, had
amy insult put upon him, or anything
which among gentlemen would reflect
/ upon his character his honor, or integrity
| he was bound bV his calling to make an
| explanation To the proper authority to
/ show that the inputatiOn upon his honor
/ was not Just. There was. therefore. no
personal controversy between jefferson
/ Davis and Gen. sherman, but there were
some statements of Il very striking
| character involved which ought to be put
ON the official records of the Government.
/ Gen. Sherman had produced Il resolution
passed by Democratic Senators from
Southern States which We're about to par
tiCipate III the rebellion, i'll which they re
solved that they would organize the Coy
eminent called the Confederate Govern
eminent and liking date that com
mlttce should be appointed, composed OF
Davis, Slidcll. and Mallory, to carry into
/ execution in the south the plan adopted,
and that other senators should remain in
/ Congress, 50 as to prevent amy legislation
that might hinder or delay the proposed
measures II that was not Il conspiracy,
what, in the name of GOd. was it? Gen.
sherman had also produced Il letter from
/ Alexander II. stephens, the associate of
Davis, in which stephens said that Davis
abandoned his state rights doctrines and
that he was seeking To SuDVcrt the very
/ Government established by the Conieder-
ate States. That letter was captured in
the hands of Ilerschel Y. johnson, of
Georgia, to whom it was addressed. sen
atOr sherman had seen the original, and
knew it to be stephens ; handwriting.
/ Again, ten. sherman mad produced Il mes
SAGE from Davis to the Confederate Con
/ ErcsS. marked secret kept in the rebel
archives, and found by an officer of the
. United states Army when Richmond was
captured. In this Davis had demanded
the suspension of the writ OF haOeas cor
pus. Why, Senator sherman asked, should
/ not these papers he printed Dld they not
show the motives that led to the great civ
il war? Did not they tend to snow the
probable termination ofthe rebellion, even
if the United States arms had not sup
pressed it, to be eventually the establish
ment of Il dcspOtism III the southern
States Mr.. Davis was now an old man :;
Senator Sherman did not desire to say any
thing unkind of hln-lld not desire TO
wound his feelings but, great God, said
the Senator, twill it ever be disputed in
this country of ours at any time within II
thousand years, that in the war and before
the war, Jefferson Davis was Il COnspratOr
and Il traitor to his country Never,
trust Senator Sherman added "When-
ever the motives and causes of the war are
called i'll question | must assert that ii was
Il cauSelcss rebellion, entered upon with
bad motives, and that all men who lcd IN
that movement We're traitors to this COuu-
, try OF ours.
senator Lamar said that whether the
secession of the southern States was the
result of Il conspiracy of Il few ambitious
individuals or the uprising of II whole peo-
pie to preserve as they thought, their au-
IOnUmy and their institutions, was il QlIes-
tiOn which he was willing should he re.
, United To the verdict OF pOsttrity. NO
senator had kinder feelings for Gen.
, sherman or more Respect for his military
sagacity or genius than had Mr.. Lamar ;