The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-16
A Debate that Would Have Been Valuable to
the Republican Cause Had 1t Occurred
During the Campaign.
Programme of the House Democrats as
to the Grant Retirement Bill.
An Instance Showing the Unworthy Adyan-
tage Sometimes Taken of the Congress
soual Leave to Print Speeches.
The military Records of the Defenders Of
jefferson Davis.

jefferson Davis.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15-It has been frequently
observed here since the debate in the Sem
ate calling for the Sherman Davis correspond
ence, that the Southerners who took the most
active part in the discussion had the least to do
with the fighting during the war. Senator Joe
Brown, of Georgia, was buying up the necessary
articles of food, and selling them for fancy
prices and getting corners on cotton during the
war. He was, it is said manipulating the block
ade runners. Senator Vance. of North Carolina,
was Governor during most of the war, and Sena-
tor Vest of Missouri, was at Richmond, Va, in
the confederate Congress A Missourian, speak
ing of the latter's wal record, said. to-day:
in 1861 Vest made speech in the Legisla
ture at Jefferson City, my State He spoke Of
the war; and said that when old Claiborne jack
son was trying to take the State out of the
Union, no had kept his musket brightly bur-
nished and ready for the ARRAY; that he
had been ready for a fight for
ten years. l see by the papers
that a member of a Massachusetts
regiment said he whilst en- route to Washing
ton, killed in Baltimore, and that his body
was sent back to Massachusetts, packed in ice
If they expect to pack the body ofevery Yankee
in ice that is killed in this war, the United States
had better contract for Greenand's icy mount
aims, and that very quickly
But" continued the gentleman who by the
way, was an old soldier, where was Vest and his
brightly FURNISHED musket when General Lyon
and Frank p. Blair were coming up the Missouri
river to meet Claiborne jackson and his band Of
fre-eatersl Vest with his bright musket had
moved southwark, while others, who had not
polished their artillery, met the enemy in battle
at Boonville, Lexington, Springfield. Pea Ridge,
and other Places
Did not Senator Vest belong to Prices
arnya" asked.
"Not that know of" replied the Missourian;
''but he was a camp follower. Old Pap Price
sent for him one night and told him he must.
either join some company or leave camp. He
chose the latter. He went to Arkansas and by
proxy was sent to Richmond as a member of
the confederate House. He arose to the Senate
and was prominent statesman there"
1t is believed here that the end is not yet In
the controversy over jeff Davis'S loyalty to the
Confederacy, and the unselfshness that
prompted him. twill probably come upagan in
the Senate in some FORM The greater portion of
the Democratic senators are congratuating
themselves upon the good judgment they exer-
cised in supporting the resolution and permit
ting the Republicans to make whatever they can
out OF the question.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
To-days National Republican has this: III
this Sherman Davis controversy had come up
. Il nj Tho 90 y cold Ganaral Tom R,omra
of In diana, st would have been worth $4,000
votes to the Republicans in New York, and
Blaine instead of Cleveland would be the next
President The same sentiment was expressed
by number of Republican statesmen yesterday,
and the Democratic leaders were disposed to
congratulate themselves over the fact that a
quarrel so calculated to arouse sectional feeling
was not sprung them during the campaign.
Southern Republican said last night: sSena-
tors Vance and Brown were not entirely candid in
their speeches They denied the truth of Gen
eral Shermans statement that they were at outs
with Jefferson Davis, but it is matter OF
history that Davis had to temporze with both of
them to keep them in line 1t was we'll known
to Northern soldiers, in 1864, that Governor
Brown was ready to take Georgia out Of the
Confederacy if he could see his way clear
Vance as he said in his speech, was opposed
to secession at first, but he suddenly Topped
over and became an arch rebel In 1862
he made speech to North Carolina soldiers,
telling them to pile hi so full of Yankees that
their feet would stick out of the windows and this
epigrammatic advice became sort Of war-cry
in the confederate camps Afterward, Vance's
ardor cooled when he found that the Yankees
were good at the piling business themselves;
then he got disgruntled at Davis, and tho con-
Tolerate chieftain found it hard job to keep
him in the traces. If it had not happened that
Vance is just now candidate for reelection as
senator think he would not have drawn it SO
mild, but might have substantially borne ont all
the material charges made by General Sher