Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-01-13
FROM WASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence OF tho Alexandra Gazette
WASHINGTON, y. c., Jan. IS. 1885

WASHINGTON. D. O., Jan. 13. 1885.
The Senate galleries and the corridors ,
leading thereto were crowded to-day, and
all the seats on the floor in the rear of those |
occupied by the Senators were also full, the
occasion being the resumption OF the DEBATE /
on the Hawley resolution, practically max
ing the United States Senate party to per- |
sonal controversy between General Sher-
man and Mr.. Jefferson Davis, and taking
the side of the former The desire 10 hear
the debate was SO great that the reporters
| gallery, always sure Indication of the hap
pening of anything Of Interest, was filled to
the utmost, and for a great rarity there
were some people even in the diplomatic gal
lery. AS almost invariably is the case when
an interesting debate is to occur, the busi-
ness of the morning hour was unnecessarily
prolonged, the Senators apparently desiring
to whet the appetite OF the expectant croWo
by delay. 1t was therefore one O'Clock De-
fore Mr.. Hawley moved that the consldera-
ton Of the resolution referred 10 be pro-
ceeded With, and Mr.. Ingalls,, who had oeen
called to the chair temporarily by Mr.. I'D
munds, put the motion, and it was carried
with only few dissenting votes on the
democratic side. Mr.. Vance then rose, aud
saving that as in controversy all parties
thereto should be heard in the same forum,
as he had been made one Of the narties, anu
ss the resolution would probably be adopt
ed he desired to be heard in his own be.
half, and that he might make no mistake
; he had written what he had to say anu
would read it. 1t was 10 the effect that
General Sherman had said that he could
prove Jefferson Davis was consplrator
AID wanted to establish a plItocracy 10
the whole country by the letters OF present
u. S. Senator. That some persons imagln.
ing that he, Vance, was the Senator alluded
to, he bad emphatically denied the asser,
tiou. That General Sherman then said
that he, Vance, was not the man 10 whom
he had referred Being thus cleared at both
ends CT the line, lie was interested in the
proceedings no more. But in the letter
which General Sherman has just sent to
, the War Office, and of which bis friends
want to make public document, the
General saws that he, Vance, was one CT
) the men by whom be could prove his gratu-
tous charge against an old man VINO mao
long since retired to private life. Mr.. Vance
; then proceeded TO deny severally and spe-
officially each aud every assertion respecting
himself or the letters he had either written
or received, made by General sherman, ana
ayouched The truth of his statemAnt-'"P'n
the honor Of a gentleman aud member OF
1
quoted from General Sherman's letter the
aIlusions TO finding Governor Vance's Of
fetal correspond. nce in the Executive Man
sion. He said that no part OF the ohcla
correspondence and records were ever kept
{ in the Executive Mansion. The letter re-
f.rred to By General Sherman was not
found ia the copy-book referred to, for the
. reason that no such letter was ever there.
He asserted, on the honor of gentleman,
. that no letter, making the threats General
{ sherman alleges to have been made, was
y ever received by the speaker from Jefferson
Davis. Men who fought on the Northern
. and victorious side seemed TO think 1t a
I shame that those who fought for The south
and lost did not Join III tbs attempt TO heap
: oblouuy on the head Of Jefferson Davis.
The speaker had, il WAS wei; known, been
! drawn into secession unWl:.ngiy, but, cut
. IN, there was not l. day nor al hour that
u I'D ,nt dane MS best TO make II successful.
Iaiecttory reflection. 1t was true, Che speakt r
: had sent an embassy TO Gen. Sherman TO
;, ask protection for his people, but the Con-
' i.deracy was then at an end Gen. Sher-
man had found in the fact that he did not
!, await tho return vi his embassy, evidence
that he was afraid Of Jefferson Davis
, Afraid of Davis, then fugitive Was ev-
err proposition more absurd ~ The reason
why he did not await the return was be-
cause it was reported that the commission
ers had been captured by ilpatrick s
: cavalry, promptly robbed Of their per
t sona possessions and taken TO Gener-
: al Sherman's headquarters. ThereupoD he
Joined the line OF the retreaiug army.
at the conclusion of Mr.. Fances remarks
Mr.. Hawey said the purpose Of his resolu-
! ton was simply 10 make accessible what be
! regarded as information Of historic value.
I He did not seek this debate nor wish TO pro
long it. He had no disposition to wantoEly
assail or exult over the men who lad lost,
but whenever the issue was presented which
} has been brought into view 10 this discus
sion, he must maintain the standard which
he had maintained 10 the war and
characterize as cousprators and traitors
those who engaged in conspiracy and
treason. His principle was that we
must Judge of men by the light they have
but Of measures by the light we have. He
then briefly reviewed some correspondence
that passed between Governor Vance and
President Davis, and read letter OF Vance
protesting against The proposed suspension
Of the writ Of habeas corpus, and threnten-
ing that the people of North Carolina would
resist it. He also referred to"a refusal BY
Governor Brown. Of Georgia, 10 obey an or
der Of Pre- sident Davis, as Justliying Gen.
Sherman's remarks about the opposition in
the Confederacy to Davis administration.
i Mr.. Brown, Of Georgia, was the next
speaker. He said he was willing to stand up
on his record and did not propose to discuss
it, but would briefly reply to one or two as
sertions that had been made in regard TO
his alleged obstruction to President Davis's
administration. He differed with Mr.. Da-
| Wis very materially on several questions
and discussed the differences with him
very frankly, but threw no obstacle in the
way of military operations, nor did he
ever disobey any legal order which the
President Of the Coniederacy had right to
make. When General Sherman invaded
Georgia he Governor Brown had organ
lied q military force of old men and boys
| who were not liable to conscrip
ton or military duty under the law
of the Confederacy. A requisition was
made by President Davis to turn this body