New-York tribune., 1886-05-16
nFyOryCIYG JEFF DAVIS'S TALK.
VIEWS OF A DEMOCRATIC EX-SENATOR

| The specches of Jefferson Davis have reused
the dormant feeling the North and throughout the
country on the question OF secession in an unexpected
| manner TRIBUNE reporter had talk yesterday on
the subject OF Davis revival with ex-senator james
| r Doottlc OF Wisconsin, What he said can best be
understood by brief outline Of his political hlstory'
Senator Dooittle was born In Washington County. New
York He went with his father into Genesee County AZ
day so early the history Of the county that 1t WAS
then known as "the West" Having studied law he was
admitted to practice aud emgrated Wisconsin late In
tho fores He was elected judge. but the salary was
small and he resigned Speaking of the people among
whom he had cast his lot, he said;
at was lust like Now. York, that s Genesee County,
extended up around the lakes. When got to Wisconsin
found that knew everybody and everybody know mo-
| They we're all from Western NewYOrk When l re-
signed my iudgeshpi with no intention of going
into politics But in 1S55 and 1856 the Kansas Ques-
ton came up. 1t that aroused all my Deghbors
the issue whether Kansas should be slave or free
State. 1t engaged my attention and drew from me the
ardent expressions that voiced my feeling that Kansas
must be maintained as free State contenjed for
that with all the encrgy OF my nature with the result
that In 1857 found myself elected to the United States
Senate. l had been Democrat had broken with my
party the issue of secession and of slavery extension
found myself in the Senate in the inception OF legisa
on the slavery question. The question OF secession
followed right along and then the served sixteen
years At the close OF my service wc were entering
upon the gravest question of awhat to do with tho
conquered States had been with the Republican party
In its cradle drafted the call for the convention that
nominated Abraham Lincoln for his first term 1 had
been with him in all his efforts through two Almnisra-
tons. stood with hin in his policy toward the South.
His assassination however reused the people that no
could stay the tide that swept the Government
policy OF military governments the conquered
States. There broke with the Republican party
"Tc me, Senator what you think Of Jefferson Davs's
speeches T.
al regret that Mr. DAVIS has seen f 10 reterate the
doctrine Of secession. regret that he declares that he
still believes II to be right regret that any number OF
persons however small, have been fOuni TO endorse
MIN the and to applaud them. The doc
triue OF secession is wrong 1t Is vicious II Is mon
strous only that but it is untenabe in history and
in fact. This Union, the Nation bought Louisiana In
order that she might have control for all the states and
for the people o, all the states the mouth OF the
Mississippi Thomas Jefferson made that purchase from
France the brOadest and highest Grounls OF public
policy We went and organized that territory into
We built forts there TO protect the vast trbu-
tary country lying along the Mississippi and its
branches. We made public improvements TO out
the same broa pan Now the idea that a few hundred
could arrange TO go out Of the Union, that is. to
take Louisiana OF the UnOn ana to take the mouth
of the Mississippi out OF the Union with the forts and
improvements, was simply monsrous. We had spent
| the Nation had spent-mions TO acquire property
which the doctrine OF secession woud have PERMITTED to
20 away from night. 1t false doctrine
that taught such thing. The same s true of Florida
that true OF Lo lisiana We bought Florida from
Spain. We bOu ,ht the neck OF land that comprises
Florida, in order that might throu .h the tie
strip that down into the ocean, control the
commerce and trade of the Gulf of Mexico. We bought
purpose TO hold position Nation. Mr.
Davis seems to think that the people OF the United
States will endorse doctrine that would permit
Florida to 60 out of the Union at any
moment and take with her the com.
NJ fbp
possess as a Nation. Well, he is mistaken. The sword
and bayonet settled that question The doctrine of
cesson is OF modern growth 1t is not ancient or time
honored Democratic doctrine. 1t is not the doctrine Of
Jackson of the who honoret the party IN its
early history. While am thus opposed to the doctrine
of secession at the time am strong advocate of
the rights of States guaranteed them by the Consttn
tion, subject only to the jurisdiction given by that IN
srument to the Federal Government in National affairs
There is an of the rights OF the
in the Constitution. those rights preserved until
the foolish action OF Jefferson Dvs and his associates IN
terfered with them II is my candid belief that Davis
his friends and associates and allies who sought to
secede from the Union un er the specious plea that they
were standing up rights the more
break down and destroy the rights of the States than all
other cOmbnod. by trying to break bonds Of
the Union they aroused all the latent and dormant
and forces of the Federal Union. The exercise OF
Federal authority was entered upon as necessity TO
protect the Union These powers were exercised TO the
very extreme limit, overriding and OyelshIdowng
everything else until the rights Gf the states wcre as 1t
were lost sight OF.
ings OF the highest judicial authority IN the land the SUI
Court where the principle of state rights has not
the states aud their rights II Is to the credit OF this
body of men, who were all Republicans that they have
whstood the cIanor OF party and the madness of po
cal excitement at all times 10 stand by the states. Bat
for this Court DO not know but the States woad have
been entirely destroyed But the rights of the states
40 remain and am in favor Of Their maiu;
every power OF government that affects state Interests.
leaving to the Federal Government those matters which
are purely and wholly National. favorwhat Gladstone
terms Home Rule that Is local sefgovernmcn Jeifer
Davis when he led dance OF death destroy the
Union on false plea that he was nphodng the right. OF
the States gave home rule ani local selfgov |
cause the Union cannot be broken. The very
facts connected with the formation OF the Union. |
and Florida preclude any such idea. 20, secession
wrong 1t false doctrine. 1t decided false by
only wrong but II was the supremes folly
advocated secession Bat mistrust their logic. That |
they were sincere they atteted every battlefield Of
they of the same and blood as we Of the |
North-our kindred in one sense But tnat they were |
cede It The people have decided otherwise and de-
trne OF secession now Is an unworthy act have said
that the doctrine Of secession is modern and not an
President IN 1850, secessionist would have made
more hesdway than they did in 1892. But Buchanan
force OF character cope the secess
ionist He allowed things todrift along into when
ana wouId nave saved The Naion frnw ire h,nfi.m "P
II is erroneous to that the aid begin
until Lincoln was inaugurated. That is the popular
OF history, know, but 1t is Incorrect and there is
better time than the present to emphasize the truth
Wnen Lincoln took the oath Of Office the seces>onsts
had already seized the forts and materials and
munitions of war belonging the Federal Government
III twothirds of the southern States. They had seized
ana occupied Two thousand miles OF coast
which necessary TO the entire country part
OF the National fe They had seized the mouth OF the
Mississippi and were in of that great outlet
OF National traffic and trade. All these were nagrant
aud overt acts OF war. Buchanan permitted them all |
take place without raising hts hand stop them IL
Is good time TO let the youth of the land know thi,
primary fact IN The history OF the Rebellion. which
often overlooked"
Have you any opinion to express the Administra-
tiOn I"
Not as critic. want to give the President every
opportunity. think Mr.. Cleveland is man OF great |
frmness OF character, VINO intends do what right
and patriotic. On the whole he has done about Us well
as he could under the circumstances in which lie was
placed. My own impression that would been
glad to have seen Alien @. Thurman member Of the
Cabinet Thurman. with his commanding ability ard
tInuel DnMOCrlcY and unLnnlfrl