The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-17
A RED HOT DEBATE


In which senator Teller Ably Defends Past
Republican Administrnti0ns--C0 nteder'
ate Senators on Rampage.
WAsMINGToN, D. c., August lG.-Ges-
terday the Senate continued Considera-
ton OF the fisheries treaty, Mr.. Morgan
resumed his argument in favor OF the
resolution TO postpone it till December
next. In the course of n colloquy and
after some illusions to Yankees on the
one side and to ex.slave holders on the
other between Senator Morgan, Frye,
Dawes and Hawley, Mr.. Morgan said:
"You have not hesitated TO sheer at us
and say that We are rebels, traitors-men
not to be trusted, men who violated
their oaths and attacked the National
tlag-men whose conscienCes are bur.
dened with political sin; that We all
deserved to be hanged, and that We are
living now by your mercy and grace.
And / have only said that you did not
dare hang any OF us. You had Jefferson
Davis under arrest, and the United States
Government did not dare to bring him
to trial, because il would have turned
out, in the opinion OF the great jurists
who would have had to try him, that
he had not committed treason.
Mr.. Frye-Whcn the Senator from
Alabama was making these charges he
was looking at me. beg him to re-
member that in the whole course OF this
debate have made no charge or insinu-
alton against him. am u full-blUoded
Yankee, but ! do not know man on
that side OF the Senate for whom have
more profound admiration than have
for him.
Mr.. NIorgan-My eyes wandered to the
face OF the Senator from Maine because
| knew they rested on an honest and
and benevolent face, and it was some re-
lief to me to have thatopportunity when
looking on that side of the chamber.
[Laughter.l
TELLER DEFENDS ARTHUR.
At this point Senator Teller arose and
covered himself with glory in his de-
Tense OF the Administration with which
he was connected, and made general
reply to the insinuations OF the Senator
from Alabama. The speech Of Senator
Teller was one OF the most patriotic,
ringing and courageous ever delivered
in the Senate. He took up the state
ments in Mr.. NLorgan's speech to the
effect that during Mr.. Arthurs admins.
tratiOn many outrages had been inflicted
ON American fishing vessels, and had
not been resented by that Adminittra-
ton.
Then he branched off into the matter
OF patriotism and loyalty. lie could not
see how it could be that the men who
steadily fought during the late war to
destroy the Union and the American
flag were more capable OF being patriotic
and loyal to that Government than the
men who had steadily supported it and
fought for it. He informed the Confed-
crate Senators that they owed the posi-
tons that they now occupy to the mercy
of the North; that ii it had not been for
such treatment as Gen. Grant extended
at the surrender OF Lee, when he babe
the ConiederateS take their horses and
implements home with them and use
them in putting in their spring crops,
and issued rations for their support, that
every Confederate officer and every Con-
fcderate soldier would have been pun
ished for treason under the martial law
which prevailed Mt the time.
WHAT THE NORTH MIGHT HAVE DONE.
The suggestion that the government
had not dared to have Jefferson Davis
tried because the court would not have
found him guilty Of high treason, Mr..
Teller characterized as "bosh." He said
Il rebels had been brought up for trial
it would not have been before civil |
court, but before drum-head court
martial. He was sorry to see these Con.
ederates stand up in the Senate to-day
md uphold secession, confedeHcy, in
war against the Union, and
o see that they were still ungrateinl for
hat mercy which the North had ex-
ended to them.
Senator George, OF Mississippi, at
to argue with Senator Teller
hat under the Constitution the Con.
ederates at the close OF the war were
lot amenable to the martial law and
we're notsubject to trial by court-martial,
tut were citizens, civilians and were en-
tiled TO trial by jury. He split hairs.
Senator Teller replied by saying that
was over year after the surrender at
Appomattox before peace was declared
y the President. This was long after