Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-15

education. When yet IN MS teens ne
evinced a preference for the life of a sail
or, and he signed articles as seaman
with his brother, who was commander Of
a sailing vessel A few months of ocean
experience sufficed for young Sage as
proof that he was not destined for that
kind of life and he quit the sea and
went to college. He drifted south in his
early manhood and came to Mississippi.
Meeting a prominent member of the
Mississippi bar, Judge J. Lewis he took
UP the study of law in the judges office,
and in due course of time took out his
papers as a practicing attorney.
A few years before the breaking out
of the civil war Mr. Sage was known as
a brilliant and successful lawyer. Ire
formed the acquaintance or JEFFERSON Da-
Wis, who thought very highly of him, so
much. in fact, that when Mr.. Davis be-
came president of the Confederacy. he
called Mr. Sage to Richmond, the capt.
tai of the Confederacy, and appointed him
a master in the navy. But Mr.. Sage did
not go on sea duty. He remained in Rich
mond, employed in the executive depart
ment.
When the war was ended there occur
red the memorable
Arrest of jefferson Davis
by the federal government for treason.
Mr.. Davis was charged with being a
traitor who sought the destruction Of the
government, starved federal prisoners to
death at Andersonville aud elsewhere, and
procured L.incolns death. Mr.. Davis Sc
cured as This attorneys Hon. Charles
O'Connor, General Hooker, of Mississippi,
and Mr. Sage. The latter was specially
chosen to look up the constitutional
points of the defense. He was specially
charged with the mission 'of going ia
London to study the public archives, so
as to get the details of the history of
the American colonies and the relations
of the British government to the colonies,
also to examine the treaty of peace and
find out how the colonies were recoR-
nicolas united states or as independent
states.
Mr.. Sage performed his mission with
great intelligence and reaped signal sue
cess. AS a result of his studies he wrote
that famous book, THE Republic of Re-
publics" using the nom de plume, ''P. G.
Sentz' Public Common Sense'O, which
became the most celebrated work on con-
stitutional law in this country. 1t is one
of the standard authorities to this day on
constitutional law. Mr.. Sage found that
the treaty of peace showed that the
colonies were set free as Independent
states; that no united states were recog-
nized; but each state was set free as a
distinctly Independent state. Mr.. Sage es-
tablished the fact by his books that each
state, DelAS a SONtIGlSAAt AetO Tic AArsA
to secede, and that Jefferson Davis could
not be tried for treason because he could
not be convicted in any court Of an act
which he had committed as a free agent
on behalf of sovereign, Independent
states; and was, therefore, beyond the
reach of those petty clamarous partisans
who were actuated by the meanest spirit
of revenge.
Mr. Sages triumphant vindication of
states rights and sovereignty was so pow
erful that the United States government
did not dare to bring Mr.. Davis to trial.
He was turned over by the military to the
civil authority, and finally, under writ
Of habeas corpus, was admitted to bail.
with Horace Greedy. Gerritt Smith and
others as bondsmen. in the sum Of $lOOOO0.
This happened in 1867, and one year later
Mr.. OConnOr, chief counsel for Mr.. Da-