The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-03-06
A Strange Case.

In the flush times Of Mississippi, twenty
years ar" Richard S. Graves, its dashing
Treasurer, pcrpctrmetl magnificent rascali-
ty 10y embczzing the funds Of the State.
He escaped Justice and sight Of him was
lost, until last summer the memory OF Graves
was suddenly revived, by an unsuccessful
attempt TO bring him from Canada, where
he has been residing for ten years past, u,-
der the cxtr;mlition clause of the Ashburton
treaty. He was arrested, and after an in
vcsliSation before two judicial fnnctionaries
in Canada, it was decided that the Ashbur-
ton treaty did not meet his case, md he was
accordingly discharged.
Recently Gov. McRae, of Mississippi, sen,
Il special message to the Legislature embrac-
ing letter from Canada from the tlefaulting
treasurer. In hi; letter, he saws
81 have been near fourteen years an exile,
living in this Siberia America, exposed to
this terrible climate, where the mercury often
sinks to 40 degrees below zero, separated
from all that is dear to me on earth. Surely
this is sufficient punishment for all my pre-
vious acts. Even if L had been living in
Hussla. my offence would not have mcritcd
HE punishment have endured
you surely cannot, after fourteen years
OF punishment, when my head is silvcrc,l
with trouble and age, when my children
have grown mp around me, urconcious of
alcr fathers misfortune wish to degrade Inc
any further.
Il have a wife, sir, born in the sunny
South, whose relations reside in Madison
country, who is most anxious to return to
her native State. She nobiy deserted her
parents her home, her all, to follow her
husband into exile her punishment has
been greater than mine. She at icust is IN
"orrnt; but this has not prevented the eli
mate from doing its woist upon her, and
she is gradually sinking into the grave. All
she asks is to be permitted to return to her
native State. Mississippi, to the sunny South,
TO die. This she cannot do unless her hus-
band is free"
The Governor submits his proposition TO
the Legislature, and says that if ii meets the
appreciation Of that bod dy he ''sllall in,crposc
no ol.irction.'
The Vicksburg "Whiy," referring to this
case, says
"ln her untalering devotion to her hus-
band, she has beautifully exemplified the
s''S''S Et'' w mum anu -Ndoull, stuu no
man worthy of the name can fail 10 sympa-
thizc with her. We will remember Mrs.
Graves us VIC saw her few days after her
marriage. In the first flush Of youth, the
world was 'couicHr dc rose" to her, and we
never SAW a SUMMER smile tighten the face
OF bride, heard a more joyous laugh come
ringing from the lips Of youth and beauty
Alas poor child, (for she was a mere chld.)
her dream Of bliss WAS Of short duration. A
few months saw her husband branded with
felon's name, flying from the avcnginr
laws he had outraged, and from that day to
This she has shared his exile. Weary weary
years they have been to her And in that
cold and inlospitabc cline where she has
found Il refuge and a home, how her heart
has ycarncd for the sunny home where
young years were cherished, none but the
exile can know. For her sake, we say, let
Graves come back. II he refunds the mon
ey he took from our Treasury, well and good !;
if he does not we still say we'll. But let him
comc-lct his wife gaze once more on the
home OF her childhood, and when her eyes
close in death, let her last look be upon the
friends and the scenes of her YOUTH