True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-08-12
A STRANGE AND TOUCHING STORY

4lIUt SIHWt-f OHtuH AVtC-'C
pentance-Hope.
We take the following from late mum.
Der OF tie Vixburgh Wing:
RICHARD STANTON GRAVES.
Almost half a generation has passsd
away since the name which heads this
article was in the mouth Of every one, in
connection with the magnificent embez.
element which its owner perpetrated on
the treasury of Mississippi. Our older
citizens will remember Richard S.
Graves as the dashing, defauItng treas
urer, who came into office with Governor
Tucker. He was one Of those who was
borne in,o power on the wave of repudi,
alton, and the fruit was what might have
been expected. The Bible teaches us
that we cannot pluck " figs from lhislles, ~
and if the taxpayers of Mississippi OBJ
tanned any figs from this repudiating
thistle, they were assuredly OF bitter
and unsavory flavor.
The memory Of Graves was suddenly
revived last summer by an unsuccessful
attempt to bring him from Canada, where
he has been residing for ten years past
under the extradition clause TO make the
Ashburton treaty. He was arrested
and after an investigation before two ju
dcial functionaries Of Canada it was de
cided that the Ashburlon treaty did no
meet his case, and he was accordingly
discharged.
On Monday last, Governor McRat
sent special message 10 The Legislature
in which he embodies letter he received
some months since from Graves. Ii
that letter the defauIting treasurer make
the following touching appeal:
''SIMocoE, July 22d, 1856.
"To the Governor Of Mississippi -
As | do not know your name u addres
you as | do.
IL have been near fourteen years a
exile, living in this Siberia of Americi
exposed to this terrible climate, wher
,Ilhe mercury often sinks to 40 degree
below zero, separated from all that
dear to me OIL earth. Surely this is suf
ficient punishment for all my previOu
acts-even if had been living in Russ
my oAense would not have merlted til
3 punishment have endured.
"You surely cannot latter fouriee
years Of punishment, when my head
; siIyered with trouble and age, when m
children have grown up around me un
, conscious Of their father's misfortune
. wish to degrade me any further
81 have wife, sir, born IN the sum
South, whose relations resided in MadiSt
county-who is most anxious TO retu
/. to her native State. She nobly desert
e her parents, her home. her all, to folio
e her husband into exile. Her punishrne
). has been greater than mine; she at lea
d is innocent but this has not prevent
e tie climate from doing its worst upon ht
n and she is gradually sinking into I
n grave, all she asks is to be permitted
return to her native State, Mississipl)
Ie the sunny South to die. This she ca
II not unless her husband. is Free"
\, The fact disclosed in the first line II
% nshes q melancholy commentary ON
y vanity Of earthly glory. Here now
Is our friend Governor McRae, who |
presided with grace and dignity over
4. State Of Mississippi for nearly three ye'
N and yet the sounding trump Of tam
l. has failed to proclaim his name TO
s benighed dyellersin the "Siberla
" America" !" Well may the Governor
Id claim. "all is vanity !"
e, "Graves then proceeded TO say, lha
I. permitted 10 leiurn 10 Mississippi unIl