The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-09-07

1iss In Sessif Of MI. Dsvisi
New Orlsans True Delta, Aug. Is
The following petition to President
johnson, signed by over tour hundred
ladies, residents of Holly Springs, Mar
shall County, Mississippi, is earnest,
eloquent, sympathetic and respectful in
its tone, and will undoubtedly receive
proper attention at Washington. Taken
in connection with the informal action
of the Mississippi State Convention, on
behalf of the distinguished prisoner OF
State, it is to be hoped something vaiua'
BILE will be effected in his behalf. MI.
Davis is now a prisoner-not an enemy
and should be treated as such:
HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss, Aug. l, 1865.
To His Eccellency Andrec Johnson, Presi-
dent of the United States:
The undersigned, ladies of Holly
Springs, would respectfully solicit Exec
utive clemency for Jefferson Davis, late
President of the Confederate States, now
confined in Fortress Monroe. Occupying,
as he did, for years before the inception
of the late unhappy civil war, prominent
positions both in the State and Federal
Governments, positions which were cheer
fully accorded him by reason of his un-
doubted ability and unquestioned devo-
ton to his native South, the undersigned
deem it not unbecoming to apply to you,
Sir, the Chief of the great representa-
tive Government of earth, for indulgence
in his behalf.
It is well known to your Excellency
that, for wears past, sectional strife has
been seemingly fostered by extremists
both North and South, which led to a
| general conflict of arms and the shedding
| of the best blood of the land. One par
| ty and section have been forced by the
arbitrament of the sword to succumb.-
| To the yictors and their success the plau-
dts of the great North has been given
bountifully. Is it asking too much OF
YOU to grant the yielding party and its
Chief the poor tribute of honesty for the
changes in Government they had in view9
Mr.. Davis was but the representative
of the defeated party, and called, as he
was, by the almost united voice OF the
Southern people to preside over their
councils and guide them through the ter
rible storms of war, he was but doing
their bidding in armed conflict, as lie
had before represented their views III
times of peace is it therefore right that
walls of wrath should be poured upon his
head, who, whatever his faults may have
been, OF the supposed errors of his cause
was devoted and faithful alike to the
people and principles he represented!
Sir, our once happy and cheerful peo
pie have surely suffered enough Gould
the tears that have been shed the an
guish borne, the despair which has been
our portion during thislunhappy war, bt
brought home to You by vision Of real
ity, we could not, would not plead IL
vain for one whom we honored i'll prosper
ity, and respect and venerate in adver
sity.
The war is at an end, the people of the
South have again become loyal citizens
| to the Government Of the United States
our fathers, our brothers, our husbands
who survived the battle storm, have re
turned to the bosoms of their families
We submit that fraternal feeling which
should exist between citizens of the same
| Government can be more effectually re
stored by mildness and clemency thai
by the punishment of those who by reas
on ofcommon toll, dangers and privations
are and must ever be dear to every true
SoutherDer. Respectfully,
MRS. W. S. FEATHERsTON,
MRS. A. C. MCEwEN,
| MRS. MARTHA ROBINSON,
| MISS E. C.. POLK,
Miss ALICE MORGAN,
| Miss MARY MORGAN,
And four hundred and ten others.