Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-11-15

situation, that Christ tells MS that we N nust for
give our enemies, that IL we do not forgive
others how can we expect forgiveness for our
SINS Know that IL true, but these sin /,
these crimes, i have not Committed Il
have no need 10 ask Of God TO forsiys me n
murder when never murdered any one, but
they have committed perjury, their statements
will be the cause Of my losing my life, have NV
good name handed down 20 the coming rem
Grafton covered with infamy, my poor helpless
innocent family held up as the wife and chill
dren Of felon, and this is more than can sub-
NIT TO. You say in your letter that the public
proceeoings OF the United States have ever been
Snaracterlzed by justice and magnanimity. i
nope ana trust AZ may be so in my case, must
conless, however, that have very good reasons
TO fear that such will not be the case. Why
thlhs SO Cdhhot tell you, as that would be too
lengthy thing TO discuss in a letter like his. A
few hints will convice you that I am not far
from the right You remember Gen. Howell
Cobb's speech at Anderson Vile in March, 1895:
you recollect perhaps, how utterly disgusted
! was with il, still that man, who had uttered
more treason in that speech Of half an hour,
done more TO inflsme the mind Of the crowd
than done or said in all my life, he is al home
enjoying Gods greatest blessing, 70 be
with his family, and ! am a prisoner.
Treasury, Of the Confederate States, who. for
nine full months failed TO supply the post at
Andersonyille with funds, and in doing so
made II impossible TO provide prisoners with
shelter, because without money lumber could
not be procured, is At home also, and 4, a hum
bic man, must now answer with my life for the
Consequences pN MS ana
other similar neglects. 1 could go on and on,
and write down a long catalogue, but this is
enough Tor my purpose. DO not think that 1
bear an i'll will 10 those so fortunate men. No
indeed. told you, in the commencement.
that am proud TO lay down my life to save
theirs, and say and think so yet.
thank you thousand times for the sympa-
my You express L know If you could assist
me, you would do so; let that be sufficient. 1t
is sad for me to contemplate the doings Of the
world, petitions after petitions pouring in 10
ask mprCy for President Davis Inn WI IA.
the one who ever has raised his voice In nv
bebalfl No one.
But enough Farewell dear Miss Carrie;
may you live happy and contented. May we
meet again in a better and brighter world,
where the poor despised prison-keeper Of An
derson Vile Will have the Justice done him
which he cannot get from his felIow-men.
Farewell, God bless you, II. WIRE.
OLD CAPITOL PRISON, WASHINGTON, ID. O.,
Oct 29th, 1850. b. !SBiyth, Esq, Nev York -
Sir: Your letter of the 26th instant was handed
10 me yesterday, and i must confess its con-
tents are such that i must answer 10 it, 1 do
not for a moment think that you wrote that
letter with the intention of insulting me, TAX
ing an advantage OF my unfortunate position,
but do think that for impudence and pre-
sumption, il has motifs equal. You say that am
one of the greatest criminals that ever lived,
and therefore worthy Of capital punishment
You exhort me to give up all hope Of escape
from murderer's doom, and notify any longer
TO hide or extenuate my guilt, but 70 confess
the same openly like a man. You season your
address with quotations from the Bible. &c,
&c. Now letme tell you, my dear sir, frankly
and openly, that you are greatly mistaken,
that strange as it may seem TO you, must say
that am not criminal, that my hands were
never stained with the blood OF my fellow men,
| that have no guilt to hide or eItenuate, and
above all things, have nothing 70 confess, with
other words than am innocent. Yes, say u
| again, and oh that could write II IN letters
| of fire. and proclaim il with a voice OF thunder
| am innocent, and / shall never. not even at
the gallows, say anything else; and now let me
4 -N,o.,- Ia n.
| say, TO judge as you Juo &c. 1answer You with
passages from the Book you have been using
| for my condemnation-from the Book which
has been in these dark hours my only guide,
NV only hope. my sole comforter, and ask You
to- I'D in St. Luke, vi, p; Exodus, xi, "a;
Judges x q; St John, viii, :; Psalms, xxi.
You seem to "a anxious about my spiritual
welfare, and il you ere sincere let me thank
Won: and allow me 10 " that am not un-
mindful Of my souls salvation. =, uo no. rear
death if it is ordained that sha suneI oeath.
things which have kept me from Gespalr.
and give me strength TO endure, and will not
forsake me in my last hour. The first an
most important Is the firm belief that there is a
God, a supreme ruler OF heaven and earth,
without whose will nothing happens. How
strange and incomprehensible il may seem TO
me that He, the all-knowing God, who knows
my innocence, should let me suffer. Still,
bow my head submissivelY, and say with
Christ: Thy will be done. The second is,
that God, in his own time and pleasure, will
establish my innocence, and deal with those
who have perjured themselves as they
deserve. The third Is, that i consider
myself a victim to satisfy just such
as you, who cry after my blood, and are too
craven hearted to ask for the punishment of
those who are guilty, because they are men
who have friends, influence, means at their
command, things / unfortunately have not.
You may think this strange language for one
IN my situation; you may say that am hard
hearted imperunent wretch. Think, say what
you please, nothing shall make me forget what
i am myself, and may God sustain me. To
confess, have nothing; pardon and mercy L
can only ask Of God, or at any rate not Of such
you.
mink that from the above you can form an
estimate as to the state OF nv mind, and having
nothing more to add, remain, respectfully,
your obedient servant, Ii. WIRz