The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-06
Che Murtulk gost.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1865
Memorial of the Mississippi Ladies in
30 10a Behalf of JEFF. Davis.

We clip the following memorial of the
ladies of Mississippi and the accompa-
nying editorial remarks, from the New
Orleans True Delta, which we give
without comment: Il
"The following petition to President
Johnson, signed by over four hundred
ladies, residents of Holly Springs, Mar
shall county, Mississippi, is earnest, ell
Oquent, 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, 1t is to be hoped something valu-
able will be effected in his behalf Mr.
Davis is now prisOner--not an enemy
and should be treated as such :"
HOLLY sPRaes, Miss, Aug. l. 1866.
TO His ErceIeacy Andreo Johnson, President Of the
United States: s4
The undersigned, ladies of Holly
Springs, would respectfully solicit Ex-
ecutive clemency for jefferson Davis,
late President of the Confederate States,
now confined in Fortress Monroe. Oc-
cupying, 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 We're cheerfully accorded him by
reason of his undoubted ability and UNI
questioned devotion to his native South,
the undersigned deem it not unbecom-
ing to apply to you, sir, the chief OF
the great representative Government OF
the earth, for indulgence in his behalf.
1t is well known to your Excellency
that, for years past, sectional strife has
been seemingly fostered by extremists
both North and South, which led to a
general conflict of arms and the she'd
| ding of the best blood of the land. One
party and section have been forced by
the arbitrament of the sword to succomb
To the victors and their success tn
plaudits of the great North has beel
given bountifully. Is it asking too muc
of you to grant the yielding party an
its chief the poor tribute of honesty fc
the changes in Government they had ii
view?
Mr.. Davis was but the representative
of the defeated party, and called as h'
was, by the almost united voice OF thu
Southern people to preside over thei
councils and guide them through TIN
terrible storms of war, he was but dOins
| tHtlI UiuulnS al AhCu CohhiCo, 40 ~
had before represented their views il
times of peace; is it therefore right tina
walls of wrath should be poured upol
his head, who, whatever his faults ma
! have been, or the supposed errors of hi
cause, was devoted and faithful alike
: the people and principles he repre-
, sented?
E Sir our once happy and cheerful PEI
pie have surely suffered enough. Coul
= the tears that have been shed, the al
guish borne, the despair which has bee
our portion during this unhappy wa
be brought home to you by a vision
reality, we could not, would not plea
| in vain for one whom we honored j
prosperity, and respect and venerate
adversely.
The war is at an end, the people of til
South have again become loyal either
to the Government of the United State
our fathers, our brothers, our husband
who survived the battle storm, have II
turned to the bosoms of their families
We submit that fraternal feeling whic
should exist between citizens of til
same Government can be more effe(
tualIy restored by mildness and clemel
cy than by the punishment of thos
who by reason of common toll, danger
and privatiOns, are and must ever
, dear to every true Southerner.
Respectfully,
DIE Mrs. w. S: FEATHERsTor
i /" A. O. McEwEN,
u. v rt " MARTHA ROBINSON
Miss E. G. POLK,
" ALICE MORGAN,
'i'A '--'i" MARY MORGAN,
and four hundred and ten others. -