Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-13
Rssc Baltimore s.adicS and Their Petition
40 the President.

40 the President.
From the National Intclligencer llthI
| The delegation Of ladies from Baltimore, headed
| py mrs, chapman Coleman, a daughter Of the late
| honored Senator Crittenden of Kentucky, who on
| last Monday presented petition signed by l5.OH
ladies OF Baltimore, praying the pardon of Mr. JEFF
terSOn Davis, have favored us with the substanec o
lheir petition and address to the President with his
| reply and other interesting particulars.
In the letter before the lady who nj the inter
| rev, 50 gracefully spoke for the dcputaon. ac-
khno%lIedges h the kindness and sympathy with which
OF the most court knight of old and testified with
Recuar earneatneSs TO their lively appreciation OF
ne 1elerence and tenderness which characterized
| the Presidents every tone and word She saws: II
nave Known many Of the great men of the past Mr.,
Clay Mr Neoster, and indeed all the distinguished
men OF the country Of my time and in my belief
Andrew johnson is qrcaf nam aa0ag gLeqf aic and
has already taken his place in the front rank and
| will maintain it to the end"
We subjoin the petition and the address with the
DrIet put feeling reply 9f the President:
~ l am trenollng Mr.; johnson; know you will not
be impatient; my past intercourse proved to me that
| you were gentle and indulgent. The magnitude of
tne cause we advocate alarms me. "A faint cold fear
| cause justice.
We are the representatives of fifteen thousand wo-
| blingly, but hopefully with a petition. The Rus
SLAMS from the highest in rank to the lowest serf call
ol ao s cbdrenp q apRea m to @ as such we
to help fou have not quite so many children as
the Car. but you have a large family; we come in
the name OF fifteen thousand of your daughters the
weaker sex, and therefore the more entitled to for
bearance and indulgence. With your permission 1
will now read the petition
We the undersigned women of the city of Balti-
more especially and earnestly pray that your Excel
lency will be pleased to grant your pardon TO Mr.
Jefferson Davis, and restore him to his family and
freedom. In approaching your Excellency with this
petition, your memoralsts obey moi only the chart
table impulses OF our sex, but their prOOundeSt CON
yIct!ons OF humanity, patriotism, and sound policy
Ihey believe that no single measure could possibly
contribute so much as the release of Mr. Davis the
perfect restoration OF kindness and peace throughout
the land, aud they are sure that would be re
garded elsewhere in the world as more conclusive
evidence OF the confidence of our Government and
people IN the harmonious and established unity of
these States Your mcmcralists would not venture
to suggest the nOblest personal considerations TO
your Excollency in the performance of public unc
tion, bat they trust it will be regarded in no such
Will be guided in your determination by the illustr-
Gus examples OF those nations and those rulers the
record of whose power is written i'll the golden let
terS Of magnanlmity and mercy"
Mrs Coleman then continued: YOu have our pc
ution before you, and VIC beg TO add few remarks.
Mr.. MI PIesIdent almost every act of your adminisra
Men hearts failed them for fear at the time of the
have been lifted and we now see the silver lining
clearly; One great get remains to be performed by
YOU Remeinber. 'tiS the Keystone tina; makes the
arch Al else that there is put is nothing til that
come to bind and shut, We ask the release of AIr
Davis the unconditional and immediate release As
the representative of his party he has lost all You
a the representative of your party, have gained all
believe him to be good aad great man lie was
mistaken and has suffered lie was orc of the sons
old man. and, III addition to all he has endured he
must bear about with him always the bitter cor
preciatc that trial. Now in the evening Of Efn-mn
h"t Is past IN The night of litci must be dark night
with hIm t. tie eng. There is but one single solacc
lett hlm-the loving presence Of his wife and chill
drcn His little children cry out in their destitntjon
upon their father for Jrepd. Oh hear their young
voices and be pitiful! lii this also, you will show
wisdom and moderation and courage-t0 use a good
American word, pluck" Throw of the tram
meiS OF q narrow minded party and ocf ot once
without Cabinet .,,l r
our gentle and genial Judge Advocate. Put the
Yexed question, which know has cost you many an
do with Mr.. Davis ?" forever at rest Ii is a diff
cult thing to bring him rightly 10 trial: more difficult
still to dispose Of him afterwards. "EehoId show
you more excellent way Give us the permission
to go now to his prison, bearers Of your tit purdoa
and let him go quietly 70 his home The Southern
Confederacy is gone the wave has closed over II Jt
was rich org0sy, but its treasures are buried With
your help, and by patience and Skill It's precious
things may again see the light, and grace and adorn
is not be in his power to interfere in any ~
way with the Government
We have not in our petition ventured to rresent
personal considerations TO your Excoliency | think
ihy myself however that no man ought to be above
think they do with all those daughters of yours We
have an ambition to succeed in our mission of love
ana mercy. All fathers wish their children to be
ambitious. and we know that we shall have little
niche in history if we obtain this great honor. We
are all proud you. We believe God raised you up
rs he did Cyrus Tor this great work, and that he
fitted you for the task. We know that yoQ aru wise
and great we believe that you are good Prove it
now by acceding to prayer. Grant lis royal par
den. and that right roga!iy Send us away with mel
ody in our hearts Mr.. President, do not as any
common man might do, tell to leave the petition
and you will consider cause, The time for con-
sideration is past Act in the living present heart
within and God overhead.
Mr., johnson listened with marked attention and
hesitated for some moments before he made reply
Finally he said, That he regretted mere than he
knew how to express that he could not grant the pc
titGn, and that it would give him far more pleasure
to accede to the request of the ladies present than it
would give them to have it granted. IT," added he
1T were simply a question, however, between man
and man. would release Mr.. Davis at once: but it
is great national question Mighty issues might be
involved i and now is not the time to take such
the courage, or, as you tenn t. ladies' pluck to do my
duty, and have proved it. When the proper time
comes for the exercise of magnsninity. trust that
shall not be found wanting"
In reference to the trial of Mr. Davis, Mr. johnson
said: Almost every arrangement has been made for
the trial of Mr.. Davis, but no one can tell what
changes may be brought about i'll the course of few
weeks ha5ty and iniudcious action in this matter
might produce incalcuable misery. Mr. Davis has
been great leader in the war against the Govern
ment and it is but right he should be tried by the
laws of the land. ] SyupathZc with him in his suf-
ferings. His quarters have been changed and his
condition ameliOrated."
In conclusion, Mr.. johnson said: "All men, ladies'
are under the influence Of woman, and not less than
other men, You are my jewels. l want your help
and Your prayers