Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1865-09-12
MISSISSIPPI LADIES-MR, DAVIS,
(New Orleans True Delta, Aug. 25.)

The foi0win petition to President Johnson sign.
ed oyl over four hundred ladies' residents of Holly
Springs, Marshall county, Miss, is earnest, eloquent
sympathetic and respectful in its tone and will uu-
doubtedy receive proper attention at Washing tou-
Taken In connection with the informal action of the
Mississippi State Convention on behalf of the distin
gushed prisoner of State it is to be hoped something
valuable will be effected in his behalf Mr.. Davis il
now prsoner-not an enemy-and should be treated
as such:
HoLLY SPRINGS, Miss, Aug. 1, 1865.
To HIS Erce1leney, Andrew Johnson, President of
the United States
The undersigned, Ladies of Holly Springs, would
respectfully solicit Executive clememcy for Jeer-
son Davis, late President of the Confederate
States, now confined in Fortress Monroe Occu-
pylng, as he did for years before the inception of
the late unhappy civil war, prominent positions
both in the State and Federal Governments, posi-
tions which were cheerfully accorded him by rea-
son of his undoubted ability and unauestioned de-
votion to his native South, the undersigned deem
it not unbecoming to apply to you, Sir, the Chief
of the great representative Government of earth,
for indulgence in his behalf
It is well known to your Excelency that, for
years past, sectional strife has been seemingly
fostered by extr emsts both North and Sou tn.
which led to ge neral conflict of and the
shedding of the best blood of the land. One par
ty and section have been forced by the arbitra-
ment OF the sword to succumb. To the victors
and their success the plaudits of the greet North
has been given bountifuly Is it asking too much
you to grant the yielding party and its chief the
poor tribute of honesty for the changes in Govern
ment they had in view
Mr.. Davis was but the representative of the de-
feated 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
terrible storms of war; he was but doing their
bidding in armed conflict as he had before repre-
sented their views in times of peace is it there
fore right that Walls of wrath should be poured on
his head, who, whatever his faults may have
been, or the supposed errors of his cause was de-
voted and faithful alike to the people and princi-
pies he represented
Sir, our once happy and cheerful people have
surely suffered enough. Could the tears that have
been shed, the anguish borne, the despair which
has been our portion during this unhappy war, be
brought home to you by vision of reality, we
we could not, would not plead in vain for one
whom We honored in prosperity, and respect and
venerate in adversely.
The waris 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 sub
NIT that fraternal feeling which should exist be-
tween citizens Of the Government can be
more effectualy restored by mildness and Glenn
ency than by the punishment of those who by rea-
son of common toll, dangers and privations, are
and must ever be dear to every true Southerner.
Respectfully,
Mrs. W. S. Featherston,
Mrs. A. C. McEwen,
Mrs. Martha Robinson,
Miss Il. C.. Polk,
Miss Alice Morgan.
Miss Mary Morgan,
and four hundred and ten others