Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-11-16

Excellency will be gludedln your deternlnauon
by the illustrious examples Of those nations and
those rulers, the record of whose power is writ
ten iii the golden letters Of magnaniinity and
mercy"
Mrs. Coleman then continued You have our
petition before you, and we beg to addafew re-
marks. Mr. President, almost every act of your
administration has been marked by wisdom and
moderation. Mems hearts failed them for fedr
at fhe time Of the death of Mr.. Lincoln, but day
by day the clouds have been lifted and we now
see the silver lining clearly. One great act re-
jmains to be performed by You. Remember tbs
the keystone that makes the arch. All else that
there is pitt is nothing, till that come to bind
and shut. We ask the release of Ar Davis the
unconditional and immediate release. As the
representative of his party, he has lost all you
as the representative of your party, have gained
all. believe him 10 be good and great man.
He was mistaken and has suffered. He was one
of "the sons of the morning" and has fallen.-
Now he is poor old fiian, and, in addition to
all he has endured, he must bear about with him
always the bitter consciousness of defeat. A
great mind like yours can appreciate that trial.
Now, in the evening of lifc-no, Mdtis past, in
| thenightof life-itmust be dark night with him
10 the end. There is but one single soace left him
I==the loving presence of his wife and children.
His little children cry out in their destitution
upon Their father for bread, OH hear theiryoung
voices and be pitiful In this, also, you will
show wisdom and moderation and courage-to
use good American word, 'pluck." Throw off
the trainels of narrow minded party, and act
al once, without Cabinet consultations, and ire.
spective of our gentle and genial Judge Advo-
cate. Put the vcxed question: which know
has cost you many anxious and perplexed hours
of "What shall do with Mr.. Davis" forever
lat rest. 1t is difficult thing to bring him
lriqhRy to trial: more difficult to dispose Of him
afterwards. "Behold, show you more ex-
cellent way" Give us the permission to go now
to his prison, bearers OF your .fM pardon and
let him go quietly to his home. The "South-
ern Confederacy' is gone, the wave has closed
over it. 1t was a rich dryosy, but its treasures
are buried With your help and by patience
and skill, its precious things may again see the
light, and grace and adorn our common country
As to Mr.. Davis, you know it is not never can
be in his power to interfere in any way with
fthe Government
"We have not in our petition ventured to pre-
sent personal considerations to your Excellency..
think, myself, however, that no man ought to
be above them, and I acknowledge they weigh
with me think they do with all those daugh-
ters of yours. We have on ambition to succeed
in our mission of love and mercy All fathers
wish their children to be ambitious, and we
know that we shall have little niche in his
tory if we obtain this great honor We are all
proud of you. We believe God raised you up as
he did CYRUS. for this great work, and that he
fitted you for the task We know that you are
wise and great, we believe you are good. Prove
it now by acceding to our prayer. Grant us
royal pardon, and that right royally. Send us
away with melody.in our hearts. Mr.. President,
do not, as any commonplace man might do, tell
us to leave the petition and you will consider
our cause. The time for consideration is past.
"Act act in the living present. heart within
aud God overhead"
Mr.. johnson listened with marked attention
and hesitated for some moments before he made
reply. Finally he said: "That he regretted
more than he knew how to express, that he
could not grant the petition, and that it would
give him far more pleasure to accede to the re-
quest of the ladies present than it would give
them to have it granted. "If," added he sit were
simply question, however, between man and
man. would release Mr.. Davis at once but 1t
lisa great national question. Mightyissues might
be involved, and ndw is notthe time totakesuch
a step. l think" continued the President. Il
have the courage or as you term it ladies, pluck,
to do my duty and have proved IT, When the
time comes for the exercise Of maguanimlty,
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 IN
the course off few weeks. A hasty and inJudi-
cious action in this matter might produce incal-
culable misery. Mr. Davis has been great
leader in the war against the government, and
it is but right he should be tried by the laws OF
the land. ! sympathizc with him in his suffer
ings. His quarters have been changed and his
condition amelioratedi"
In conclusion, Mr.. Johnson said "All men,
ladies. are under the influence Of woman, and ]
not less than other men. You are my jewels.
| want your help and your prayers.
No Knight ofold, said one Of the ladies, could
have been more courtly IN his def reace nor
| more gentle in his refusal.