The Portland daily press., 1865-05-27
4 as95tl Q = = saL9 nsl
Il jeff. Davis As a Prisoner,


A Port Royal correspondent Of the New
? York Times, who visited the steamer VIM. P.
Clyde when off that place with JEFF. Davis
q and his GslIow prisoners on board, give sc;
counts Of the appearance OF the arch-retel
and bis more NOTED associates, AZ follows:
Il can hardly tell you with what emotions
n I approached that little area of deck-room
(, having securely within its, Limits the remains
of The C0nfederocys sebsch zoe haze been bat
~ spare man, dressed Ia gray, having i wan,
gaunt and depressed looks his whiskers and
moustache rather close cut and almost white,
was walking along the space between the
=. deckscabin and bulyarks, and stopped for a
oii moment to caress little girl very indifIerenty
dressed. and. theR passed ia at.the gangway
door. These were Jefferson Davis and his
daughter Irecognized at once the features,
which had once graced the Senate Chamber
ofthe United States. Then he had a haugh-
ty, military air. Then he was the leader Of
tine Southern party in Congress, debating
terms with Notrhern, doughfaces imperiously;
now, the State prisoner, bent and borne down
as though oppressed with weight OF care and
length Of years Evidently. he has passed
through great deal of mental trouble during
the last four years-how much of IL has had
its influence recently In producing such a
change, perhaps no one but himself kno VS.
he was seated in a corner, his wife, a plain
81 looking lady, dressed in black, by his side, and
the two were engaged in perusing papers,
which had been brought them. His hat was
drawn down over his eyes, SO that only when
he lifted his face could much expression be
noticed. No one wished to be introduced to
him, at least Isaw no disposition cf the kind.
For myself, am sure nothing could have in
( duced me to touch his bood-red hand. Two
Of his children, boy and girl looking to be
Ell
about everywhere, seemingly unconscious OF
the intense interest which concentrated upon
their sire. ses39 Aslt eae 81. sqssa
/, y Ia the cabin below was Alexander H. Ste
phens, the Vice President, and Reagan Of Tex
as, the Postmaster General Of the late Confsd-.
eracy, and IN the forward cabin was Wheeler,
OF cavalry notoriety. / naturally sought the
cabin. Mr., Stephens looked old. He had The
) same stoop, the same parchmentlike face, { ie
same keen eye and the same fragile form that
characterized him long ago-only. he looks
! Older Always y gentleman and bred schol-
Al, bis conversation Is intensely Interesting.
His manner was subdued, but not that of a
prisoner. he conyersed freely, desiring ip-
formation upon many points, and canvassiug !,
without reserve, reconstruction and treat J
= lnent OF the subdued Sonth, I'm the way exact
~ that itstruck his mind, never eviucing he
least care or anxiety respecting himself per-
sonally. M i;s a-sssii IS ..ss.sT 40 s4ssii
attention Of Mr.. Stephens, 1t fell to my lot to
converse. chiefly with Mr.. Reagan. Heis q
havy, stout and somewhat lefhargic man, but
In conVersation, shows be has a. great deal OF
ability. he desired particularly to know
what policy would be instituted ia the way OF
"a reconstruction, believing that a humane
one would be the easiest inorder to concilIate
and hold the South.
dg = As we parted from these men, and especial.
ly from Mr.. Stephens, | could not resist the
temptation to say, that SO far as the sentiment
Of the North was concerned in his particular
instance, he would find it. probably, much
more lenient than towards Mr. Davis; that of
the policy Of the Government, OF course, we
could know but little; but that, since the brrl-
- talm murder ofiour President, the public mind
was running 10 the direction strongly OF hold
ing those who originated and nurtured rebel
honto astrict accountability So sa saN
3 Atthe head of the stairs, as we passed up,
still sat Jefferson Davis 10 the corner, his hat
slopched over his eyes; he was still reading
The windows full of scurions observers, at
sstracted no attention from him whatever. Once
while we were 10 the cabin, he came down and
handed Mr.. Stephens paper and immediately
retired. Our conversation was hushed Instant
ly. No one desired to be made known to him.
and probably, IL the move had been In that di-
ection by his associates, no one but what
would have refused the proffered honor; and
yet there were officers and civilians among us
whose greeting, given IN sincerity, and with
ordinary sympathy over misfortune, he might
nave coyeteda Heseemedtp Etand before us
ny tne empodiment of the Infamous rebellion
ana Its attendant erueldes--as the deliber. |
ATE author Of our national woes, and conse- |
quently az the great criminal There was no |
disposition TO treat him .rndely; no offensive |
REMARKS were made in his presence II was |
recogaized by all that the strongh and of the |
government was upon him, aud that in its |
keeping the MEMORABLE demands Of Divine and |
human justice would be safe. 3ii's3 .S-rs''-
From what could see and lpsy,, from an /
er sources, these men have no rroner annrecil |
alton OF the position in which thew ARA strand /
Ing. Davis himself, It Is asserted has. no idea |
that anything beyond punishment viii Ia III
lot. II am sure itwas not our business - 80
any opinion to the individuals theInsslyss ~
on so grave a subject unless particulars ~ ~
lieited. But could JEFF. Davis have hasrd
through the streets of our smaA town The
John Brown song, and especially the allusIonl
TO the sour apple tree,a coming naturally
from almost every ones lips when bis capture
was made known, more than likely he would
az least feel somewhat dubious as to his ulti
mate fate. No ore here doubts that he Will
De tried for treason, convicted Of treason and
hung for treason. What will become al The
others We knom mt