American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1865-11-02

he was but the representative of the peJ-
pile of the revolted States. His SID, it It
be sin, was our sin. His failure, which
want OF success has made d crime, was
our crime; and it is a thought Of bitter
poignancY 10 us and our people, when The
dark clouds Of civil war are vanishing
aud the sunshine Of constitutional freei 9m
is again giving warmth to us, aud the at
mosphere of civil law is again beinr
breathed, that our destiny is not shared
by him; that We are free, and be IN bond,
that our families are striving to v py
away the tears Of affliction, while bis eau
buL agonize in sorrow over an absent aud
imprisoned husband aud father; thai the
dark cloud passing away from Us, still
overshadows him; the sun light We are
beginning to see, visits not his prison, nor
is the atmosphere Of freedom we breathe
nvigoraling his person
The liberation Of Jefferson Davis, aud
his return TO the State of Mississippi, can
work no danger to the great nation over
whose councils you have, in the proy'-
dence of God, been called to preside. His
arm is powerless for injury; his intellect
TOO great and noble to inspire him with
single thought of renewed contest; his
heart too much in sympathy with our
people, moi to compel him TO live with US
as loyal citizens henceforth.
Vengeance cannot be proper right
arm of any people or earthly power.
Vengeance is mine, and | repay it,"
saith the Lord. Vindicalion of national
power is not now needed, when the sword
has SO terribly accomplished that work;
nor are further examples necessary to
prevent recurrence Of the late civil
strife. A land Redeemed with blood;
homes devastated and desolated; cities
and towns with little left but blackened,
broken and empty walls; fields, once rich
with harvests and crops, now silent,
waste and barren. are sufficiently elo-
quent for that purpose. And if ven
gaence or further vindication,is is needed for
iuiure safety, on our people shonld
it he visited; nor should they be yica-
rously punished.
The people of Mississippi, who know
Jefferson Davis SO well know that if there
is such thing as a moral impossbiliy,
it is morally impossible that bis name
can be justly chargeable with asssssina-
uonr with cruelty, or crime. His heart
never entertained, his hand never gave
help to any such atrocity 1t cannot in
crease the glory Of the United SaDes,
nor promote the safety and stability of the
General Government. that the dungeon,
or the scatf1ld, or the gaIows. are to be
made the 'cure alls" for political Offences;
nor can it harmonize and unite our peo-
pie, ii jefferson Davis prison, or place D..
exile, or grave, is 10 be revisited every
hour in thought, and every Year in fact,
by thousands of men no hold allegiance
TO the National Government Ii would be
in that case a Mecca, al whose shrine we
would feel bound every day and year. to
remember that be was sacrificed for the
people among whom he was born, with
whom be was educated. whose prejudices
and opinions he entertained, and whose
fate aud fortunes he wished to share.
Show TO US that Peace has truly its
''CtoiiSS hS "Cll as "HT-NictOfleS over
pref udice, passion and revenge; victories
over any spirit or policy that would keep
the people of this POI ion Of the Union,
sullen subjects instead of willing brethren.
The cruel hand Of war has not reached
the homes and hearths Of the great and
North; but it has come down
with giants weight upon every portion
Of our once fair and happy South. The
evidences are all around us. We meet
them at every step; see them every hour
Of the day, and hear them with ears but
too well accustomed to the sound. Isit
last, or wise, or can it be beneficial, that
another costly sacrifice shall be made of
our blood and treasure? And Jefferson
Davis is Of our blood, and be is our treas.
ure! We believe it true policy for you,
for US. for the nation, for the world, that
the gulf Of feeling which has separated
the North and South. should not be Wild
ened. 1t were hypocritical to say. that
The cessation of the civil war has bridpod
that gulf We believe that IL cannot be
done, until the amnesty extended to us,
reaches him; and..that, as We are being
to your Councils, he should be
to ours. The country will be
'afer with you in our hearts. and him in
'ur hands. than Il can be with him in our
hearts and thoughts continually, and bis
person in YOUR custody.
The walls Of military prisons have tod
'nough OF suffering. Enough blood has
been shed,
-wbose guiltless Drops
Are every one a woe. q sore complaint
''Gainst him whose wrongs give edge unto swords
That make sacs waste In brief mortality"
Open the doors Of jefferson Davis
1et him breathe once more the air Of per-
onal freedom J Return him 10 the State