The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-09-06
THE LADIES OF VIRGINIA.


tiers in other Southern States, in behalf of the
President of the late Confederacy. 81
The women of Virginia, tGod bless them.)
heretofore have been leaders in all that was
noble and charitable, and of good report"
and now that they find this distinguished
Southerner overtaken by adversely, they will
surely do their part towards alternating his
troubles.
THE ladies of Georgia are getting up meet
ings to petition the President on behalf of MIR.
Davis, y Georgia Pdper.
MEMORIAL IN BEHALF OF MIR. DAVIS.
The following petition to President john
san, signed by over four hundred ladies, resi-
dents of Holly Springs, Marshall county, Mis-
sissippi, is earnest, eloquent sympathetic and
respectful in its tone, and will undoubtedly re-
ceive proper attention at Washington. Taken
in connection with the informal action of the
Mississippi State Convention on behalf of the
distinguished prisoner of State, it is to be
hoped something valuable will be effected in
his behalf. Mr.. Davis is now prisoner-not
an enemy and should be treated as such:
toll HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss, Aug l, 1865.
To HIS Ercellency, Andrew Johnson President
| Of the United States
The undersigned ladies of Holly Springs,
would respectfully solicit Executive clemency
for jefferson Davis, late President of the Con-
| federate States, now confined in Fortress Mon
roe Occupying as he did for years before the
inception Of the late unhappy civil war, pro-
minent positions both in the State and Federal
| Governments, positions which were cheerfully
accorded him by reason of his undoubted
ability and unquestioned devotion to his native
South the undersigned deem it not unbecom-
| ing to apply to you, sir the chief of the great
representative Government of earth, for indul-
gence in his behalf
| 1t is well known to your Excellency that,
for years past sectional strife has been seem
ingly fostered by extremists both North and
South which led to a general conflict of arms
and the shedding of the best blood of the
land. One party and section have been forced
| by the arbitrament of the sword to succumb
10 the victors and their success the plaudits
of the great North have been given bounti-
| fully. Is it asking too much of you to grant
the yielding party and its chief the poor trib-
ute OF honesty for the changes in Government
they had in yiew9 ir slr as.- LID
Mr.. Davis was but the representative of the
defeated parity 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 storm of war, he was but
doing their bidding in armed conflict, as he
had before represented their views in times of
peace is it therefore right that walls of wrath
should be poured upon his head, who, whatever
his faults may have been, or the supposed
| errors of his cause, was devoted and faithful
| alike to the people and principles he repFesen-
ted? au a9at - ~ s2 s.a.1 ~.
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 unhap-
Ply war, be brought home to you by vision OF
reality, we could not, would not plead in vain
for one whom we honor I'd in prosperity, and
respect and venerate in adversely. '.l
The war is at an end, the people Of the South
have again become loyal citizens to the Gov
eminent of the United States, our fathers, our
brothers, our husbands who survived the bat
tie storm; have returned to the bosorns of their
families. We admit the fraternal feeling
which should exist between citizens of the
same Government can be more effectually res
tored by mildness and cernency than by the
punishment of those who by reason of common
toll, dangers and privations, are and must ever
be dear to every true Southerner
Respectfully,
| Mrs. W S. FEATHERsToN,
&C A. G. MoEwEN, -
1e4 MARTHA ROBINSON,
h. ~ an2 Miss. E. G, Polk, f,o(
49, 80 ALICE MORGAN, 5,
ased ss I'd MARY MORGAN, 80
| and four hundred and ten Others. IN o. True
| Dettd Hl.' iur ~ stFsP .Hi 1tfa 9lS32
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