New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-08-15
In behalf Of she Prisoner, Jefferson
Davis.

To the Editor Of The w. Y. Tribune.
SIR: Permit one who always opposed the
policy but not the right Of Secession. and who has
taken the amnesty OATH and intends to keep it faith
fully 10 say one word for fallen. "fenseless man.
notice that great many Northern journals are
trying to make the impression that Jefferson Davis has
no friends or admirers in the South The Secretary Of
State as would appear from the dispatches OF the
Associated Press has given currency to the same mis-
taken idea.
1t IL true that Mr. Davis has bitter enemies In
the South but who-what saint from glorycould have
held the post he did during four years Of tremendous
war; without making many bitter enemiess But SIT ne
has also many warm friends, who would do anything
that honorable. high-minded men and companionsin'
adversely may DO TO aid and comfort him In this bitter
hour of defeat and death to all his and their hopes oi
peaceably establishing separate homogeneous govern
ment of Southern States Even those who are casSed
"a bis enemies cannot do not deny to him the possession
of many of the highest and rarest virtues OF true man
and a noble Christian gentleman. Their principai Oh
lection TO him was. that he was man OF unfortunate
obstinate bull headed preudices, growing out OF ola
party fcuds and collisions Beyond this the worst tnat
can be said against Mr. Davis by the most ardent Union
man OF the South is, that he was an wrong ~ MS po
be said of many il majority Of those WHO nave a.
ready received the Executive pardon. . ,.
II should be remembered. too that all the D,er per
sona anmosity toward jefferson Davis Ing the war;
originated In and proceeded from south Carolina anu
when was South Carolina ever known TO De rght,
either in her loves or IN her hafesf ais or tnae poI
little Kingdom down by tho sounding scar Her
rguenot blood has ever been exceeding hoi volcanic
turbulent and by consequence, her ery cridfeh nave
met with little else but misfortune ana disaster rer
haps our Catholic historians could tell US the real
Wliy the Uugue OTIS were driven out OF france lucy
must have been guilty long ago oil something very
bad" something very criminal In politics or other
wise that misfortune should have 30 persstehty eiune
to them like a:cursel
No. Sir; Jefferson Davis Is not without many warm
friends among the Southern people outside OF South
Caroina-and they do not think he is any more 10
blame on the whole, than they are and that II be
punished by imprisonment and delpatioR Chat is the
old Anglo Saxon mode Of furnishing treasol they oagnt
ought TO be extended TO ALPHABETICALLY since the real
instigaors Of the Rebellion Ca houn Brooks Keitt and
Yancey have oil lOGg since been summoned 10 their
final account. or course those VINO have violated the
rues of civilized war ether side ought 10 be ex.
cepted; 1 haven't word to say for them. But 90
most earnestly but humbly contend that Jefferson Da-
is infinitely better man, in some respects, than
many who have already been pardoncd and If he were
pardoned too while 1t would be but proper assertion
OF the majestic confidence Of the Nation In It's own
greatness and power-one that would electrify and
charm the worldhe would be worth more TO the future
councils Of reunited rehabilitatcd RnpuDlc than
whole regiment Of those mere adventures IN politics
poliroos in who. by their ceaseess agitation
and unhaowed plots, brought on the strife but dared
follow ont their doctrines 20 their legitimate con-
illusions and bloody consequences. Hence my went
into bomb proofs at The inception o. sne or
carried their precious carcases to the opposing camp
and to-day known and accepted as the very pnks Oh
loyalty. -,e,
saving and excepting the great men Of South Carolina
AIR. Davis is regarded us the abest statesman. as
Robert T. Lee the ablest general OF the age Had he
ol himz In
ana allowed MS generals 10 manage the war. he would
doubtless have been much beloved as ne il respected
even South Carolina might have been propitiated.
As it was. he attempted to do too much and miseraby
failed on more than one half Of the field.
Not alone IN the South Is it that Mr. Davis Is re-
rarded a. among the greatest of statesmen but also IN
Europe where The standard is perhaps little higher
than here the echoes from that quarter OH repeu
for more THAI four years past sufficiently attest lis
State papers. without exception. during the h,peI'gn,
were warmly and even enthusiastically admired by the
best critics. by the most accomplished pontclans anu
statesmen Of England and the Continent and were
sdered superior to anything that had before APP
peared this side the Aaatic as to mark new era
In the history OF American politics.
SO far from Mr. Davis being generally hated In
the South, some assert. or even . irendess as
others insnuDe, quite sure that his discharge on
parole, on the same footing with Gen. Lee, would do
more conquer The hearts Of the people Of the S)ah,
that be en- object desirable To our Northern brethren
than any other measures that could be adopted.
Rather than him punished any more than he mas al
ready been by defeat capture: and im rsonment they
the ransom They would. verify believe. almost con
csde negro suffrage. the negroes could be
properly educated and prepared, they could get IN
arm the enlargement the free pardon the honorable
discharge of their late noble and Christian chieiser
want chiefcomrade. and Chief Magistrate IN rebel
lion they now the folly Of and very much regret.
Mr. Seward processes to be asonisbed that not ore
Of all those who have applied for pardon has opened
his mouth or said word in favor of Jefferson Davis
Perhaps Mr. Seward did not reflect that men who are
applying for pardon for themselves would not be likely
to incumber their petitions for amnesty with snppca-
tions for another particularly when that other Is re-
garded by the powers that be- as the chief OF SIN
ners Beside il Is understood that the President is
De rsonaly inmical to Mr.. Davis owing 10 some IN.
pleasant passages in the Senate five years ago.
Allow me- in conclusion, Mr.. Editor TO say that be.
fore the war; had voted FOR Mr.. Davis in my
life. though living in the same State with him; that
have been nearly all my life Whig editor. while he
was Democrat dyed-in thewoo. as everybody knows
that though believer in the right Was ever opposed
to tho policy of secession and went into the late night
on the losing side merely To help my friends and kins
men our neighbor boys and becsnse all yon great
leaders of Northern sentiment told s0emnly that
Coercion of State not Ia be thought Of and there
fore, / believed that we could succeed without much
trouble have the time during the terrible war
lust passed-parculsry about the period OF the Fort
ress Monroe Conference-when could freely, with my
own hands have heayed captain overheard to tue
sharks; such my oyerpowertng uaddening chngrln
ut the extreme short-sgbtedness, or pigheadedness
which then believed he displayed This letter there
fore you viii perceive is written wholly in the inter.
ess OF moderation and magnarnmity, concination ara
brotherly love. Most respectfully yours,
Menpkis Tsnp July 81, 1865