The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-09-15
JEFF. DAVIS.
Lenieney Invoked in His Behalf.
Memorial Of the Mississippi Con
ventien to the President. e
JACKSON, Miss, Aug. %.

of Mississippi, assembled for the purpose of
amending the State Constitution 80 as to restore
our relations with the Federal Government, as
Mississippians and individuals, respectfully
Charles Clark, late acting Governor of this
State, is, we learn, held In confinement by au-
thority Of the United States Government. at
Fort Pulaski He is old, manned, shattered In
constitution, and wrecked in fortune. He has
long been known as gentleman of high social
position, of great worth, integrity and intelli-
gence. r.
States in rebellion against the Federal Govern
ment, is said to be in strict confinement, and
debarred the privileges Of corresponding or
conversing with his family or friends. He is
said to be suffering from tll-health, and to be
threatened with the loss of sight His family
is reduced to poverty.
Here, resistance to the authority of the Unit.
ed States is at an end. There is no longer
among our people any intention or wish to re-
sist the Government, but an earnest determi-
nation to return to their peaceful occupations,
and to restore the prosperity that once blessed
our State. The action of the Convention, now
in session, leaves no doubt of the truth of this
assertion. We believe that what is said of our
own State is true of all the States lately in re.
bellion.
Few of US coincide with Messrs. Davis and
SiaIA III tDoaf pOutiCdl OplulOus. MOSI OI US
voted against secession, and, for years, OPP
posed the State rights party, yet none of us
doubted that Mr.. Davis acted upon an honest
and sincere conviction that the theory of our
government which he adopted was right-a
theory once advocated by some of the best
men our country produced. He was 10th to
resort to disruption of the Union, as a mode
of remedying what he thought to be wrongs in
the past, and guarding against other and more
IN a no m ho Inn
pending. -. f,,at. g, l '.a a,.a sd
After the convention assembled in this State
had passed an ordinance of secession he left
the Senate Of the United States reluctantly and
with sorrow, believing, we are assured, that he
was required to do so by his duty to his State,
a due regard for consistency and the political
principles he had so long adhered to. The SOL
his latest addresses to the Senate, justify us in
these opinions. It was well known to our
people that he was not among the most ardent
of his political associates.
In other times, leading Mississippians to VIC
tory, he gallantly fought and bled for the Un-
ion, and reflected honor and renown upon our
State as well as the whole country. We can
not be Indifferent to his fate now. However
much we differ from him in his political opin-
ions, we can but sympathize with him in his
misfortunes. ..-..-. -
When the war of sections began. inaugura
ted not so much by the action or appeal Of in
dividuals as by the general uprising and enthu-.
siasm OF the masses, he was chosen with ex-
traordinary unanimity, because he was known
to be honest, sincere and prudent to preside
over the States in revolt. He was the repre-
sentative of the sentiments of the people of
the States. His acts were those of the great
body of the people. We respectfully and ear
nestly ask that our own sins, the sins of the
millions for whom and with whom he acted.
may not be visited upon his head. '1'.'
Now that our people are returning heartily
and cheerfully to their allegiance, we are con-
fdent the pardon of the gentleman we have
mentioned will go very far to produce more
kindly feeling between thepeople of the North
and the South, and rid us of much OF that as.
perlty which has arisen from the recent con.
nict: We believe, too, that the pardon of Mr..
Davis would be an act of grateful magnanimi. /,
ty. becoming powerful government, whose
ml1tary strength and resources have astonished
tne world, and whose claims to respect would
rest not more upon its power than upon its
acts OF mercy in the hour of triumph. We
suomlt that this act would elicit the applause
and excite the admiration Of all good men at !
home, and all good governments abroad. 30
We think the disasters that war has brought
upon US Will prevent the recurrence of rebel
ION. Inese disasters may well stand in the
page OF further punishment They have
A 20 AZ. We FecOSn1Ze t0em IN the de6-
,iatlon OF our febds-in the ruin of our home
'teads-the destruction of untold wealth-tbe !
errlole loss of Life and the sweeping away of |
Almost al that makes people great, prosper
BUS or happy. We therefore appeal, earnestly
md respectfully, to the President to extend to
nese gentlemen, in whose fate the Mississippi |
'ians especially feel so deep an interest, the
anne ciemency which he has. generously OK. !
ended to so many Of our people. J.
.