The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-08-18
More About the State Prisoner
at Fortress Monroe.
RELAXATION OF THE SEVERE PRISON RULES.
What Davis Thinks Of His Treason and How
Hs Defends It,
HIS HEALTH, HABITS AND DRESS.
&C.. &c.. &c.
CUR Fortress Monroe Correspondence.
FORTRESS MONROE, August Is, 1855.

FORTRESS MONROE, August Is, 1855
The summer is about past, and the harvest is nearly
ended and yet nothing has been done with JEFF Davis or
seems likely TO be done with him. except his continued
watching and maintenance at the expense or the govern
ment Although occasional got anoat Of his in
tended removal from here and tral-and even II is said
that regular army officer Is here now to what con-
venences there for trying him at this place and the
trial is set down begin the LIST Of next monh-a
these prove unsubstana a. baseless as the
wild yagaries Of dream Would it not be better for
the reputation of the government at home and abroad
better in it's general effect upon the popular mind every
section of the country If everything connected with the
present prison life Of JEFF Davis and the course deter
mined regarding him in the future seduously
sought to be kept shrouded in impenetrabe MYSTERY
Assurances of his safety and his humane treatment
prisoner seem TO really the only two points the athor
ties should be anxious about On the contrary. the
course that has been and Is being taken in relation to
him. only magnines his consequence and to raise
him to the actual dignity of absolute martyrdom He is
unworthy this consequence he Is no at subject for
tyriom He only deserving obscurty forgetfulncss
contempt. am not expressing my own opinions: am
declaring the views or every loyal man with whom have
conversed the subject except the few stern and
reenng radicals who 60 in for his unconditional and
immediate hanging.
II IL easy TO perceive that there Ia gradual relaxation
from the severity of the rules first prescribed by the
reference
jeff Davis else in the enforcement Of these rules
Under these original instructions he was to be kept
closely confined to his casemate and this course was
persisted in till as we have shown in former letters It
nearly killed him. and there fearful apprehensons
of his becoming martyr in earnest Then, no one but
the commanding general and the Officer OF the guard
could speak to him. and tho latter limited in his
conversation to answering his questions, which must
not be permitted to go beyond tho range OF matters APP
pertaining his condition and necessities prisoner
At tho present time the feest sort Of conversation Is
daily held between the officers Of the guard and himself
OLD RULES IN FORCE.
There has been no dminuton in the guard whose duty
II is to see that jeff Is kept secure The number Of
guard including officers placed over him and
State prisoners occupying adjoining classmates &c. C.
Clay aud John MITCHELL Is abont eighty and four soldiers
are still kept continually night and day in his casemate
two In the front and two In the back room. II will be
SEEM therefore that in regard to his safe and sure
durancc there is still no let up and the usabe policy
OF This course sayng nothing Of the perfectly impreg
Restricting his reading to the Bible and preventing his
receiving writing any letters even TO his own family
are two the original rules still enforced The neces
sity great good to be gained through these prohibit
tions cannot be by many, and is urged that such
alleged useless inhbitions are among tho things that
magnify him into martyr. While there is
DENYING the fact that the government Is its own best
arbiter and the possible impolcy II not mpeTtrence Of
head and front Of traitorous offending towards itself
this further fact evident that take whatever the
might all would not be suited Go to either
extreme pursue any golden mean, and there would
be grumbers After all the prevailing sentiment is that
he should be made OF least consequence possible and
everything be avoided calcula TO keep his in pub
lie memory, and least Of all, snsender undue sympathy
COMPANY WHITES ABOUT DAVIS.
While some as have limited above, would have JcH.
Davis hung once without going to the trouble OF
for slow lingering species OF tcrturesuch treatment
and such horrible death, by slow starvation as was
eted out thousands Of gallant soldiers In Southern
prisons fate like this it is insisted would only be
Just rctributon for his conduct towards the
cspves falling into the der clutches sns
one Gle has done all the mischief lie He is like
rattlesnake without his fangs He may rattle and hiss.
but he is powerlcss to poison and destroy" "Banish
him." says another; 'let the country no longer be
cursed with his odious presence Place him where he
will no more see the American flag he has sought 10 sup
ted by this government and It's free and noble insttu
tons These who 60 in fer hanging him urge, of
course that the dignity and seiircspect Of the govern
nent demand such step to DO taken. Hi hanging, they
insist would be example to traitors In fnturr. But
tho varieties OF opinion nearly as various as the
men giving uttcrances to them, and as al have heard
these varieties of views need not quote further on this
point.
WHAT JEFF. HINsLr
Davis has taken very frequent occasion % ex
press fully and frankly his own views Of his
conduct as leader in the ato gigantic rebellion
against the government The excessively egosstical
and he Is, he likes indeed to talk Of him
self When the humor sezes him there II end to this
self talking and self aduaiion Listening to these
egotisica hangncs the evidence Is conclusive that he
has talked himself into the firm belief that no purer
patriot ever lived. He takes the constitution Us the
basis of his argument and, making this instrument nbet
his sophisins, branches off into the most subtle
toni Is the alleged prosecutions which tho South has
10 long been subjected at the hands 81 the North. In
these moods Of talking and argument he coniesses no
wrong his part that Of tho State ing from
the government. His language In fact, at times shows
him 10 I've arrsnt traitor and hnter OF our govern
ment as when lie swsyed the scepre OF the Southern
coniederacy But the tone f his conversations differs
Like all false men, however guarded they may be- his
memory sometimes fails him and leads TO direct contra
dcory statements and views 10 hoee previously uttered
More than Ia has betrayed himself into eulogy Of
our government and its founders and policy speakiDg
OF strength united people his eyes, too sparklcd
with animation as bis words warmed in description Of
vast resources, and the impotence OF England and
France united 70 bring us down from our proud position
would spring from his lips Of the folly and wckedness OF
trying to break up such q government. His impulses
strong are those Of all en OF strong passions ana
overweenng ambition, and hence the confession.
moment and his eyes would lose their glowing sparkle,
dark shadow would rest upon that fsce-not a word
more would he speak Could one penetrate the cham.
bes OF that SOUL would there not think YOU be found
engraved within remorsef gentleman who has passed
hanging the hands Of the Confederate chivalry, told
day that the late Bishop Otey, Of Tennessee, whom
secession, said in his dying momcnts.-and he caught
the words from his repenan' llps-"Ths crime OF trea
son, verify believe, i the sin against the Holy Gn.s
the objectionable SIM Bishop Ocy died with no hope Of
pardon Of his TO his government There
timcs according TO all accounts when Jcn Davi.
committed this objectionable SIM Ghosts Of thousands
slain in battle think you not at such times haunt him
and visions OF the giobet and rerbutiye justice unwes
rying and uncndipg in the pursuit and punishment Of
him But he quickly rallies. He does not believe he
win be hung. He does not believe the government has
any reason for hanging him any right TO hang him
| ms PRISON BAnrm AND DET.
Very little change has taken place in respect either
the prison habits or diet OF Davis His cascmatc allows
but little latitude Of locomoon, and SO his present STU
alton md surroundings admit the introduction oil very
little variety. His fertility Of mental resources is very
good thing 10 have In prison, as a COW ana chickens
and good well Of water and pump according to spar
rowgrsss, sre good things TO bsve In the country ~
may fail back ON these mental resources, but besides
| being monotonous work. tho result cannot he perma
neniv consoatory and satisfactory He stili taxes n
morning bath and his hours for rising taking his mea
and going to bed remain the same. He is much NOR
cheerful than formerya change TO be ascrioed TO III
daily outdoor walks and improved change In health M
smokes frequently and Is much moro agreeable II
his manners and talks with increased freedom and VI
vacitv. To officers Of the guard he tokes fancy
and Is very polite and communicative, while he VIII no