The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1865-08-18

Ianeey, have all long sinea been SUM
HlOned to their final account. Of cOurSe,
those who have yiolAied tho rule Of
CIVILIZED war, on either t1tle, ought 70 ~
excepted ! haven't q WUTt tiS7-say for
them. But ! do moAt earnestly but
humbly contend, that Jefferson Davis
d "A infinitely better man, IN some res
peetn, than many who have already
been paHdonod: and II he were pardon-
ed too, while il would he but q proper
assertion Of the majestic confidence OF
the Nation IN its own greatness and
power-one that would electriiy and
charm fhe 'WOrld--he would he worth
more 10 ilp future councils OF a re-uni-
ted. rr-hahililAted Republic, than u
whole regiment Of tho1e mere adven-
tureis in politics and poltroons in war,
who By their CeAseless agitation and
unhallowed plots, brought on the strife
but dared not follow out their doctrines
to their Legitimate conclusions and
bloody consequences, Hence they
went into "bOinb-proOts" al the lncep-
ton Of the war; or, basely DESERVING
their dupcs upon the first disaster, car
ried their precious cnrcasSes 10 the OPP
posing camp, and are to-day known
and accepted as the very pinks Of 10y
atty.
BY almost the entire population Of the
South-alwnys saving and excepting
the great men OF South Carolina l--Mr.
Davis il regarded US the ableSl states
man, us Robert T.. Lee the ablest GEN
eral, of the age. Had he confined him
self TO what was his fOrle-stntesmau
ship-and allowed his Generals to man
age the war, lie would doubtless have
been as much beloved as he il respected
even South Carolina might have been
propiliated. As II was, he attempted to
do too much, and niiserably failed on
more than one-half Of the field.
Not alone in the South Is II that Mr..
Davis is regarded rs among thegreatest
Of statesmen, but also In Europe, where
the standard is perhaps a little higher
than here, az the echoes from TINT quar-
ter, Oft repeated for more than four
ycnrs past, sufficiently attest. His
State papers, without exception, during
the rebellion, We're warmly and even
enthusiastically admired by the best
critics, by the most accomplished poll
ticiuns and statesmen, of England and
the Continent, md were considered so
superior to anything that had before
appeared on this side the Atlantic, MS to
mark Il new era in the history of Amer
lean politics.
So lnr from Mr.. Dnvis being general
~ hnted" in the South, as some assert,
or even "iriendlcss," ms others insinu-
ate, lnm quito sure that his discharge
on parole, on the same footing with
Gen. Lee, would do more 10 conquer Tie
hearts Of he pc0plc NJ The South, If that
I've nm object desirable TO our Northern
brethren, than any other megHurps that
could be adopted. Rathcpthnn see him
punished any moro than he has already
been, by defeat, capture, and imprison-
ment, they would impoverish them
selves for years to come to raise the
ransom! They would, / verify believe,
almost conccdc negro suffrage, us soon
as the negroes could be properly edurI-
ted and prepared, If they could get in
return acknowledgement, the free pardon,
the honorable discharge of their late
nohlcamd Christian chiGf-scrvaut, chief
comrade, and f-Magistrate In re-
belliOn they now sec the folly of and
very much regret.
Mr.. Seward processes to DO astonish-
ed that not one, of all those who have
.appled for pardon, has opened his
mouth, or said one word in favor of
jefferson Davis. Perhaps Mr.. Seward
did not reflect that men who are apply
ing for pardon for themselves would
not he likely to inCumber their petit
tons for amnesty with supplications
for another, particularly when TINT
other is regarded by ''the powers that
he" as the chief of sinners. Beside, 1t
is understood that the President is psr.
sonally inlmioal TO Mr.. Davis, owing to
some unpleasant passages in the Senate
five years ago,
Allow me, in conclusion, Mr.. Editor,
TO say that before the war, ] had never
voted for Mr.. DHvisin my life, thoughliv-
ing in the same State with him; TINT
have been nearly all my life II Wing
editor, whilo he was II Democrat dyed.
in-thG wool, us everybody knows; that,
though believer in the Tight, was
ever opposed to the policy of secession,
md went into the late fight, on the los
ing side, merely TO help my friends and
kinsmen-"Our nelghbOr boyS"-and
because all you grsdi leaders of north.
crn sentiment told us so solemnly that
coercion of II State was not to bethOught
of, md, therefore, believed that we
could succeed without much trouble.
1 have seen the time during the terrible
war just passed-pnrticularly about the
period OF the Fortress Monroe Conie-
renCe-when / could freely, with my
own hnnds, have heAved our captain
overheard 10 the sharks; such was my
overpowering, mNddening chNgrln at
the extreme short-sightedness, or pig
headcdness, which ! then believed he
displayed. This letter, therefore, you
will perceive, is written wholly in the
interests of moderation and mHgnanim-
ity, Cancellation and brotherly love.
Most respectfully yours.
j. =. PRYOR.
Memphis, Tenn, July 81, 1865.
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TIE Baltimore and Ohio Railroad