New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-02-05
An Old Letter from Ex-President Davis

Mrs. W. j. Brown, of Indiana, has furnished thu
Indianapolis Herald with the following letter from
8 Mr.. Davis to her late husband. AS will be seen il
was Q private letter, but its publication is now
given as part Of history;
WASHINGTON, d. O., 7th May, 1868.
My Dear Sri received the Sentinel contain
ing your defense Of me against the false accuse
ton of disunionsm, and before had returned to
You the thanks to which you are entitled, l re-.
cefved, this day, the st. Joseph Valley Register,
mailed by you to call my attention to an article in
answer 70 your defense just in all things save its
too complimentary terms. Seg
wish had the letter quoted from, that you
might publish the whole Of that which is garbled
TO answer purpose. In o part of the letter not
published put such damper on the attempt to
sdx On me the desire to break up our Union, and
presented other faetsin a form SO little accepta-
bic TO the irrsendIy Inquiries that the publica-
Of the letter had to be drawn out of them.
AZ the risk Of being Wearisome, but encouraged
BY your marked friendship, will give you a
statement Of the case. The meeting Of October
l849, was convention of delegates equally repre-
senting the Wing and Democratic parties of Mis-
sissippi. The resolutions were decisive as to
equality Of right Of the South with the North to
the territories acquired from Mexico, and pro-
posed convention of the Southern States. was
not member, but on invitation addressed the con-
syention. The succeeding Legislature instructed
me, az Senator, to assert this equality, and
under the existing circumstances to resist by all
constitutional means the admission of California as
. State. At called session Of the Legislature in
1864 self constituted committee called on me
bE letter, for my views. They were men who had
enacted or approved the resolutions of the con
vention If 1919, and Instructed me, as members Of
the Legislature in the regular session in the early
part Of the year 1850. To them replied that !
adhered 70 the policy they had indicated ant
instructed me in their official capacity to pursue
pointed out the mode in which their owl
policy could, in my opinion, be executed withou
bloodshed or disastrous convulsion, but in term
of bitter scorn alluded to such as would insult IN,
with desire to destroy the Union, for which m,
whole Life proved me to be devoted.
Pardon the egotism, in consideration of the occa
sion, when / say to you that my father and m,
uncle fought through the revolution of l776 giving
their youth their blood and their little patrimon,
to the constitutional freedom which claim as m,
inheritance. Three Of my brothers fought in TIL
war 0f 1872; two of them were comrades of tn
Hero Of the Hermitage, and received his com
mendation for ga1lantry Of New Orleans. At Six
teen years of age / was given to the service of m
country; for twelve OF my life have borne it
arms and servedit zealousy. if not well. As
feel the infrmities which suffering more than ag
has brought upon me, it would be bitter refec
countrymen would hold all this light whei
weighed against the empty panegyric which
time serving politician can bestowupon the Union
for which be never made sacrifice. .
IN the Senate announced that If any respect
able man would call me disunionist would an
sver him in monosyabies. On many occasions
" pnhlic speeches made in Mississippi, have sale
anny man would come forward and charge mt
MA ,il Desire TO destroy the Union, would Gran
W. ne Gown his throat. But u have often asserted
lne right fcr which the battles Of the revolution
were IoughtT ne right Of people to change theil
siye, ara subyersiye Of the objects for which roy
ernments are instituted and have commanded n,
~ aePehasnes aaa sosersignty Of the States,
the expounder and jackson the csrssiant ts AZ
fender. SS'e'a'ehs oe
have written freely, and more than Designed
Accept my thanks for your friendly advocacv
family, and believe me, very sincerely yours. YOU
JEFFERSON DAVIS
NoTE-No party in Mississippi ever advocate
-disunion. They differed as TO the mode Of securn
their rights In the Union, and on the po,oer Of
State to ecede-neither advocating the excrci
of the power. J. D..