American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1866-10-27
[ From the Petersburg VA Index
jefferson Davis.

Davis and Mr.. John D. Kelley, abou
which the papers have. for the past few
days, had so much to' say. which wa'
mere speculation Our corresrondpn
promises, as will be seen, to follow hi,
with another on the same theme
TO lie Editor Of Tie Mder-Plpase le
me say through your paper that | have
just returned from Washington wi,hou
any bishop, priest or deacon accompany
ing me that l wrote a letter to Gu,
martyr. Jeff Davis, some weeks since.
20 which got no response until the re
turn Of Mrs. Davis, be not Being allowed
to write; '5at in compliance with the
sprit Of that response l FASTENED to
Fortress Monroe, on the 17th inst, Just
as have done many time for our poor
soldiers or poor negroes under sentence
that | proceeded TO Washington, af,er
seeing the terrible condition Of Mr.
Davis, and have come back this morn,
ing, foot and weary, not without
hopes for the final safety Of him whom
conscientiously believe to be about the
abest and best man in America. Pru-
dence, whom | seldom listen to, and
whom | naturally hate as the devil does
holy water, makes me silen. for the pres
ent about my Washington visit. l will
tell all about it hereafter. Mr.. Davis is
greatly debiitaeJ and declining very
fast. During breakfast he gave US some
rich, sparkling gems Of political wisdom
from Burke, with his own comments on
their folly, as rich as Burke's original
thoughts. | only remember one other
such day spent in my lie. 1t was at
Lagrangein 1925. when Lafayette and
Cardinal Mezzafonte were debating on
high matters Of literature and art, and ]
was mere silent absorbent of the golden
treasure Of liquid thought.
arrived al the Fortress about an hour
before Mr.. Davis left lis prison, This
time | spent in reading some of the uu-
msreus papers that were Brought in tha,
morning. Presently Mrs. Davis Joined
NE, and we had very agreeable dis
cussion. in which she nlaiutaioed that the
American people, North and South, we're
as noble people as any on earth. and
maintained, chiefly for Arguments sake,
that the aristocrscy Of all lands-the
real aristocracy-were' markedly supe.
ri1r 10 the masses Of the people. ]
maintained that the catacombs of Rome
aud Paris showed gradual approxme>
iion 10 "A certain type OF character which
not even yet attained except in the
arstocracy of worth. She insisted that
he heads Of Phidias and Praxteles were
not cqnalpd in modern times with Chris
anity and all the appliances. OF culture.
She cited the remarks OF many dislin-
,uished forei gners who called her atten.
ion to the fact that the American peo>
,le could more easily adapt themselves to
lod more thoroughly embody the true
principles Of politeness than any other
Democratic people in the world. Just
hen made a wicked query that killed
,ood deal of this theory. MRS. Davis,
low do the many strangers that come
ere behave toward Mr.. Davis ?" "Ah."
aid she, "amosst all the Northern
women that come peer through the blinds
n the most indelicate manner, SO that we
re often obliged to retire to the inner
asement to avoid their rude glances."
Mrs. Davis. no refined, instinctively
oite people could possibly be guilty Of
uch grossness. So YOU have demolished
our own theory" We then talked for
while about education, where and by
'hom best administered and acquired,
J which felt proud that my own ma
lrely formed opinions were adopted by
bis highly gifted and imperial minded
'omar.
At this time We saw a slender, shai
Wy, tottering form approach the door.
omething in nay heart told me il was
ir. Davis. Strange, mystic. human
cart, with its divinstion and prophecies
ible of the true lnfallible God ord
, every human soul that has ever been
with lovsI l had known
his man at a time when his word swayed .
n empire composed of as noble men and
5 glorious God gifted women as has ever
ppeared in the tide Of time. l have
btalned at his bands the sparing Of the
YES Of foriy-seven Confederate soldiers
uring the war got of fourteen Fed.
raj soldiers condemned to death. got
rs written permiI-no order-to allow
ne to visit all the Federal prisons and
Aeyiate, in all lawful ways. their suffer-
ngs. l have prayed at this good mans
'edside for a blessing Of God upon him