Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-10-25
MISCELLANY.
The Condition and Fate of Ex-Presi-
dent Davis.


The editor of the Natchez Miss Courier,
Mr. Hillyer) has recently visited Mr.. Davis,
and writes as follows to his paper concerning
the present state Of the illustrious prisoners
health, and the fate which awaits him:
Mr.. Davis health is feeble--precarious in the
extreme. Long confinement, and the treat
ment he received during the first year of his
horrible incarceration, have told terribly upon
his tender frame. He was never man ofmus-
Gle. The intellectual ever predominated over
the material. He is one of those gifted, intel
lectual men, born once in a century, whose brain
is thought, and whose mouth is eloquence. In
his prison dungeon, he can almost be spoken of
as hero of the past, and his acts, principles,
and ambition have an historic and an heroic in
terest. As a State prisoner of the great empire
of the United States, he is surrounded with
more personal interest than any other man can
possibly be. The iron mask of the Bastie was
but curiosity The State prisoner of the U.
States is a wonder and an object of glory!
1t would be difficult for an old friend Of Mr..
Davis to recognize him, were he not presented
10 him as tthe great State prisoner. Ematiated
to the extreme; almost walking skeleton; lit
tie left but great and stately form; gray
and of mouth which in other days has given life
and thought to nation an eye undimmed and
full of the fire of intellect; he yet might pass
upon our streets unknown to former friends
His physical condition is such that in walking
he is obliged to use a cane and the arm OF
friend or attendant. The writer does not know
what a skeleton weighs. Add ten pounds to
any medical mans report on the subject, and
Mr.. Davis weight can be ascertained. Hislow-
er limbs are as mans wrists, and the prison.
er's steps totter as he walks. But yet he is re-
liant on his own integrity and on the God
whose favor and mercy, with beautiful simPli-
city, he asks at more hours than the imprisoned
Daniel did
Mr.. Davis, confined as he is, will not live
long Emaciated in the extreme, without ap-
petite and without hope, he is gradually going
down to the long home where million ofman-
ly and womanly tears will follow him. The
first chill, the first attack of any sharp disease,
will carry him away to the great Judge who
ruleth over all. Tempered may be the wind
that blows over Fortress Monroe May her
breaths be sweet, and her winds soft!
Mr.. Davis is yet denied the use of pen, ink
and paper. He violates the parole that allows
him walk inside the Fortress, if he even give
his autograph During the day he has little,
except as prisoner, to complain Of During
the night, he has grated doors, guards and offl-
GERS to watch every time he turns over in bed,
or changes the position of his pillow.
In all probability Mr.. Davis will never see
our people again. He is an individual victim,
whose life by confinement will be sacrificed to
solve great political embarrassment. Like
the man who drew the elephant in lottery,
the Government knows not what to do with
him; should not death, less remorse!ess than
earthly power, consign him to tomb which
will be hallowed for ages as that of martyr
sacrificed for people, No matter what Mr.;
Davis political views might have been, and
certainly the writer of this article was, up to
1861, as much opposed to them as any South
ern man living. that illustrious State prisoner
now lives. and will die if longer confined in
Fortress Monroe, as the vicarious representa-
tive of people that loved him in manhood,
trusted him when in power, and now turn
their eyes upon him as one suffering unJustly
for their doings.
1t is useless to speculate as to the future OF
Mr.. Davis. Unless the great hand ofmercy soon
intervenes. the silent aud cold hand of death
will shortly relieve Mr.. Seward and Mr. Stan
ton from further trouble in the matter. Speak
ing Of his hopeless condition, and OF what he
had endured, almost the last words of that IL
lustrious State prisoner were: Would that
| could be the conductor by which the light
ming of vengeance could be warded off our dear
people, | could then live or die here contented-
ly."