Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-10-19
The Condition and Fate of Ex-President
Davis.


The editor of the Natchez (Miss Courier
(Mr IIillye) has recently visited Mr.. Da-
Wis, and writes as follows to his paper con-
corning 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
treatment he received during the first year of
his horrible incarceration, have told terribly
upon his tender frame. He was never a
man of muscle. The intellectual ever pre-
dominated over the material. He is one Of
those gifted, intellectual 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 rs hero Of the
past, and his acts, principles, and ambition
have an historic and heroic interest. AS a
State prisoner Of the great empire Of the Uni
ted States, he is surrounded with more per-
sonal interest than any other man can posi-
bly, be The iron mask Of the Bastle was
but curiosity. The State prisoner Of the
United States is wonder and an object Of
glory!
It would be difficult for an old friend Of
Mr.. Davis to recognize him, were he not
presented to him as the great State prisoner.
Enaciated to the extreme, almost walk
ing skeleton little left but great and state
ly form gray beard covering that peculiar
STYLE of features and mouth which in other
days has given life and thought to nation,
an eye uudimmed and full Of the fire Of intel
lect, he yet might pass upon our streets I'M
known to former friends. His physical con-
dtion is such that in walking he is obliged
to use cane and the arm of friend or at
tendant. 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 His low
er limbs are as mans wrists, and the pris-
onel's steps totter as he walks. But yet he is
reliant on his own integrity and on the God
whose favor and mercy, with beautiful sim
plicity, he asks at more hours than the i'm
prsoned Daniel did?
Mr.. Davis, confined as he is. will not live
long. Enaciated in the extreme, without
appetite and without hope, he is gradually
going down to the long home where million
of manly 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 Mon
roe! 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 gives his autograph. During the day
he has little, except as prisoner, to complain
Of. During the night, he has grated doors,
guards and officer 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 VIC
tim, whose life by confinement will be sacri-
feed to solve great political embarrassment.
Like the man who drew the elephant in a
lottery, the Government knows not what to
do with him should not death, less remorse-
less than earthly power consign him to a
tomb which will be hallowed for ages as that
Of martyr, sacrificed for people! No mat
ter 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 Southern man living that illus
trious State prisoner lives, and will die if
longer confined in Fortress Monroe, as the
vicarious representative Of a people that loved
him in manhood, trusted when III power, and
now turn their eyes upon him as one suffer
ing unjustly for their doings.
1t is useless to speculate as to the future
of Mr.. Davis Unless the great hand o.
mercy soon intervenes, the silent and colo
hand Of death will shortly relieve Mr. Sew
ard and Mr. Stanton from further trouble II
the matter Speaking Of his hopeless condl-
ton, and of what he had endured, almost the
last words of that illustrious State prisoner
were: ssWould that | could be the conduc
tor by which the lightning Of vengeance
could be warded off our dear people, | coule
then live or die here contentedly."