Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-10
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r. CRAVEN-s BOOK-THE NORTH.
ERN VIEW OF 1T.


r. CRAVEN-s BOOK-THE NORTH
ERN VIEW OF 1T.
This remarkable work is daily growing in
aterest, and is likely to exercise a very de-
sded influence, both in this country and in
Europe
The Radical press at the North are evil
lenty, at a loss how TO break the favor Of
Is influence. The following Boston cores
londence Of the Hartford Press will give
our readers an idea Of tie spirit in which it
is received ard The difficulty they experience
in counteracting its effect:
! suppose you have in Hartford seen the
new book published in New York. entitled
The Prison Life Of JEFFERSON DAVIS" /
have been looking over IT, and as / have the
best means Of knowing something about its
nominal author, the spirit which actuates
him, and the reliability Of his statements,
perhaps a paragraph about the subject may
interest your readers. DR.. CRAVEN whose
name is upon its title page, never wrote it
at all. The composition is the work of that
literary adVenturer, "MIEs OREILLY"
URAvEN is a man q inferior capacity, both
IN professional and literary point Of view.
He furnished the perversions Of truth and
outright falsities which form the basis Of the
volume, and "MILEs O'RELLY" gave them
the dress in which they now appear.
There Is not much doubt that the book is
got up BIZ DAVIS friends They found in
CRAVEN-Who appears 10 have been fitly
named-a useful instrument for their pur-
poses, and made the most Of him. Mr. DA-
WIS himself began the work Of debauching
CRAVEN. 1t was an easy task for a mind as
powerful as his 10 operate upon any one.
His first act in this direction was 70 make
the doctor an elegant present valued at 5000,
and the favOrs we're continued through aid
from outside. The intimacy became 50
close between the parties that Gen. MILES,
the commander Of the fort, was compelled
10 reprimand CRAVEN. CRAVEN had viola
ted both his order and his honor in this,
explicit instructions having been given him
not 10 talk with DAVIS on any subject ex-
cept his personal health. Certainly no hon
cradle officer Of the United States would
seek conversations with a rebel, in which
his own Government, its civil officers, its
generals, It's institutions and its people were
abused, much less put them into a book
which is not only an apology, but an undis-
suised eulogy ofthe criminal.
have the best authority possible for say
ng that the book is full Of perversions and
nisssatements many of the latter without
hadow Of foundation in fact. There is not
ims to specify them; / must be content,
therefore,, with a few words about the iron
ng story. The letters were not put upon
DAVIS as an indignity, or with any design
humiliate him. They were solely a means
IF precaution against his escape. When he
vas first put into his room, it was not secure
finished. u had onlg hqh D00den doors,
cithoa locks. These had to be removed and
others constructed while DAVIS occupied the
apartment. Mechanics were constantly go
ing in and out at thi time and it was feared
that he might spring past the guard. The
irons we're not heavy. He could walk with
ease in them. They only prevented his rum
ming. When the doors were made secure
they were at once removed, not at all on the
recommendation Of DR.. CRAVEN, as he pre-
tends but because the exigeney which re-
quired them was past. Lett be remember
ed, too in view Of the charge Of unnecessa-
~ disrespect to a captive, that DAVIS was
not simply prisoner Of war. He was pub
licly charged, over the Presidents signature,
witk a deep and damning crime. His alleg-
cd tools in this were ironed heavily before
their conviction. If the President had not
belied him, was he worthy Of better treat
ment2 But the real occasion Of the ironing
was the need Of his security. Was there not
call for precaution2 Who, after reading
CRAvEN's book would trust him, forinstance?
LOUIS NAPOLEON was liberated by his ply
stefan. There was every reason 20 anticj-
pate a plot 70 rescue DAVIS,
A million Of dollars would have been fur
nished in New York city alone toward this
end, If il could have availed. Nay, plot
actually was formed, OF which the Govern
ment had information, and General MILES
himself Woodworking how far il might have
been extended, mounted guard, musket in
hand on more than one night, in person.
DR.. CRAVEN has evidently strong dislike
TO General MILES, and takes every opportu-
~ to cast slurs upon him. This is because
MILES penetrated his character, and rebnked
mia miserable toadying to the rebel chief.
Here, where the General is known, none Of
his assaults can possibly iniure him. lie is
probably the ablest soldier Massachusetts
furnished 10 the war. When / first saw him
he was the merest youth, clerk in a crock
ery-ware store Of this city. He went out as
second lieutenant in the Massachusetts 22d,
and without friends or influence fought his
way up b amajor-general. Thereisno proud
er record in the army than this and under all
his honors he has borne himself more mod
estly than any soldier I ever knew. lie can
be scarcely more than twenty-five years Of
age to-day. That so young man should be
selected for post Of the responsibility he
now occupies, is in itself the highest compii
ment. He has fought in the most important
engagements Of the war with distinguished
credit and bears the marks Of his valor in
several honorable wounds. So badly was
he injured IN one case that his surgeon tele-
graphed that he had not forty-eight hours TO
live.