The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-07-11


matter, save to- the government, on which
history would deyolve the responsibility for
his treatment. Martyrdom, while repre-
tsenting the deliberate action Of his people,
would be- immortality but for the sake OF
Justice, not merely to his own people, but
to the whole American people, whose future
liberties were now at stake in his person, a
fair and public trial was now the necessity
of the situation.
"My people," he added, attempted
what your people denounced as G revolu-
ton. Ny people failed; but your people
have suffered a revolution which must pfoye
disastrous to their liberties unless promptly
remedied by legal decision, in their efforts
to resist the revolution which they charged
my people with contemplating. State SOW
ereignty, the corner stone ofthe Constitu-
ton, has become name. There is no lon
ger power, or will. in any State, or number
of States. that would dare refuse compli-
ance with any tinkle of MIR. Seward S
bell" ae
Mr.. Davis complained Mis sleeplsssnsss
acas oggraeoted By the lamp kept burning
IN his room all night SO that he could be
seen at all moments By the guard in the
OTHER CELL Lfhe happened to dose one .fe-
Perish moment, MenOise Of relieping guard
in the neat room aroused him, and the
lamp poured its full glare into his aching
dnd Mrobbing eyes, There must be a
change in this, or he scoaM go crazy, or
blind. or both.
doctor" he said, had you ever the
consciousness of being watched Of hay
ing an eye fixed on you every moment, in
teutly scrutinizing your most minute &C
tons, and the variations of your counter
ances and posture? Fhe consciousness
that the Omniscient Eye rests upon, us, in
every situation, is the most consoling and
beautiful belief Of religion. But to haze a
human eye riyeted ON you in euery moment
Of arakiag, or sleeping, sitting, oalksmg, or
hing dol1a, is a refinement Of torture on
ANYTHING the Camancbes orSpanish Iaqui-
sition eper dreamed They, in their ignor,
ance of cruel art, only struck at the body
and the nerves have u very Limited capacity
of pain. This is a maddening, incessant
torture of the mind, increasing with every
moment it is endured, and shaking the rea-
SON by its incessant recurrence of misera-
BILE pain. Letting single drop of water
| fall on the head every sixty seconds does
not hurt at first, but its victim dies Of raw
ing agony, it is alleged, if the infliction be
continued. The torture Of being iacessant-
ly matched is, TO- the mind. vhat the wate''-
dropping Is 10 Tie body, bit more effective,
as the mind is more susceptible Of pain.
The Eye of Omniscence looks upon US with
tenderness and compassion; even if con-
scious ofguiIt, we have the comfort Of know
ing that Eye sees also ourrepentance. But
the human eye forever fixed upon youis the
eye of a spy, or enemy, gloating in the pain
and humiliation which itself creates. |
have lived too long in the woods to be
frightened by All owl, and have seen death
too often to dread any form of pain. But
| confess, Doctor, this torture of being
watched begins to pray on my reason
The lamp burning in my room all night
would seem torment devised by some one
who had intimate knowledge of my habits
my custom having been through life never
tc sleep except in total darkness"
This conversation, so far as related to its
medical aspect. | deemed it my daty t.
communicate that afternoon to Major Gen
raj Miles, who could not remove the lamp
altogether, but directed that it should be
screened at night, so that no direct and glar
I ING beams should be thrown into the prise
ners eyes.
july 2Otb.-Called on Mr.. Davis, Gap
tain Korte, Third Pennsylvania artillery
being officer of the day, and, of course my
companion. Was requested to call b5
Major General Miles, who had received re
port that prisoner was seriously i'll.
Found Mr.. Davis in very critical state
his nervous debility extreme; his mine
more Respondent than ever heretofore; his
appetite gone; complexion livid, and pulse
denoting deep prostration Of all the phisi
cal energies Was much alarmed, and re
allied with painful anxiety the responsible
ties of my position. Ii he were to die il
prison, and without trial, subject to sucl
seventies as had been inflicted on his at
tenuated frame, the world would form un
Just conclusions, but conclusions will
enough color to pass them into history 4
seemed to me, let me frankly confess, dut
to the honor of America, and the future
glory of cur struggle for national existence
that this result should not happen.
Mr.. Davis asked me could nothing b
done to better his condition, or secure hin
the justice of trial before death. The ef
fort of his people to establish a country
had failed, and they had no country now bu
America. It was for the honor of America
not less than for his own, and for justice tt
his cause, that he pleded,
Assured Mr.. Davis that no effort Of care
or such skill as possessed shonld be wan
ting for his benefit. Then commenced con
versation on various topics. seeking to di
vert his mind from the Affections preying OF
| it.
Mr.. Davis said when he had last beer
out on the ramparts he had met Mr.. G. G
Clay, similarly walking under guard. Cla,
was looking wretehed|y, and seeing hin
made Mr.. Davis realize more acutely hi
own humiliatng position. Men at sea in Z
ship neoe,' realize how .forlorn and traai
the vessel is they are ON board, until lei,
counterpart in some closely passing Jesse
is brought under notice. Absorbed in ex
ercise and the emotions ofthe scene, he hat
previously failed to realize his situation
with an officer at his side as custodian, AM
four bayonets pacing behind him to secur,
that he should make no effort to escape
fhe moment Mr.. Clay passed, his own stu
I alton stood revealed; and nothing but hi
strong conviction that to remain in his eel
would be equivalent to suicide, could induc,
him to parade again III the same manner
| 4 hn ,,o,,nl NJ, G1,r 4bo,, ornbnr,.o,