Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-01
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
Interesting Interview with the
Prisoner in Fortress Monroe
Mr.. Davis Dying Man"

from the petersburg (Na.) index, sept. ~ .
We are happy to be able to lay before
our readers this morning an authentic
account of the interview between Mr..
Davis and Mr.. John ID. Kelley, about
which the papers have for the past few
days had so much to say which was mere
speculation. Our correspondent promi-
ses, as will be seen, to follow this with
another letter on the same theme;
To the Editor of the Index:
Please let me say through your pa
per that / have just returned from Wash
ington without any bishop, priest, or
deacon accompanying me; that | had
wrote letter to our martyr, jeff Davis,
some weeks ago, to which | got no re-
sponse until the return of Mrs. Davis,
he not being allowed to write; that in
compliance with the spirit of that re-
sponse | fastened to Fortress Monroe
on the 18th inst, just as | have done
many time for our poor soldiers, or
poor negroes under sentence; that /
proceeded TO Washington, after seeing
the terrible condition of Mr.. Davis, and
have come back this morning, foot sore
and weary, not without hopes for the
final safety of him whom | conscien-
tiously believe to be about the ablest
and best man in America. Prudence,
whom | seldom listen to, and whom |
naturally hate as the devil does holy
water, makes me silent for the present
about my Washington visit ] will tell
you all about it hereafter. Mr.. Davis
is greatly debiltated, and declining very
fast During breakfast he gave us some
rich, sparkling gems of political wis
dom from Burke, with his own com
ments on their folly, as rich as Burke
original thoughts. l only remember
one other such day spent in my life. 1t
was at Lagrange, in 1928, when Lafay-
ette and Cardinal Mezzoionte were de-
batting on high matters OF literature and
art, and / was mere silent ahsorbant
of the golden treasure of liquid thought.
W II arrived at the Fortress about an
hour before Mr.. Davis left his prison.
This little time | spent in reading some
of the numerous papers that were
brought in that morning. Presently
Mrs. Davis joined me, and we had a
very agreeable discussion, in which she
maintained that the American people,
North and South, were as noble people
as any on the earth, and | maintained,
chiefly for arguments sake, that the
aristocracy of all lands, the real aristoc
racy, were markedly superior to the
masses Of the people | maintained that
the catacombs of Rome and Paris
showed gradual approximation to a GER
tain type Of character which was not
even yet attained except in the aristoc-
racy of worth. She insisted that the
heads of Phidias and Praxiteles were
not equaled in modern times with
Christianity and all the appliances of
culture. She cited the remarks of many
distinguished foreigners, who called her
attention to the fact, that the American
people could more easily adapt them
selves to, and more thoroughly embody
the true principle Of politeness, than
any other democratic people in the
world. just then made wicked query
that killed good deal of this theory.
Mrs. Davis, how do the many strangers
that come here behave toward Mr., Davis 2
All, said she, almost all the Northern
women that come peer through the blinds
in the most indelicate manner, so that
we are often obliged to retire to the
inner casemate 70 avoid their rude
glances Mrs. Davis, no refined, in
stinetiyely polite people could possibly
be guilty Of such grossness. So you
have demolished your own theory We
then talked for awhile about education,
where and by whom best ministered and
acquired, in which felt proud that my
own maiurely formed opinions were
adopted by this highly gifted and i'm
perial minded woman.
AT this time we saw slender, shad-
owy, tottering form approach the door.
Something in my heart told me IL was
Mr.. Davis Strange, mystic human
heart, with its diyinations and prophe-
ciesl Bible Of the true Infallible
God-word to every human soul that has
ever been magnetized with lovel /
had known this man at time when
his word swayed an empire composed
Of as noble men and as glorious, God
gifted women as have ever appeared in
the tide of time. l have obtained at his
hands the sparing of foriy-seven Con-
federate soldiers during the war. got
Of fourteen Federal soldiers condemned
TO death | got his written permit-no
order--to allow me. to visit Ell the Fede-
raj prisons, and alleviate, IN all lawful
ways, their sufierings have prayed
at this good mans bedside for Blessing
Of God upon him commensurate to the
mercy he might extend to others, aud