Wilmington journal., 1866-10-04

ment, in the whirl of excitement, the state
ments put forth in the proclamation for ms
capture. But, gentlemen, my heart is
stranger to that plot These hands are un
stained by innocent blood. No unrighte
GUS gold has ever, during the Confederaey
adhered to these palms" He uttered the
last sentence III most solemn manner
holding up his hands and raising his face
to heaven, and with such holy, child like
simplicity. that it is impossible for any
words, however wearied, to convey a hal
ldea-not an adequate one-of that touch
ing scene
The coming of the little child into the
inner casemate, and climbing into his ia
theirs arms, who had just leaned upon the
sofa, gave occasion to Mrs Davis to make
some remarks about her other children, par
ticularly, those in Canada Bishop Greer
then remarked that he would not have ven
tured to introduce the subject, but as Mrs
Davis had done so herself he felt bound tc
say, as Bishop of her own chosen church
he did not think she acted entirely wisely
In sending her children to convent to be
taught. Mrs Davis replied "I was in
Georgia and had no money. No institution
of my own church offered to teach my poor
children. One day three Sisters of Chari
ty came to see me and brought me five
|
world. They almost forced me to take the
money, but did not They then offered
to take my children to their school in the
neighborhood of Savannah, where the air
was cool, and they could be comfortably
cared for during the summer months Then
came an offer from q convent school in
Canada, whittier, when [ got permission
from the Government, which was not with
out great trouble and difficulty, [ took
them. It is true, do not wish them to be
Roman Catholics but then persons as
good as they can possibly be and become,
are and have been, and, doubtless, will con-
tinue to be Roman Catholics. These good
people were the first to offer me their help
will never cease to be grateful to them
for it.
Mr.. Davis then added, ''Bishop, there
never was more unanimity in any nation of
the world than there was in the Southern
Confederacy. It wonld be invidious to
single out any class of our people for spe-
cal praise. The churches and ministry
were all, or nearly all, entirely devoted to
our cause but, as [ said before, if it would
not be regarded as invidious, [ would say
that the Catholics of the South were con-
spicuously devoted to our cause. [ could
relate to you cases Of great suffering and
trial to which they were subjected, and in
no case did any of them ever finch. will
relate one case Of an extraordinary kind
q must suppress this story for the present
1t shall be published hereafter, with some
accompaniments, if I live.) Besides, Bish-
op, Pho Mono was the only Prince in the
world that really wished well to our cause
and sent us his blessing. 1 cannot help
liking the Catholics. The ha!piest hours
Of my life were once spent in q Catholic
monastery. BY the way, Bishop, I see our
church in the North is establishing sister
hoods in imitation of the Catholics. How
do they work ?"
so WELL, said the Bishop, "that I in
tend introducing them into my diocese as
soon as possible Indeed, there are many
good things and good people among the
Catholics, but think, Mr.. Davis, that our
church is good enough for u.s..
Ourself-" Gentlemen, it is to me incred-
ible how to reconcile it to reason, in a mad
house world like this, where not only phys
lcal disease atf1icts, more Or less, nine
tenths of the whole population, but where
moral and mental depravity affects the
whole race, and when the Heaven-sent
healers, sealed and anointed for their mis-
sion, are SO few. Oh ! it is terrible that
they should waste their strength by impo-
sing one on another, and worst of all, stir
up strife and bloodshed in carrying out
their great commission. Let us all love
one another, dear Bishop, and bear each
others infirmities, and particularly and es-
pecially, at this great junction of our coun-
try's history, let our moderation be known
to all men,
In writing these letters [ do not pre-
tend to give words or ideas just as they
were uttered. [ only give their substance
with such additions of my own will serve
to make them intelligible, and especially to
give such an idea of Mr.. Davis character as
may serve to remove some hateful pre- Judi |
ces entertained against him in the North |
In the South, [ believe, we are nearly I'M
animous in our estimation of his moral |
worth and high standard of intellectual ex-
cellence. We also know the mercifulness |
and benevolence of his disposition. Many
of you good people of Petersburg know |
what a great number of Confederate SOL |
diers, liable to be shot for desertion, but
having some mitigating circumstances in
their cases, he spared. Some of you know
made a proposition to assassinate President
Lincoln, which, after reading was marked
on tile back in Jefferson Davis hand writ |
ing, atrocious," and referred to the Sec |
retary of war, who had the officer court |
martialed and dismissed the service for the |
g atrocious'' proposition. This poor boy,
to expiate his folly, fell as an unrecognized
volunteer, at the head of brave band, at
the first Wilderness fight.
You all remember the case of Webster,
the spy. I found the poor fellow ironed in
the Libby, when went over to see about
the case Of a young idiotic Irishman, we'll |
known here, who was to be shot next day. |
Webster told me a plausible story. [ car
ried that story to the authorities and beg
ged for respite it was granted, and it |
was not until [ entirely failed i'll finding
any good cause for further respite that he
was executed. Other cases I will mention
hereafter.
JOHN ID. KELLEY
Epresn Opinlos. o. 'oli!icaI Affairs II, the
United States.
From the Paris (France) Times, of Sept. s.
In tho National Union Convention, which
recently at Philadelphia, there
is the best proof that whatever is just or
manly in Northern sentiment opens its
arms to give u brotherly welcome to the