The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-09-21
Interesting Letter from Hon. Jacob
ThompsOn-His wanderings I'm Eu-
rope-What he Thinks OF the Presi-
dent.

ThOmpsOn-IIis Wanderings In Eu-
roue-What he Thinks OF the Presi.
dent.
DUBLIN, IRELAND, August II, 1866.
To Captain William De'any'
NV Dear Sir,-Your interesting letter
of the 10th ultimo was received by me ON
Yesterday. and the only way in which can
manifest the unqualified pleasure 1t gives
me. is bv making you an immediate reply.
| never knew until was cast ont an exile:
without home or country, and apparently
without friends. how necessary to human
happiness is human sympathy. Astranger
in strange land caring for nobody, no.
body caring for me, | determined, for my
pleasure and improvement, to visit the prln-
cil,al scenes of historic interest, and thus
iamiliarizc myself with the story of those
who had gone before me. went to Paris.
which. take it all in all, is the plcasantest
city in the world, and there remained until
couldrcrcad her history and learn something
of the French language. Then went t"
Switzerland, and visited the retreats OF the
different distinguished cXilcS, who, in the
violence of party, had been driven from
their country t" this place OF quiet and
safety. I went to Rome, the home OF the
greatest men and lurcst patriots, whose
history adorns the annals of the past, and
there remained two months, industriously
cmploycd all the time in examining the
ruins of former greatness and grandeur.
never feeling the slightest Interest IN the
living, but absorbed with thoughts, prin-
ciples, and actions Of the mighty dead.
Then | went to the delightful city OF
Naples-lelightiul for its climate and stu
alton, not for its people: here was the
seat of royalty now in Punishment. Then
to Egypt, the cradle of letters and learn
inc then to Palestine, to tread the
ground our Saviour trod, to see the places
where he performed his glorious works, to
climb the sides of Mount Olivct, to stand
on Mount Calvary, drink the waters from
the pool of Sloan, and gaze upon the
tomb where they laid his body, and which
could only retain it for its appointed time.
From here think l came away Il better
man. returned through the Greek isles,
of vast interest TO the student, up the adri-
attic to Venice, n most singular place, Win
marvellous history. Thence through
Vienna. Munich, Frankfort, Cologne, and
Brussels, to Paris again, Here Mrs. Ihomp-
son ktt-yearniDg To sec the land VIC both
had loved, and love still but | could not
90 with her, and why Was 1t because l
feared to meet there the penalties of
offended law? Was il because trials might
be instituted and proofs be produced which
would ailiX a stigma upon my name No!
1t was because felt that there was no
Constitution or law in the South for the
protection of my rights. 1t was because
the arbitrary will OF an officer, guided by
prejudice and passion, which have
been excited by the grosscst SANDERS
and foulest talschoods, might arrest,
incarcerate, and in thousand ways
annoy me, and / could have no
remedy. When civil rights are restored :;
when the military officer becomes subject
to law, and for any violation OF the rights
of the citizen, the courts who have the
power to inhict upon him condign punish
ment, then will be happy to return and
take my old friends by the hand for as
sure YOU, that with all her faults, l love
nv country. There is no other such
country in the world. ! have visited every
kingdom and people which have any posi-
ton among the nations of the earth, and
with the intention-ii ever ] could find an
accountable placc--to settle down and gather
INV little family about me, and there, i'll
quiet, spend the remnant OF my days; but
| find no place in which am willing to
leave nv family. No, for good or evil,
the best country is the United States !;
and if there could be only security Of per-
son, property, and reputation, it would
4. Al, Il In fry. nnl 4
all events, those dependent on me, want
them to remain and abide the fate and
destiny Of their country. What shall be-
come of Inc is but of little consequence
my days OF usefulness arc past. My sun Is
fast Fastening to its setting, but my will
shall he that when lfc's iitfill fever is over
my body shall he buried beneath the soil
which has been iattcncd with the blood Of
NV ancestors in the struggle for its indie
pcndcnce. With these feelings, you can
easily imagine how highly ! appreciate any
evidence of kindness and good will from
those who arc to keep vigils over my grave.
Your petition is well intended. am thank
full to each and every one who signed it. |
regard it us friendships Offering; but | fear
il will he unavailing. Indeed, it will be of
no use. Mr.. Johnson is or may be well dis
posed, but yielding to the suggestions of a
deep, designing malignancy on the part of
others, he has inflicted upon Inc gross injus-
tice; he has inflicted upon Inc grievous
wrong in dcnouncing me as an escaped
felon. j believe hc knows and feels it, but
/ fear he is like all other men-the more
groundless the reasons for his injury the
more obstinate he will be i'll refusing to
make reparation. Moreover, the President
cannot act for fear of the denuncia-
tons of the Radicals, if he were ever SO
well disposed. l would be unwilling to
embarrass him with anything on my &C
count, for honestly believe if he succeeds
there is some hope OF the country. IT he
fails, the Constitution is buried, civil rights
will become by-words, liberty is gone, and
a deep gloom of inevitable darkness hangs
over the destiny of the greatest people in
the world. | weigh not my own fate as a
feather in the balance; only hope to live
until shall have power under the law to
prosecute the perjurer and inhict punish
ment upon those who have Wronged me.
And although have knelt at the tomb
of our Saviour, yet ! fear that the punish.
ment that awaits the cvil-doer in the next
world will be too long in its coming.
Your friend,
j, THOMPSON.