Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-07-13
JEFFERSON DAVIS IN PRISON.

SNs>.'S --N&
msnity a service, and afforded the world a
satisfaction in his narrative Of President
Davis prison life. We make few eS-
tracts from this book-reiating more to
the sayings Of Mr.. Davis than his suffer
ings-for the entertainment Of our readers.
They will be found deeply interesting and
replete with practical good sense, philan-
shropy anu wisdom. First, we lay before
our reader:
7dR. 5AFIs' REMARKS ABOUT RIcnwoED-
it1s sESr1MESrs TOWARDS CITIZENS.
SEPTEMBER ll.-Callel on Mr.. Davis.
Told him, as he was we'll, was about
starting that day for Richmond, 10 be gone
about a week, aud would he happy to car
ry any social messages he might wish to
send any friends in that city. Mr.. Davis
asked me 10 call upon lis former pastor,
the Rev. DR.. Minnigerode, rector Of st.
Paul's; also, upon other friends giving me
thei. names, who would be glad to receive
me. He requested me to make his afflic-
tions in prison appear as light as possible,
for they had sufficient troubles Of their own
without borrowing more from his nisfor-
tunes lie also said Richmond had been
very beautiful city in the days gone by,
but what with years Of military operations
and the fire, he feared its appearance must
be greatly altered. "Oh, the anxious mo.
ments have spent in that city, exclaim-
ed Mr.. Davis. "Cares that none can un
dcrstand VIII o have not been called to fll
the fiust positions of responsibility in revo-
lutioIary times. What hopes aud fears,
tried by enemies without and murmurcrs
or mu!ineers within, though of the latter
there were comparatively few. Taking all
they suffered in view, my dear people
stood firm and upheld my hands with de-
votion and unani,nity for which I can new
er be too grateful. God bless them, one
AMI all, and grant them the sustaining in
fluence Of His grace"
Mr.. Davis spoko the last sentence with
great fervor, his thin hands clasped and
tears brimming up in his eyes, though not
allowed to run over. It waa in such
moments that his face, though not hand.
some, judged by any artistic standard,
became very striking and noble in tue
delicate expression Of its intellectual power
and fervor.
SEPTEMBER 22.-Called on Mr.. Davis
for the FIRST time since returning from
Richmond.
Mr.. Davis inquired about friends in
Richmond, asking, with smile, was he
still remembered there or whether it had
been found convenient to erase his name
from the tablets Of memory? Assured
him that his friends appeared most soIici-
tous for his welfare, especially the ladies',
who had overwhelmed my wife with atten-
ton during our brief visit, as the only
means Of expressing their gratitude for
any alleviation Of his situation which my
duty as his medical attendant had imposed.
Told him the destruction from the fire had
been great, but in less than two years the
city would have retrieved prosperity not
only equalling, but surprising any it had
yet known. Overlooking Richmond from
the top of CANDLES Hill, the clamor Of
trowels and hammers everywhere resoun.
ded beneath me, and it seemed like an
enormous beehive, so incessant was the
industry. Mentioned that General Terry,
my old commander, had kindly placed the
carriage of Mr.. Davis at my disposal du-
ring the visit, and that had visited, with
much interest, and not without sympathy,
the beautiful ground Of Hollywood Gene
terry, where General J. f. B. Stuart and so
many other distinguished officers of the
Southern army now lie in graves, not
nameless indeed, but as yet with no inlur-
ing monuments.
Mr.. Davis laughed about his carriage,
snd said that since some "Yankee" had
to ride in it, he would prefer my doing
so to another. During the war they had
no time to build monuments to the illus-
trious dead-scarcely time enough or
means enough to take care for the woun-
ded living. II their cause had been ruo.
csastuI, the gratitude Of new nation
would have built splendid -mausoleuma and
trophies to those who had lost their lives in
'ouoo'ng it; but with the failure of the
IL
cause tn's duty Of piety and gratitude must
uo" Hs'o'se on private associations Of pa
triotio gratitude. Gen. Jackson fustone.
wa'r) appeared to have some lively pressn. .
timeut Of death shortly before &. ooou,
renee, and had asked that his onlv r.s.,.
nsnt might be q, battls-aag hoist.d over