Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-06-28

eoeT HeTeVyOTe ms 0oette gone; conapGrfon tlc1d
land pulse denong deep prostsattOn Of all the pbysicd
e1aeryles Was much alarmed ased7eaAsed aciM pain
fw arciety the responsibilities Of my position If be
were to die in prison, and without trial. subject tc
such seventies had been inflicted on his attenu
ated frame, the world would form un just concu
sions but conclusions with enough color to pass
them into history. It seemed to me- let me frank
ly confess, due to the honor of America, and the
future glory of struggle for national existence
that this result should not happen.
Mr.. Davis asked me could nothing be done to
better his condition. or secure him the justice of
trial before death The effort of his people to es.
tablish a country had failed, and they had no
country now but America It was for the honor
of America not less than for his own and for JUS
tice to his cause, that he pleaded.
Assured Mr.. Davis that no effort of care or such
skill possessed should be wanting for his ben
eft Then commenced conversation on various
topics, seeking to divert his mind from the afic-
tlOns preying on It,
Mr. Davis said when he had last been out on
the ramparts he had met Mr. c., @. Clay, similarly
walking under guard. CLAY was looking wretch
edly, and seeing him made Mr.. Davis realize more
acutely his own humiliating position. Men at sea
in a ship realize hoao fortorm and faI the res
sci as they board, until their counterpart az
some closely passing uessel IS brought uar notice.
/ Absorbed in exercise and the emotions of the
scene, he had previously failed to realize his stu
ation with officer at his side custodian, and
four bayonets pacing behind him to secure that
he should make no effort to escape. The moment
Mr.. Clay passed, his situation stood revealed;
and nothing but his strong conviction that to re-
main in his cell would be equivalent to suicide,
could induce him to parade again in the same
mariner. AS he passed Mr. Clay they exchanged
a few words in French, nothing more than the
compliments of the day and inquiry for each
others health but it seems this had alarmed the
officer who did not understand the language, Mr..
Clay not being permitted to pass him again, but
being marched off to another part of the ramparts
Clay naturally delicate of an atrabions type,
and his appearance denoted that he must be suf-
fering severely. .-t..
Replied that had been attending Mr. Clay
and saw nothing in his state to occasion alarm.
He had tendency to asthma, but that long
lived disease Mr.. Davis inquired how Clay was
fed Replied that at first he had received soldiers
rations but latterly his condition demanding it,
had been fed from the hospital Mr. Davis ex-
pressed much sympathy for his feow-sufferer
begging me to do whatever professionally could
for his relief, and to hold up his hands. Let me
here remark that, despite certain exterior cynic
ism of manner, no patient has ever crossed my
path who, suffering much himself, appeared to
feel SO warmly and tenderly for others. Sickness
as general rule, is sadly selfish ; its pains
and inrmities occupying too much of its thoughts.
With Mr.. Davis, however, the rule did not work,
rather he was an exception calling attention to
its general truth. ...:
Prisoner complained bitterly Of the restrictions i'm
posed By General Miles his correspondence aoiM
1cie; certain subjects, andMose perhaps Of most in
erest, being Forbidden to bOh The conets an State
prisons acre aAooced this liberty uimpeded or only
subject to the Supervision Of the chaplain rhose Scru
ting Rad religious and kindly cAaracte''-t1a Of
a father conteSSor His letters, the contray had
to be sent open to General Miles, and from
him, he understood, similarly open to tie At
torney- General. What unbosoming of
fdence-mutual grefs, mutual hopes, the
interchange of tenderest sympathies-was posi-
BILE, or would be delicate under such a system p
He pictured idle young staff officers here, yet
more pitiful clerks in thelaw departments at Wash
ington, grinning over any confessions of pain, or
terms of endearment he might be tempted to use;
and this thought embittered the pleasure such
lrespondence might otherwise have conferred
The relationship of husband and wife was the in
ner vestibule of the telnple-the holy of hoEes-I
in poor human life; and who could expose its
secrets lay his heart bare his sleeve for such
DAVIS to peck at !? Even criminals condemned to
death for helnous crimes, were allowed not only
free correspondence with their wives, but inter-
views at which no jai1or stood within earshot.-I
What possible public danger could there be from
allowing such letters to pass without scrutiny p
Time ecN set all these petty tyrannies in their true
IHqM He that first pleadeth his own cause seems
justified but his neighbor cometh and searcheth
him. If the privilege we're ever abused !; if any
thing he wrote to his wife We're published to the
detriment of the government or tending to dis
turb the peace, what easier than to say This
privilege has been abused and must cease
AuQ,tI 4.-Had been absent in Baltimore on
official business some few days, during which Mr.
Davis sent for me. Called with Captain Evans
officer of the day, and explained my absence.
pustule, somewhat malignant in character, was
forming on the prisoners face which was much
infamed and swollen. He reiterated belief that
the casenaate apas full Of naatuta poison, caused
by The rising and falling Of Me tide IN Tie ditch out
side las previously expained), oa"5 scashedMe Wosh
inqt0n people aUodd take quicker means of disp0ch
ina him, If his death aritHom trial. ,rqs Their Object
That it was so he was led to suspect, for trial
must develope many things not pleasant to those.
in power In particular it would place the respon-
sibilty for the nonexchange of prisoners where it
belonged. ..... ......
Called the same evening. Prisoner in high
fever, the swelling of his face spreading to his
back and head with indications of latent erysipe-
las Mr. Davis wished he could have with him
his faithful servant Robert, who, though slave,
had moral nobility deserving honor. The me-
groes had excellent traits of character, but re-
quired, for their sakes, guidance and control
with religious sentiment quick in sympathies,
and of warm family affection. Their passions,
however, were intense and uncontrollable Slavery
had been blamed for their incontinuance but this
was unjust. Wera the free blacks any less ibid
inous Z? The Southern slaves were incomparably
more chaste or less unchaste, than people of the
same race in the North. Slavery was restraint
upon promiscuous intercourse, and for commercial
reasons, if for none higher The negroes were
improvident to degree that must reduce them
to destitution if not cared for They had to be
provided with fresh seeds for their little garden
patches every year, no remonstrances sufficing to
make them provide one season for the wants OF
the next. It was in their affections they were
strong, and many of them had excellent traits.
His man Robert was the best and most faithful of
his race and had attended him through many Sc
rious illnesses. Was with his wife on board the
Clyde, but might possibly have deserted the sink
ing ship by this time. Did not think 'fhe would,
though others with greater claims to keep them
faithful were among his enemies :a ... ....a
August 16.-Called with Captain Gressin, Aide