The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-22
THE STAT. PRISONERS.

J'n. Davis and OIement @. Clay -
Jem. Davis Opinion OS FeniaRtsm-A
Modern Version OF the O,d Fable of tto
Fly Rnd the ON-The Fcntsns 60 ''Take
Prince Edwards IslRnI, aud Defy the
WORld'-Habtts aud Manners Of the
state PFiAOners, Etc. Fac
FORTRESS MoNRoB, March l0.-St. Patrick's
Day having suggested the JOINT topics of the
Irish people and Fenianism, an officer under
took, l am told, while escOrtns JEFF. Davis on
st. Patrcks Day in his daily walk on the
parapet, to extract from nun his views OF the
present Fenian movements. II rs not the first
time these inQuisltorial gensdarmes have sought
to elicit his opinions on this subject But thus
officer went at 1t in a manner rather exceeding
che usual brusque, roughshod, nos to say boor-
ish. style of some OF them.
Don't you think the kenlans great po Wer?"
asked this man of shoulder straps.
Some OF the papers say So" replied Mr..
Davis.
"Aln't they bound to be successful?" the Off
Ger tuTther inquired.
$50 very many say and claim to believe" Mr..
Davis answered quietly, as before.
"ISut Canada Is scared, and the British throne
is lettering to its foundation wlih just ALARM"
boldly decarhd this evident believer in the sub
ject of Fenianism.
''Well, what then asked Nj Davis
''What then! That's just IT," continued this
man OF penerative gaze, pursuing a great des-
tiny mapped out Tor the Fen'ans. Why, the
They can take Prince Edwards Island and defy
the word.n
This climax of position, power, and defiance
80 clearly and positively pointed out as the
future of Fenianism, evidently carried very little
conviction TO the mind of Mr.. Davis, Judging
from his following it with inquiring of the officer
ii he had ever heard OF the fable OF the fly aud
the OK The officer did not pursue his researches,
and l confidently believe that however he may
have settled IN his own mind the question of
Fenlanism, he has set down Mr.. Davis as an un
profitable subject for inquisitorial pumping.
JEFF. nAvIs' KNOWLEDGE OF CHARACTER.
haTe told the above story as 1t was told me.
Mr.. Davis speaks very freely with some officers,
and with some he maintains a most distant and
naughty reticence. No one is more quick to
discern and read character. His quick natural
perceptions, his extended experience in public
officers, and careful study OF the world and men,
have made him so. An upstart of an officer,
with more shoulder-straps than brains-whose
limited knowledge OF military matters would
excite the derision of a West Point plebeian, and
whose knowledge of the world and books does
not greatly exceed that of 'Simple Simon the
famed hero of one OF Mother Gooses melodies
he delights in bringing up With round turn.
HEALTH, OBSERVATIONS, AND DEIEANoR OF JEFF.
/ nave alluded to the daily walks of Mr. Davis.
He STILL when the weather admits, keeps up mis-
daily outdoor exercise; and with this and his
morning bath, and uniform habits OF careful
diet, though with bill OF are o. extended and
choice variety, maintains good health. Savage
fits of petulance occasionally possess him, and
then again he is in temper word, and bearing
as mild as a May morning. 1t is still remarked
that he makes very rare allusion to his trial,
though why no one ventures TO ask him.
OD COngreBSlOndl proceedings, dUU Oh all Lle
great and exciting topics OF the day, he is pro-
toundly observant, and occasionally lets drop
remarks concerning them, showing an interest
as permeating and undyiuy in the affairs of
nations and the problem of the worlds destiny
as marked the closing career OF the great con-
qGering Corsican, or OF Robesperre and Richie
feu. He endures his prison life with a singular
admxture of sloicism and impatience. Hope
now lights his eye and glows in his cheerful,
brilliant conversation, and then his features be-
come trownipg, the bitterness of disappoint-
ofafY In, h1cc and hn lOIl nd rtN
defiance of the Government and everything.
SEARCHING VESSELS STILL KEPT UP.
In the past three months have had frequent
occasion to allude to the search of vessels ar
irving here, to see If there may not be some one
coming here to attempt the rescue of Mr..
Davis. This search is still kept up, though why
no one can satisfactorily account for, unless to
give extra employment to Government steam
tugs, and the soldiers ordered on this special
service. The order having come from Washing
ton, and never having been rescnded, is ne
cessarilY yet complied with. There is story
ofa guard having been established over GER
tain portion of the Waterloo battlefield after
the close of the fight. For many years this same
guard remained there on duty Guarding in the
end only tangled brer bushes, and dilapidated
palIng. For some reason the guard had never
been relieved and so had to stay. Thus the
order we have referred to has never been re-
scirded, and hence these continued and useless
searching of all arriving vessels.
When JEFF. Davis, Clay. and Mitchell were
brought here as State prisoners, very rigid
the fort. The only possible open sesame was
pass from the President, Secretary OF War or
Commander of the district. For time there
was very exact compliance with this order, but
gradually the close drawn reins were loosened
till for a time large and indiscriminate parties
passed freely inside, in some cases upon the
passes of simple captain. Lately, for some
explained reason, there has been retightening
OF the reins. Of course no sensible person can
object to this.
The fort was not made 10 crafty curiosity
hunters, neither was JEFF. Davis placed here for
public show, and it is very proper to keep
away those supposed to have sympathy for hIm,
promising any possibility OF development in an
attempt to rescue him. But naval officers do
object TO the necessity of getting passes to go in
the fort. Their uniform, they insist, should be
their passport. ] know OF more than one officer
who, finding the submission to red-tapeism he
must undergo to get inside, turnedHupon his heel
in disgust Otherwise than this there is no fault
to be found,
: Clement o. Clay GtVen JnS Parole of the
E0rt-COHdIt1Ons OF the ParOle-Hts
Nealth, Etc.
FORTRESS MONROE. March 2l-Mr. G. G. Clay
has been given the parole OF the tort. An an
nounoement to this effect was made to him this
morning, and although not wholly unprepared
for lt-for his friends have lorg been working to
procure even this freedom for him--he received
it with marked qualification: By this new ar