Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-10-18
Ex.Pfeskdent Davis.

the distinguished eX-PreS1dent OF the Con
federate States which our people do not
take the greatest interest in, and SO much
has been written concerning him, and he
has himself maintained such strict reserve,
that his friends have, in some instances,
been misled by statements altogether void
of truth, SO frequently and persistently
have they been repeated by itinerant news
paper correspondents. Mr.. Davis has new
er, in the whole course of his eventful pub
lie life, given such indubitable evidence of
great intellect, indomitable will and Chris
tian fortitude as he has since his incarce-
ration, now extended to eighteen months,
and seems yet to be heightened for an in
definite period.
We have been disposed heretofore to
doubt all and everything which purported
to come from him, and many of the state
ments and reported conversations of DIR.
Craven have never been regarded by us as
entirely reliable: in fact. we believe that in
several important points, they have been
denied by Mr.. Davis.
The accomplishing and dignifed man
ner in which the distinguished prisoner has
borne the illegal and cruel punishment the
Government has visited upon him, has won
the admiration and sympathy of mankind,
and the United States has suffered more in
the estimation Of the civilized world by the
outrageous conduct towards him than any
other fact connected with its history. We
rr1oI 10 +1o%
longer willing to wink at this matter, but
is officially calling it to the attention of
the law-officers of the Government Be-
tween the political aspirations of the Chief
Justice and the ignorant malice of Justice
Underwood, the disgraceful subterfuges re-
sorted to in order to delay the trial of ex-
President Davis has become a blot upon
the judicial ermine and scandal to the
whole country. We hope President John
sons efforts will force the judiciary to act
in this matter, and end protracted i'm
prisonment as cruel as it is illegal.
We are glad to be able to publish some
thing that may be regarded as authentic in
reference to one whose condition is the sub
ject of much anxious thought to our peo-
pie, and whose fate is the burden of many
heartfelt prayers. Below we give, from the
New York Watchman an account of the re-
cent interview between ex-President Davis
and Bishop Green, of Mississippi. AS the
statements are given upon the authority of
this venerable prelate, we may rely on their
correctness. They will be found interest
ing and differing in many essentials from
incidents in connection with the distin-
guished ex-President
BISHOP GREEN AND MR. DAVIS
The Right Rev. Bishop Green, of Mississippi
recently spent day with his friend Jefferson Da-
Wis at Fortress Monroe. AS erroneous state u ents
of what passed at that interview have been
gwen III some papers, We are permitted by the bis
hop to state that, while at Fortress Monroe, he
was introduced to q gentleman by Mr.. Davis, and
that be man of great learning and
worthy OF the confidence Of all who knew him. If
that gentleman entertained any design of going
to Washington to lnGerCede for the release of Mr.
Davis, the bishop does recolIect that anv thing
OF the kind was ever limited at during the few mo-
ments i'll which they were together Much less
did the bishop think of going himself OIL such an
errand for although willing to make any sacri-
flee for the good Of whom he 80 highly es-
teens MIR. Davis, he had not the vanity to sup
pose
him, would be of tie least avail where the prayers
of thousands had been set aside He would also
have been deferred from such step by his own
strong conviction that President Johnson is Of
himself, and without further solicitation disposed
to deal III all fairness and magnanimity toward his
noble prisoner Bishop Green was pleased to
learn that no unpleasant personal relations exis-
ted between MIR. johnson and Mr. Davis at the
commencement of the war. An occasional SPAR
ring had taken place between them in the Senate,
but not OF nature to interrupt their intercourse.
IL owls NOT -, l.. L
health. He is very feeble, his appetite much i'm
paired, and his frame greatly emaciated. Mrs
Davis seems convinced that he cannot live three
months longer if he remains in his present con.
hneInent. He attributes his comparative health
If not life ITSELF to the presence of his wife aud his
little Narlna, pratter of two years old. Bishop
ments with those of his imprisoned friend to Gen
eral II. s. Burton, now in command at Fortress
Monroe, for his kind and gentemanly treatment
OF his prisoner Whilst faithfully carrying out the
duties of his office, he seeks to abate every annoy
ance which would increase the discomfort of Mr..
Davis, without adding anything to the safe keep
ing OF his person. MIR. Davis is especially ndeb
ted to him fer the removal of the light which has
So long disturbed his rest, and for spreading a
thick mating on three sides of his prison cham
Der, to deaden the nightlong tramp of his guards.
1t Is enough to excite smile to all this eau
ton against the prisoners escape, when every one
knows that if the gates of that magnificent fort
ress were left wide open and every soldier put to
sleep, he would make effort to leave the place
on any terms but such as would be in keeping
with his past reputation
At sunrise his prison-door is thrown open, and
he rejoins his wife in the comfortable quarters
within the fortress which she is permitted to occu-
Ply. During the day he is allowed the range of the
fortress for exercise and returns to his prison at
shutdown. Several hours day are spent in read
ing, Of which his Bible always forms a part. He
10 permitted TO receive and read the newspapers
without restriction.
1t !. pleasure to the bishop to take by the
hand again one whom he is proud to call mis-
friend, but it was particularly gratifying to see
the truly Christian spirit in which Mr. Davis looks
upon both the past and the present. His belle |
IN Divine Providence remains mistaken by the |
events of the last few years, and he cheerfully |
trusts to the same protection and guidance the |
future OF his country. So far human instru-
can contribute to the happiness Of that
future, he thinks it must come from an honest !
and Jealous maintenance of the Constitution
Mr.: Davis expressed much qualification at the
visit OF any minister, and particularly of "his
bishop" from whom he requested some religious
service before they parted.
As many and very false representations have
gone forth on the subject of his capture, it will
be gratifying to the friends of Mr. Davis to learn,
in this way, that no attempt ,ohateue1 was made
BY him to escape at the time he was taken, and /
that the only outer garment that covered him