Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-10-02
Interview with Mr.. Davis----Interesting
Conversations with Mrs. Davis and the
Distinguished Prisoner.

have just returned from Washington without
any bishop, priest, or deacon accompanying me
that [ wrote a letter to our martyr, JEFF. Davis,
he not being allowed to write that in compli-
ance with the spirit of that response, | hastened
to Fortress Monroe on the 18th instant, just as
| have done many time for our poor soldiers
Or poor negroes under sentence; that proceed
ed to Washington, after seeing the terrible con-
dition of Mr.. Davis, and have come back this
morning, footsore and weary, not without hopes
for the final safety of him, whom [ conscienti-
ously believe to be about the ablest and best
man in America. Mr. Davis is greatly debili-
tated and declining very fast. During break
fast he gave us some rich, sparkling gems of
political wisdom from Burke, with his own COM
ments on their folly, as rich as Burke's original
thoughts. [ only remember one other such day
spent in my life. 1t was at Lagrange in 1928,
when Lafayette and Cardinal Mezzofonte were
debating on high matters of literature and art,
and / was mere silent absorbent of the golden
treasure of liquid thought
| arrived at the fortress about an hour before
Mr.. Davis left his prison. Presently Mrs Davis
joined me, and we had a very agreeable discus
sion, in which she maintained that the Ameri-
can people, North and South, were as noble a
people as any on the earth; and [ maintained,
chiefly for argument sake, that the aristocracy
of all lands-the real aristocracy-were marked
ly superior to the masses of the people, [
maintained that the catacombs Of Rome and
Paris showed gradual approximation to a GER
tain type of character which was not even yet
attained except in the aristocracy of worth
She insisted that the heads of Phidias and
with Christianity and all the appliances of cul-
ture. She cited the remarks Of many distin-
guished foreigners who called her attention to
the fact that the American people could more
easily adapt themselves to- and more thorough
ly embody, the true principles of politeness than
any other democratic people in the world
Just then made wicked query that killed
good deal of this theory: mrs. Davis, how
do the many strangers that come here behave
towards Mr.. Davis p ''Ah," said she, ''al-
most all the Northern women that come here
peer through the blinds in the most indicate
manner, so that we are often obliged to retire
to the inner casemate to avoid their rude
glances" Mrs. Davis, no refined, instructive
" polite people could by possibility be guilty of
such grossness. So you have demolished your
own theory"
At this time we saw a slender, shadowy, tot
terng form approach the door. Something in
my heart told me it was Mr. Davis Strange,
mystic human heart, with it's divinstions and
prophecies Bible of the true Infallibe
God word to every human soul that has ever
been magnetized with love- [ had known this
man at a time when his word swayed an En-
pire composed of as noble men and as glorious,
God gifted women as has ever appeared in the
tide Of time. [ have obtained at his hands the
sparing of the lives of forty-seven Confederate
soldiers during the war. | got off fourteen
Federal soldiers condemned to DEATH Igot his
written permit-no order-to allow me to visit
all the Federal prisons and alleviate in all law
full ways their sufferings. / have prayed at
this good mans bedside for blessing of God
upon him commensurate to the mercy he might
extend to others, and that he might hope for
himself, should the changes of time ever make
him suppliant for this benefcence.
And now he is before me prisoner-good
God How changed The last time [ saw
him his brow seemed decked, not only with
crown of intelligent glory. but with a sort of
'.prt'aes inter pare" es"-halo Of all the kingly
broken, reeling But, oh ! that voice, its tim
bre, cadence, tone II am glad to see you,
Mr.. Kelley your hair is winter than it was
that beautiful autumn morning that you prayed
by my bedside in Richmond Your heart, too,
has been scared. Well, thank God, amidst it
all, and by it all, we are ripening for the skies"
MIR. Davis, has it never occurred to you that
not victorious, but defeated causes when found
ed on truth and honor, are finally victorious in
the flow of ages?'
Said Mr.. Davis: mo good cause ever dies.
Whatever was true in our theory of State rights
will live, and be yet adopted entirely by our
northern brethren. The American people are
eminently thoughtful and practical, assimilating
to themselves truth from every point; witness
their wonderful improvements in the practical
arts. You know how the Normans conquered
the Saxons at Hastings-how they oppressed
and wronged them yet in the course of three
centuries the ideas of the conquered subdued
their conquerors and led the United Kingdom
to the conquest of that very France whence the
conquerors came. Centuries in the past were
no more than decades in the present. | have
no fear as to the ultimate triumph of our prin-
ciples, purified from whatever was wrong or
selfish in them, as you and [ have been purified
by sorrow.
''Do you remember, MIR. Davis, that couplet
of Lady Guion's translated by Cowper?"
1.-THE path of sorrow, and that path alone
Leads to the place where sorrows are unknown"
Yes, [ remember it we'll It is the compend
of Christianity The world has never yet fully
appreciated that aspect-the ECCE HOMO of
Christ I have read more in the old books
probably than you have, Mr.. Davis; let me re-
cite to you an instance in the life of Julian =
He had oppressed and thwarted Cyril, Of Jeru-
salem, in various ways at last, on going to the
Parthian war; he met the good Bishop in great
distress On account of the miseries of his flock
He then said to him, Cyril, where is your
carpenter God now?" The Bishop answered,
Perhaps making a coffin for the Roman En-
peror" I have never heard that before, but
it is full of significance and terrible rebuke to
unholy pride and self-confdence
After prayer, we proceeded to breakfast,
which had three covers, one each for Mr.. and
Mrs. Davis, and one for me. The breakfast
consisted of some nice rolls and toast, good tea,
butter, and few oysters. Mr.. Davis ate very
sparingly.
[ omitted to mention in its proper place that
Mrs. Davis met him at the door, put her arms
around his neck and kissed him. After he was
seated, she brought him their little child, which
he kissed, seated on his knee, and as thought
by the motion of his beautifully y-chisselled lips,
prayed secretly for.
After breakfast, Bishop Green, of Mississip-
pi, was introduced. The meeting was cordial
and affectionate. Mr. Davis alluded with great
delicacy to some family affections of the Bishop
to which the latter responded with a CULVER
ing lip and fearful eye Hereafter will give
you pen-and-ink picture of these two men as
they limned themselves on the canvass ofmem-
ory Here [ only propose to give a part OF the
conversation that occupied that whole morning.
Our people all love and revere our late excel
lent President To meet their craving to know
something about him from the heart, or inner
life side of him, will write some two Or three
papers more ON this subject [ ought not to
close without saying that he evlnces the most