Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-08-03
'Ex-PREsIDEET DAVIS.


Anything that relates to the Ex-Presi-
dent of the late Confederate States must
possess an untiring interest to the people
Of these States. We have, in order to graf
ify, as far as possible, this commendable
interest, published nearly all concerning
the fallen chieftain that we have come
acoss in our daily gleaniugs. From DR..
Draveu'a book we published copious ex-
tracts. Below we give an interesting let
to the New York Times, which gives an
other and very different view of Mr.. Ds-
Wis "prison life," from that given by DR..
Craven. With these conflicting state
ments it is difficult to form any correct
idea of the conditions or movements of the
ex-Presideut. We can only read them
and draw our own conclusions, merely
hoping that it will not be long ere justice
will "opeu wide his prison doors" and bid
the captive 60 free. Here is the article
from the Times:
RICHMOND, Va, Wednesday, July IL
Nothing is more difficult than for the news
paper correspondent to gain even a tran
sient view of the inner life at Fortress Mon.
roe, as the Government has issued an i'm
perative order for the exclusion Of this class
from the precincts of the Fortress.
The public must hear about the prisoner
at Fortress Monroe, they expect it, and
demand it at our hands, and not being able
ourselves to see Jefferson Davis, we are dri.
ven to the necessity of deriving our knowl.
edge of him from those who have the priv.
ilege. A gentleman Of this city, OF the
highest standing and character, has recent.
ly had very extended interview with Da-
Wis, having spent an entire day with him in
the Fort, and what have to say of the
prisoner is derived from this entirely trust.
worthy source.
THE PRESENT CONDITION
OF Davis is far from healthy. He haa that
peculiar sallowness that is the inevitA:le
result OF long confinement, and his nervous
irritability under restraint has Tally
enough taken off and keeps off what Little
flesh be ever had. He has no appetite, and
1t was noted the other day as remarkable
event, that he ate the whole of a crab at
one meal. The constitution of the man
seems gone, and Dr.. Cooper said as much
when, being asked why he did not build
up his patient promptly, he replied that
there was nothing to build on. Whether
this state of affairs is result of his con-
fincment is at least problematical. 4 man
of seriously impaired health for years be-
fore he was taken to the Fortress, and
sufferer from nervous disease, it is the pre-
valent opinion that the ruin that came up
on bis ambition would have brought him
10 precisely the samo physical condition
without any confinement at all. He was
not the man to sueer it away, like Benja-
min; or work it away like Lee and John.
ston; or philosophize it away, like Ste.
phens. Whatever might have been, the
plain, simple truth is that Jefferson Davis
j. suffering at Fortress Monroe from the
same nervous diseas to which he was for
years constantly subject at Richmond and
at washington.
The 'g'aripg light is in tue adjoining
room on small table in its centre. The
bed is thus in the shadow, and the direct
light does not reack Davis at all; and it is
only after it has traversed the half of one
large room, the whole of another, and been
reflected back from the. opposite plain white
wall Of bis room, that it has any power to
annoy tho prisoner. HisI eyes are very
Heek; and the light doubtless does annoy
him more than itwould any man living;
bnt General Miles, conceiving it his duty
to havethe prisoner always in sight of the
sentinels, it is difficult to imagine any plan
BY which he can make the light less often
ave than it is under the present arrange.
nent; but the more sensible courae ,nn-.
donbtedly would be to dispense with senti.
nels altogether, and leave DAVIS at night.
asat dsy, to bis parole. -
Mr.. Davis does not complain of being
disturbed BY the noise of the ssntinels.
By day, Mr. Davis ii at entire liberty nm.
der parole within the limits Of the fortress,
and generally spends the nost'of bis time
in,the apartment Of his wife, who has had
one OF the oasemates assigned her: He Is
- aibsst TO receive any books or papers
mat snybody Chooses to. sena,him, and IN
pssnnay; these, apd iu, conversations With
his Hhs, aad Nth the numerous visitors
who are Constantly calling upon him, be
P.sssnt dns fson hanging heavily: .upon:
biz hapde.l Sc, ~, i : ~. So;
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