The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-10-02
A CARD TO THE SOUTHERN PRESS.

CARD TO THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
As the letter of Col. Aston has been pub
lished in nearly all the journals of the South
the publication of the following by such pa
pers as have given space to that letter, is re-
spectfuliy requested.
have disregarded every anonymous pub
lication which has been made rejecting un-
favorably upon my connection with this
matter, and even now, did believe the re-
lease of President Davis would be hastened
one moment by Villifyiug me, would re-
main silent But as Col Alston's charges
are so direct and positive it is deemed due to
him and to my friends that this statement
of the facts should be published.
Respectfully, L. F. BATES,
Charlotte, N. c.,
CHARLOTTE, N. c., Sept. 1, 1866.
To the Editor Of the Metropolitan Record:
DEAR SIR Il have this moment read an
article published in your paper, and copied
in the Augusta, Ga, Chronicle and Sentinel,
of the 25th Aug, over the signature of Col.
r. A Aston, dated Meadow Nook, De Kalb
county, Ga, July 81, 1866.
Knowing that Col. Aston is a gentleman
and one who would not Intentionally indulge
in Misrepresentation, hasten to make, and
ask that you will publish an explanation of
my connection with evidence obtained by the
federal government for the purpose of impli-
eating President Davis in the assassination
plot.
On Sunday, May 21, 1865, the following
order was exhibited to me by Lieut.. Binney,
U. S. A:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIV. 23D A. c., ]
CHARLOTTE, N. c., May 21, 1865. {
Pursuant to orders from Secretary of War,
(received through Department and Corps
Headquarters MIR. L. F. Bates, of this place,
Superintendent of the Southern Express
will at T1rOcee6 from this
place to Washington, D. c., and report in
person to the Secretary of War.
Lieutenant George L. Binney. aid -de-camp
will accompany Mr.. Bates, and see that the
passage is made as speedily as possible, after
the performance of which duty Lieut. Bin
ney will return to these headquarters.
The Quartermaster's Department will fur
nish transportation for Mr. Bates and Lieut.
Binney.
(Signed) THOMAS H. RUGER,
Brevet Major Gen. Volunteers, commanding
1st Division, 23d Army Corps.
In accordance Herewith 1 proceeded to
Washington, and was then informed that the
government had been advised Of a conversa-
tion and remarks by President Davis, IN may
house, and that 1 was present when these re-
marks were made.
1 was placed on the witness stand, sworn,
and in reply to direct questions repeated the
remarks as heard by me.
These remarks were made to Gen. Breck-
inridge, and were also heard, and the CONVEX
sation was participated in, by Col. Johnston,
aide-de-camp to the President, and son of
the lamented General Albert Sidney John
ston Ex-Governor Lubbock, of Texas, and
Col. Taylor Wood were also in the room.
This was one two days after the Presi-
dents speech, and on the day that General
Breckinridge arrived here.
The doors connecting this room with my
dining-room and pantry were open.
These remarks were never repeated by me
to any officer, employee or agent of the Uni
ted States Government, until I stood before
the court, .as above stated. Neither did
testify that the remarks were made by Pres
ident Davis in his speech outside my house.
Therefore, as Col Aston was not present
when and where the remarks were made, he
will see the impropriety of his denying the
truth of my testimony.
The evidence, as published in the Wash
ington and New York papers, made me say
that President Davis used the remarks testi-
fed to in his address to the citizens and sol
diers, outside OF my house. After the re-
ceipt of the dispatch from Gen. Breckin-
ridge announcing the assassination of Mr..
Lincoln, and after my return home, / had
the mistake soon corrected, upon its being
brought to my notice by our newspaper
here, the Western Democoat.
Inc foregoing, 1t is hoped, VIII relieve
me of the charge of having volunteered
" false testimony"
have never given it as my opinion,
nor do 1 now, that the remarks made by
President Davis in my house indicated that
he had any connection with, or former
knowledge of the atrocity that had been
committed.
1t is also charged by Col. Aston that
solicited tue privilege of entertaining the
President with an improper motive, and
for base purpose.
The facts are, that did not even sng-
gest it. Major Echols, then quartermaster
of this post, called upon me, and requested
permission to quarter the presidential party
at my house. My reply was, that '' the
latch-string was always out" and when the
party arrived, they were brought to. my
door, and was admitted during nay absence
from the house.
While was quite ready and willing to-
gave my best efforts to entertain the Pres
1dent and suite, it would have been pre-
sumptuous to have offered my humble ten7
emenf, when so many larger mansions of
other citizens were ready to receive the il
iustrious guests.
Very respectfully, L. F. BATES.