Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-26


view with Mr. Jefferson Davis, at Fortress
Monroe. The following extract is an addition
to what we published yesterday:
To a suggestion that perhaps the i'll will
manifested towards him by some public men,
might be caused by an untorsiving spirit on
their part. in view of some offence given by
him That is qnite probable. Il have otle
been too angry Though generally thoughtful
aud cautlous-even tender to the ialIIngs. OF
others, yet when they crossed NY ra'h in the
shape OF pretence, falsehood, craft or can't
then these faults aroused bitter anger for the
moment, sometimes, utter alienation. This
was all wrong. Oh! how public life buuts
our perceptions as to the higher delicaces-
tenderness, misunderstanding the best con-
struction on things, words and persons they
are capable of. have erred in this particu
lar; but had often grta provOcaton; never,
however, have uttered an angry, underval-
ucirg. or denunciatory sentiment. without
believing that | had good cause for SO doing,
and, in most cases, my country has already, or
will hereafter find that | was right. | now
feel and acknowledge that | was sometimes
wrong as to the tone Or occurring OF phrase
while under the excitement Of debate. as Tor
iustan when Mr. johnson, after the Mexican
Wal, EluuC Splnc ftHidIhS uSlpSa'OiJ VI Wv
Wtst Point officers, thought il strange that
any man of sense should think that training Of
officers for duty, by Il thorough military edu
cation, would rather disqualify them for that
duty, or what was the same thing, that I'M
trained officers did better than the West Point
ers. In the course Of reply made use Of this
remark: 'Who would select tailor 10 shoe
horse, or blacksmith to make coat .
This gave personal offence to MIR. johnson,
who regarded it as a sheer personality
Nothing in the world Was further from my
thoughts -.. d..
TO the query, whether he had anything to
complain of in his present treatment he replied
that he had not. The present commandment of
the Fort was soldier and gentleman, who
while diigent and faithful in the discharge Of
his duty to his government, was also forbear-
ing and con>iHcrate as to all the mlnutiae of his
prison life, and allowed him all the indulgence
he required, which was simply no. to be IN
suited in the intoerable ways and manners he
had been by the creature who used every
means to torment him before the arrival Of
General Burton. One of us told him that all
the officers of rank il the old army, with whom
we had in any way come in contact. had OK
pressed the opinion that he ought 10 have been
released o year ago that some OF them thought
fed eracy, was virtually included in the parole
have been admitted to parole at once, but for
one that knew him, believed Mr. Davis
said, that gratGes me very much I was
brought into frequent contact both 10 the Mex
lean war, and as Secretary of War under Pres-
dent Pierce, with many officers, and did then,
and do now, entertain high s2use Of the
chivaric honor of many of them.
The Government may have been deceived
by the testimony which has since turned Out
to be sheer perjury, tending to duplicate me
in the assassination of President Lincoln or
it may have been subject to one Of those
manias, which occasionally like plaques, seize
governments and communities or what IS
most likely, few unprncipled men, seeing an
opportunity in the excited condition of the ma
ton, for obtaining wealth and position, through
the iustrumcntaity Of Williams, suborned for
the purpose, really did impose upon the Gov
ernmcnt and led them to believe tor moment,
in the whrl Of excitement the statements put
forth in the proclamation Tor my capture
But, gentlemen, my heart is a stranger to that
plot These hands are unstained by innocent
blood. No unrighteouS gold has ever, during
the Confcdcracy adhered to these palms. =
He uttered the last sentence in a most solemn
manner, holding up his hands add raising his
face to heaven, and with such Il holy, child
like simplicity, that it is impossible for any
words, however weird, to convey 4 half idea
not an adequate oue-ot that touching scene.
cascmate, and Ginning into his fathers arms.
who had just leaned upon the sofa, gave oc-
casion to Mrs Davis to make some remarks
about hnr o+h nhilSron 1oortIor Irr1 thnSn in
Canada Rishon Green then remarked that
he would not have yentured to introduce the
subject, but as Mrs Davis had done so herself
he felt bound to say, as Il bishop Of her own
chosen church, he did not think she acted
entirely wise in sending her children to a con
vent to be taught. Mrs. Davis replied: Il
was in Georgia and had no money. No insti
tut ion OF my own church offered to teach my
poor children. One day three Sisters Of
Charity came to see INC and brought me five
gold dollars, all the money they had in the
world, they almost forced me TO take the
money, but I did not they then offered to take
my children to their school 10 the neighbor-
hood Of Savannah, where the air was cool, and
they could be comfortably cared for during the
summer months, Then came an offer from
convent school in Canada, whittier. when got
permission from the Government, which
was not without great trouble and difficulty,
| took them. It is true | do not wish them
to be Roman Catholics, but then, persons
as good as they can possibly be and be-
come, are, and have been, and, doubtless
will continue TO be Roman Catholics
These good people were the first to offer me
their help. [ will never cease to he grateful to
them for it" Nlr. Davis then added, "Bish-
op, there never was more unanimity in any ma
ton Of the world than there was in the South
ern Copftderacy. 1t would be invdious to
single out any class Of our people for special
praise. The churches and ministry were all,
or nearly all, entirely devoted to our cause; but
as I said before, if it would not be regarded as
invidious, | would say that the Catholics of the
South were conspicuously devoted to our cause
I could relate to you cases of great suffering
and trial to which they were subjected, and in
no case did any of them ever finch. will re-
late one case Of an extraordinary kind I must
suppress this story for the PRESENT. shall be
published hereafter with some accomplishments