The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-10-24

TREss MoNRoE-MR. DAVIS " A DYING MAN"
From the Petersburg (va.) Index.
We are happy to be able to lay before our reader
this morning authentic account of the interview be
tween Mr. Davis and Mr.. John D. Kelly, about whicl
the papers have for the past few days had SO mucl
to say which was mere speculation. Cur correspond
ent promises, viii be seen, to follow this gth anoth
or letter on the same theme:
To the Editor Of the Ender-Please let me sa!
through your paper that / have just returned from
Washington without any bishop, priest, deaeonac
companying me- that l wrote a letter to our martyr
jeff Davis, some weeks since, to which got no re
sponse until the return of Mrs Davis be not being al
lowed to write; that in compliance with the spirit
that response FASTENED to fortress Monroe, on the
l7th inst, just have done many time for our
poor soldiers negroes under sentence that pro
ceeded to Washington after seeing the terrible coDd
tion of Mr. Davis, and have come back this morning
fo8t-soge and weary not without hopes for the final
safety of him whom | conscientously believe to be
about the abest and best man in America. Prudence
whom seldom listen to, and whom | naturally hate
as the devil does holy water makes me silent for the
present about my Washington visit 1 will tell all
about it hereafter. Mr. Davis is greatly debilitaed
and declining very fast. During breakfast he gave US
some gems Of rich sparkling political wisdom from
Burke, with his own comments their foy as rich
as Burkes own original thoughts. | only remember
one other such day spent in my life. II was at La
grange in 1928, when Lafayette and cardinal MeZzo-
iohte were utGallbg on hg matters oil 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. This time | spent in reading
some d the numerous papers that were brought in
that morning. Presently Mrs. Davis Joined me- and
we had very agreeable discussion in which she main
tanned that the American people, north and south
were as noble people as anK on earth, and main
tanned, chiefly for arguments sake that the aristocra
cy OF all Landslide real aristocracy-were markedly
superior to the masses Of the common classes main
tanned that the catacombs Of Rome aud Paris showed
gradual approximation a certain type of character
which not even Yet attained except in the arstoc
racy Of worth. She insisted that the heads of Phideas
and Praxiteles not equaled in modern times with
christianity and all the appliances of culture She
cited the remarks of many distinguished foreigners
who called her attention to the fact that the American
people could more easily adapt themselves to and more
thoroughly emoody the true principles of poiteness
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 toward Mr. Dtyisgn " Ah.n
said size, almost all the northern women that come
peer through the blinds in the most indecate manner
so that we are often obliged to retire the increase
mate to avoid their rude ganees' Mrs Davis, no
refined nstineti7ey polite people could possibly be
guilty Of such gIosSness So you have demolished
your own theory" We then talked for While about
education where and by whom best administered and
III N!lCu plOuu tDdt TnaturelY
formed opinions adopted by this highly gifted
and imperialminded woman.
At this time we saw a slender, shadowr totteying
form approach the door. Something in my heart told
me that it Mr.. Davis. Strange, mystic human
heart, with its dvination and rropheciesl Bible of
the true Infalibe God-word to every human soul
that has ever been magnetised with love had known
this man at time when his word swayed an empire
composed OF as noble men and God-gitted women as
has ever appeared in the tide Of time | have OBJ
tanned at his hands the sparng Of the lives of forty
seven Confederate soldiers during the war; got off
fourteen federal soldiers condemned to death got
his written permit-no orderto allow me to visit all
the federal prisons and alleviate, in all lawful WAYS
their suferings. | have prayed at this good mans
bedside fora blessing from God upon him commensu-
rate to the mercy he might extend to Others and that
he might hope for himself should the changes of time
ever make him suppIiant for this beneEcence
And now he is before me prisoner-good God /,
How changed! The last time ! saw him his brow
seemed Gecked, not only with crown Of intelligent
glory, but with sort Of pfimus interpares-haio of
all the kngly chivalres of all the past ages How lie
was bent, broken, Ieeling. But oh that voice its
tiInbFe, cadence, tone! !" am glad to see You Mr. T
Kelly; your hair is winter than 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 a we are ripening
for the skies Mr. Davis has it never occurred to
you that, not victorious but defeated causes when
the flow OF ages. Who the greatest man. Tibe
rius at Caprea sunk in the uames of sensualism or
the Nazarine crowned With thOrns aud utterng those
words Of power amid the agonies Of the cross
Father forgive them, they know not what they
DO ." "True" said Mr.. Davis "Yo GOOD cause
ever dies Whatever was true in our theory of
States rights will live, and be yet adopted entirely bv
our northern brethren. The American people are EN-.
nentiy though tfG aud practieal assmilating TO them
selves truth from every points witness thes wonderful
improvements in the practical arts You know how
the Normals conquered the Saxons at Uastings-how
hey oppressed and wroDged them yet in tie course
)t three centuries the ideas Of the conquered subded
heir conQuerors and led the united kindom to the
conquest OF that very France whence tile couQuerors
came. Centuries in the past were no more than de-
,ades in the present. | have no fear as to the ull
nate triumph of principles purified from wbatey-
1een purified by sorrow"
DO you remember, Mr.. Davis, that eoupet Of lady
Iuiou's translated by Cowper?
THE path of SORROW, and that path alone,
Leads to the place where sorrow is unknown"
Yes, ! remember it well. It is the compound of
christianity. The world has never yet fully appreciated
hat aspect the ccce homo of Christi g have read
more in the old hooks probably than YOU have, Mr.
Davis let me recte to You instance in the life Of
Julian: He had oppressed and thwartcd Cyril, Of Je-
usaem, in various ways; at last going the Par
hian war lie met the good bishop in great distress on
ccount OF the mIserleS OF his ttock. lie then said
o him, Cyril, where is your carpenter God now?'
The bishop answered Perhaps making coffin for
he Roman emperor - have never heard that be-
ore, butt is full Of significance and terrible rebuke
o unhoy pride and seli-confdencc"
After prayer proceeded to breakfast which had
bree covers each for hr. and Mrs Davis, and one
or me. The breakfast consisted OF some nice rolls
nd toast good tea butter, and few oysters MIR.
)avis eat Sparingy.
omitted to mention in its proper place that Mrs.
Davis met him at the door, put her arms around his
eck and kissed him After be seated she brought
i'm their little child, which he kissed seated on Lis
nee, and as thought from the motion Of his beaut-
uly chiseled lips, prayed secretly Tor
After breakfast, bishop Green, Of Mississippi, was
Introduced. The greeting cordial and atfectionate.
IT, Davis alluded With great deIcacy to some family
lctions Of the bishop-to which the latter responded
With quivenng lip aud fearful eye. Hereafter will
i've you pen and ink picture of these two men as
hey limRed themselves on the canvas OF memory
iere only propose to give part Of the conversation
hat occupied that whole morning Our people all
ove and revere our late excellent president To meet
heir craving to know something about him from the
cart, or innerie side Of him, will write some two
r three papers more on this subject. | ought not to
lose without saying that he evnces the thorough
pit Of forgiveness towards his enemies. Like every