The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-04-25

oelohS ana oedogged TO you.
i By THE PRESIDENT.
JACK DOWNING, Ex-Majer Downing
! vile Milisha, Cabinet.
"~>~>~.-~e>->~-~>.~~
General Scott Corrected by, the
Brother Of Jefferson Davis.
4 The vicksburg Journal publishes the
following. letter, vindicating Jefferson Da
is from the charge Of having been con
cerned in tie reputation Of the Mississippi
bonds. brought against him in his recent
book by Gen. Scott:
70 1t. Gen. Scott L. L. D.:
"yTnou shalt not bear false witness against
Thy neiyhbor."
| Amongthe commandments there is none
more Important thin this, and which civil
zed society has ihore uniformly enforced
y moral precapt aha legal sanction; bu
which. it seems is entirely disresarded BY
he Lieut.. Gen.
In his nlefhJirs, written by himself, on
page i4B, in not. speakihg Ola bfisdner
taken at Chippewa, Lieut.. Cblone John
:aorryllion Wilson. this statement occurs:
This gallant officer, always since an in
'alid and friend OF SCOTS who was, in the
time Of William w.. in the household oi
the Queen, and since in the government Of
Chelsea Hospital, still lives.
He invested all his little savings and
sife's dowry in Mississippi bonds, repuda
ted mainly by Jefferson Davis. 1t was
SCOTS strong statement of This interest,ng
case ut the time, ii q published article, thar
,rought upon him aIterward the p, rs ecu
ii ms D MIR. Davis, as Mr. Pierce's secre.
lyry ol War" etc,
1t would Pc diGch!tt to conceive /; State.
u mt more at ociously false and malicious.
Jefferson Davis never was q member Of
either House Of the State Legislature, or
took any part inpublic affairs, either State
n corporate. Until 1885 he was in the
United States army; in that year he resign
ID and returned to Mississippi and engaged
planting in the remote part of Warren
county. wnerc owing to some domestic al.
LECTION, he lived III seclusion, taking no
part in public affairs for seven or eight
years. III 1874. he was chosen one Of the
electors Of Mississippi; in lS45, it Vas pro
posed to bring his name Before the Conyen-
ton as the nominee Tor Congress in this
District. He was known to b. opposed to
reputation Of State debts. and his uomiha
ton objected TO or account by POI. portion Of
the Democratic party; and shortly before
the meeting Of the convention, an article
appeared in the Vicksbnrg Sentinel. signed
cato said to be written by Governor Nc
Mutt. calling on him to declare his opiniobrt,s.
70 this he promptly replied, ayowing his
opinion in favor ofhaying every just debt
hat Mississippi owed; all Of which will ap
pear, itreference be made to the files of tn !
Vicksburg Sc ltinel aud other papers Of
that time, as we'll as to hundreds ofpersons
now living. Z.
+ 1t was contended that there should i,d be no
split in the party; that he could not be
nominated. entertaining and avowing such
opinions; or if dominated by divided par
II, not be elected. H. received the nom
nation and WAS elected, though opposed by
Gov. McNutt and the party in favor Of
reputation. He took his seat in Congress
December. lS45, his first service ii delib-
erative body.
Soon after the war against Mexico was
declared, he was elected colonel Of regi-
nent of volunteers. when he vacated his
seat, took command what was known as
the LIST Mississippi Rifles. and hastencd to
JON the army on the Rio Grande.
1T was SCOTS strong statement Of this
interesting case, at the time, in \ published
article, that brought upon him afterward
the prosecutions OF Mr.. Pierce's Secretary
Of War"
It's perfectly absurd to say that SCOTS
article could affect Jefferson Davis, more
than boy eight years old. who never. in
all probability, heard Of SCOTS strong alt;-
Gle, written at the time, or Of Lieut.. Col
John Moryllion W lsS,,; or that ha co I'D
in any way be affected by it. shou d nuke
it a Cause of persecution thi ty years after
" rfl: or / it q. all probable that Scott be.
! ered Ms own statement. :
It will he remembered that whit the 1t.
Gen. calls per: ecution,' va; the refusal
of the Secretary If War to allow claim
for back pay as Lieut. Gen. from the time
Scott was in Mexico, and which the Secre-
tary showed c,nclusiyely he " not entitled
to. This resulted in an angry correspon-
dence.,in which the ppcalations and frauds
upon the Treasury were exposed to such an
extent that it was believed if the frauds had
been known lie could. never have been
Lieutenant General; but, as it was, he only
obtained it by importune solicitations, not
only by himself and others. but even by
ladies, engaged to go to- the capital and to
use their influence to obtain votes. 1t was
also said it would entail no charge upon
the Treasury; was intended merely az a
c ,mpliment to crafty an old soldier; but
no sooner was it obtained than he presen
ted a claim for BACK pay, for ratians, forage,
etc. ,,
TO tie Lieutenant General acting az his
own trdmpeter. and drawing upon his imasi
nation for facts laudatory Of himself. there
can be no objection. except that it is.hu-
initiating to every American that an officer
OF his rank could make sucn an ass OF him.
self; but the malice and revenge, that after
the lapse Of ten years. could induce him to
8 .lect time when Mr.. Davis is powerless
and the ISLANDERS unknown to him. to utter
such falsphoods, must be regarded by all
who value honor, truth and manhood, as
below even CONTEMPT.
This is now published at the place
where the facts and circumstances are
known. and can be established BY any Of
the people who took part in the politics Of
the time. J. z. DAYS.