The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1866-05-23
Brutal Treatment of Ex-President Davis
-.Three Startling items. Blood Blood -!

-.Three Startling Items--Blood Blood
The telesraphic columns of all the pa
pers Of yesterday contained three startling
items, says the Petersburg Index.
The first read as follows:
FORT MONROE, May 15.-It is under
stood that the Surgeon of the Fort has
complied with the instructions of Presi-
dent johnson to furnish special report
upon the physical condition Of jeff Davis
The nature Of the report has not been
made known but there is reason to believe
that it does not speak in very hopeful
terms Of his condition, and urges q less
rigorous system Of confinement if his res
toration to perfect health is at all desired"
There is terrible significance in these
last words, is the truth at last breaking
through the almost impenetrablc dullness
Of official brains-the truth long known
and implicitly received by impartial men,
that the Radicals do not at all desire the
recovery Of Mr.. Davis Is circumlocution
discovering what common sense long APP
preciated, that nothing would so crafty
the Jacobins as the unofficial murder Of
Jefferson Davis ? Has not the aphorism
"Dead men tell no tales" long since been
admitted to be the gospel Of the most fla
GRAVITY vicious
Here is the second item:
FORTRESS MONROE, May 1G.-With-
in the past three or four days very ma
terial change in the treatment Of Jefferson
Davis has been noticed, under the direc-
ton of Maj. Gen. Miles, acting, no doubt,
under instructions from Washington
The guard formerly in his room, of one
soldier, has been removed permanently, it
is said, and there is every reason to be-
lieye that the number Of guards all around
the neighborhood Of his cell will be very
materially decreased in very short time .
Under instructions from Washington,
no doubt The hand of Miles does not APP
pear in clemency. But let us enquire what
this guard withdrawal means. The in
genious torture inflicted on Mr.. Davis has
not yet been given to the world: We give
it now from an eyewitness:
| His room has passage way en- tWosldes,
another room on the third, and dead wall
On the fourth. In the passages are two
doors Of iron-bars, opening from each into
his room, and the front room opens also
into his cell by door, in which is an
opening Of iron bars. A sentinel walks
perpetually up and down each Of these
passage-ways, with instructions never to
pass by the door without looking in at the
prisoner, and never to cease his tramp
Another sentinel stands or walks in the
front room with the same instruction,
never to omit his gaze on the prisoner In
this front room their is also commissioned
officer, who is required frequently to stare
in at Mr.. Davis. and that he may be al
ways in full view, a lamp is constantly
kept burning in his cell during the hours
of darkness. Until the above change Gil
it has been made,) another sentinel was
perpetually kept in his cell, marching up
and down his floor, and keeping his eye
forever on the prisoner.
Every two hours, day and night, week
after week and month after month throgh-
out the long year, these sentinels are re-
iieeed, process which requires loud
challenge and reply, and in this case. is
followed by a formal examination Of the
muskets Of the guard, under which Gas is
undoubtedly the design Of the Secretary
Of War; Mr.. Davis can never by possibility
sleep above the tour Of duty-two hours.
He is not allowed, or has net been until
recently, knife, fork OF spoon, and when,
at late date, the privilege of seeing a
newspaper was accorded him, Miles took
care that he should see only papers which
clamored for his blood.
This is the system which must be re-
formed, says the doctor, provided mat
ter about which he is obviously in doubt
Mr.. Davis restoration to health is CAT
ALL desired
But there seems to be some hope that
Mr. Davis is to be tried next month, and
trial, it is feared, even with Underwood
for "Jeffreys," and the E'pack" for jurors:
may result il acquittal, or if in conviction
may be followed by the interposition ofthe
Presidents pardon, and Mr. Davis may
escape the tangs Of his prosecutors. This
is a calamity that would shake Jacobinism
to IT'S foundations, and the third telegraph
item shows how this is to be obviated, an
the imprisonment Of this innocent man
prolonged through another weary summer,
that he may thereby be killed, if TAT alp
possible.
It thus reads:
'Mr. Trumbull, from the Judiciary
Committee, reported bill to change the
place and time of United States Courts in
Virginia It changes the place from Nor
folk to Richmond, and provides that the
time for commencing the sessions Of the
Court shall be the first Monday in May
and December. A provision giving the
Chief Justice power to call special sessions
was stricken out, and the bill as thus
amended was passed.
The effect and design of this is obvious !:
first to postpone Mr.. Davis trial to next
December, and next to prevent Chase from
baking them Of the desired blood by hold
ing an earlier Court in a special session!
The Jacbins distrust all malignity but
their own. They rightly estimate their
own baseness and blood -thirstiness when
they thus express doubt whether any
creature but Jacobin Congressman can
share them.
And these are the people not to love
whom is disloyal! Heaven save the mark
News by Last Nights Mail.
The President has pardoned Capt. Leon
Smith and Henry Bragg.
The reported massacre at Fort Good