Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-13
rnrRsnAY. nrcEMRER IS. 80.
SINGULAR VISIT TO Mr.. DAVIS.

''A@NNt = As-A' ~ ~ -
y. n" NJ Fortress MonrOe-His RE-
cepfiOn by MI DayIs-COnyersaIiOn,
etc.
Our readers are familiar, from frequent
notice in the southern press, with the in
itials, ]. n, who has been going about the
country for some time. The person 10
whom they belong is named ]. \. Free,
formerly Of Tifin, Ohio. He Is about forty
years Of age, tall ana erect, With power
ful frame. lie wears long hair, has a
piercing eye. bat over all Is cast the Pecn-
liar look aud acting Of monomaniac.
Ten years ago Mr. Free was a thriving
business man. He was considered a man
Of more than ordinary literary attainments,
possessing strong intellect and consider
able talent. About the year 1855 he was
doing business iu California and, brOoding
over extensive losses on sea and land that
followed in quick succession, he became de
mented. Since that time, in an inohensiye
way, he has wandered up and down in the
Union and 10 and fro ia it, When the war
broke out, J. " imagined that on him fell
the whole pressrre Of the misconceived
struggle. He held that the North and
south we're both right and icnoHg-right
from their own stand-points, but wrong
from each others. This he denominated
his theory, and has ever since been striving
to solve its mystery and liz from it the
veil that the public might see. When no
one comes out to hear him at his appointed
meetings, he is in the habit Of applying TO
the sheriff, and demanding that he shall
lie incarcerated and martyred, If necessary,
for the truth.
lie has recently had an interview with
SIR. Davis at Fortress Monroe, a report Of
which is thus given. We publish il as
showing the exalted bearing Of the prisoner,
even in the presence Of political mono
maniac. Il is as follows:
He made application at the gate this
morning, and was admitted within its
portals. He announced himself as a citizen
Of Ohio, wishing to look at the fort, expect
ing to act the philosopher in the presence
of Davis.
After a moments stroll on the rampant
he observed Mr.. Davis and lady on the
porch Of Carroll Hall, the former quietly
smoking his cigar, in deep conversation.
J. n. thus observed: Are there any restric-
tiOns placed upon yiSit0rs who have the
privilege Of visiting the fort?
Mr.. Davis replied-There are none; the
guards are removed.
With that J. n. ascended the steps, and
ofIerig nhis hand again obseryed-They
call me J. n, the philosopher. ] suppose
have the pleasure Of conversing with the
"HoR" Jefferson Davis, President Of the
late Confederacy2
Davis, bowling, observed-That is my
name.
j. M am truly glad 70 zee you; hay-
ing stood neutral in the late war, viewing
il from all stand points; having had an in
terview with the lamented President
Lincoln, in September 1864; General
Robert r. Lee, in July, 1865; | had a de-
sire 10 converse with you, In order TO know
your candid views respecting my theory Of
reconciliation between the North and South,
which have promulgated not only since
the commencement Of the late war, but hold
up to the present time, as truth can not
change by the power Of arms.
Davis replied--I am truly glad 10 see
you; walk in Mrs. Davis observed at the
same time, step into the parlor) Please
excuse me from presenting my views;
will hear You with pleasure. have been
so misrepresented by the journalists Of the
country, any my true position 50 misunder-
stood while representing the sentiments Of
the Southern people, that / will refrain
from speaking, and listen to your position
as a philosopher. Of course you take truth
as your basis, and thus look at the matter
in an unpreiudiced light.
J. Mo do justice to the positions held
by both bslligerent parties during the war,
! think appear before You unbiased by
prejudice or affected in the least by the
misapprehension which has caused the
North to view you in the light Of a crimi-
nal, while you al present are looking at it
from a Southern standpoint For they
have claimed, and do now, that you were
the leader Of a rebellion which had for its
object the destruction Of the best govern
ment ever framed by mortal man, when
YOU, from your ewn view, as far as could
understand your true motive, a. the repre-
sentative Of the Southern people, and as
their executive Of the late Confederacy for
four years, were repelling an invasion and
defending your shores, based on the idea
that State had a right to secede.
Dayis-That is the way we understood
IL. and do now. / hEve not changed.
was the representative Of the people, called
there by their will.
J. N.-The North do not understand it
in the same light hence you can plainly
see that / was compelled in justice 10 truth
10 pronounce the war a misapprehension
on both sides, the South misapprehending
tie North in seeding when they did, 'the
North misapprehending the South by not
taking their view Of secession and thus
the war progressed with vail Of prejudice
enshrouding both, which caused each TO
consider the other wrong. Correct the mis-
apprehension that now exists by each ig-
noring the others position, and there may
vet be reconciliation effected, and not
unIil then. These are my views. may
be in error, but l think | am right.
Davis-The position appears truthful
and philosophical so on. wish 10 hear
your theory.
I'M trust l have your entire sympa-
thy; my position is peculiar one, differ
ING from the established ideas Of the peo-
ple ofihe South. The truth is what | am
determined to promulgate; and to relieve
the press Of the North and those who SYM
pathized with me. during the late war,
appeared before them in the light of a
criminal, doing penanCe on the altar OF
prejudice, in order thus to assume all the
responsibility on myself Here are the in
slruments Of torture j. n. handing his
manaclc TO Davis, who smilingly said
They are not as large as those presented
10 mel with which have entered TWEEN
ty-siN dungeon cells. ] could not have
presented truth without this sacrifice. Had
I not stood neutral, | would have now nc
theory, and it is truly great source oI
qualification 20 me 10 present the same
principles in the North that | do in the
South.
As you are aware, probably, have ira
yeled over nine States in the South since
the war; so that the soldiers in either army
when they hear me, can unite in the com
mon bonds of friendship, and fully svmpa
thiEe with the other, for they were truly
both patriots "a their idea OF truth Tn,
aoldiers that fought under the Coniedcrat,
fisg reyered Washington fully as much a,
those under the Federal flag. Both armie,
honored the spot where his ashes repose
the former claiming Washington heCaus
he established this government on the prin
ciples that they we're coRtending forth,
right OF selEgovemment; the lstterignorinl
this position, claimed that the former wer
destroying the government which he in hi
wisdom had founded This, Won will sec
is a paradox, both right and both wrong
Both right, because each was right iron
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