The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-08-30
The Slanderers of Jefferson Davis

The Slanderers Of Jefferson Davis.
Col. Robt. A. Aston, formerly chief -of-staf to
Gen. Morgan, answers the infamous charges of the
Congressional Committee, connecting the illustri-
Gus prisoner with the assassination plot. We
make room for the following extract, relating to
the time and manner of President Davis receiving
the information that Lincoln was murdered. The
exalted character of Col. Alston as officer and
gentleman imparts additional weight to his testi-
mony:
The second charge which depends on the false
testimony of one Lewis F. Bates, q rampant se-
sessionist and renegade Yankee, is, that Mr. Davis
when he received Gen. Breckinridge's dispatch
announcing the assassination of President Lin
coin, said: "Well, General I do not know, If it
were to be done at ALL it were better that it were
well done; and if the same had been done to An
dy Johnson, the Beast, and Secretary Stanton, the
job would then be complete"
more shameless lie was never uttered by
a renegade Yankee, and if this man has any con-
science left, it must sting him with remcrse, until
he is driven, like the other witnesses, to repent
and take back this damning sin. God forgive him,
for we never can.
The writer of this was standing within ten feet
of Mr.. Davis when he received this dispatch, and
never will he forget the awful solemniy of the oc-
casion, and the noble grandeur and dignity of Mr..
Davis appearance 1t was in the town Of Char
lotte, North Carolina; Gen. Lees army had sur
rendered. Johnston's army was entirely disor-
ganized, all was confusion, dread uncertainty and
gloom. Mr.. Davis loomed up more proudly than
he had ever before appeared to me; for he alone,
of all that vast crowd, seemed to retain the maes
ty and selfpossession of his character, and to rise
with the emergencies of that dreadful hour.
Riding into town at the head of small cavalry
escort, he dsmouned opposite to the house of this
Lewis F. Bates, who had sent Mr.. Lavis special
invitation to be his guest-prOmpted, no doubt, by
the desire to collect testimony in private converse
ton, that he might use hereafter to advantage \
instead of soliciting it honor, that he might
transmit to his posterity. Il
Dsmounting from his horse, he proceeded to en-
ter the house of Mr.. Bates, and was met at the
steps by Col. William Johnson, prominent citizen
of Charlotte, and President of the Charlotte and
Columbia Railroad, who said: "Mr. President,
in behalf of the citizens of Charlotte, give you
cordial welcome to the hospitalites of our town"
Mr. Davis, who was dressed in plain suit of gray,
and wore low-crowned white felt hat, nearly
covered with Grape, bowed low and gracefully,
saving as he did so, 81 thank you, SIR" The
large crowd consisting almost entirely Of soldiers,
with fearful eyes and overHowing hearts, said,
with deep earnestness, speak to us, 'let US hear
from you" He turned with his kind, benignant,
dignifed look, to the crowd, and said:
'My friends, thank you for this evidence of
your affection. If had come as the bearer of
glad tidings, if had come to announce success at
the head of triumphant army, this is nothing
more than 1 would have expected; but coming as
do, to tell you of very great disaster; coming as
do, to tell you that our national affairs have
reached very low point of depression; coming,
may say, refugee from the capital of the coun-
try, this demonstration of your love fills me with
feelings too deep for utterancc." [0h, my God
he felt it ALL ''Ths has been war OF the people
for the people, and have been simply their exec
tive; and if they desire to continue the struggle,
am still ready and willing to devote myself to
their cause. True, General Lees army has sur
rendered. but the men still alive, the cause is
not yet dead and only show by yonr determine
ton and fcrtitude that you are willing to suffer
yet longer, and We may still hope for success.
In reviewing my administration Of the past four
years, am conscious of having committed errors,
and very grave ones but in all that 1 have done,
,,oJ 70 do 1ov hoD
upon my heart and appeal to God that have had
but one purpose to serve, but mission to fulfil,
the preservation of the true principles of consttu-
tional freedom, which are as dear TO me to-day as
they were four years ago. have nothing to nbate
or take back; if they were right then, they are
right now and no misfortune to arms can
change right into wrong Again thank you"
These were the last words Of Jefferson Davis to
his vanquished and scattered people, and few
among that vast audience who will not remember
them. God knows they sunk deep into my heart,
and can never feel again what then felt, when
1 heard my noble chieftan bid us what I felt was
his last adieu. Many of US could no longer retain
our sobs.
He bowed, and was about to turn to 60 into the
house, when little boy from the telegraph Office
handed him q dispatch He opened it calmly, and
read it in silence and folding it up and returning
it to the envelope, handed tito Colonel William
Johnson, remarking as he did 80, -"This contains
very astounding intelligence" The crowd, whose
anxiety could be no longer be restrained, cried
out, "Read It'll" "Read it," and Colonel Johnson
in his deep, show and solemn tone, read it aloud
Some thoughtless persons shouted, and Mr.. Davis
looked in such earnest reproof, that instantly
every voice was hushed as though they were
ashamed of having broken the solemnity Of the
scene by such indscreet joy.