The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-25
JEFF. DAVIS.
Probability of tn~ POstpOnement or his
Trtal-A Year Of imprisonment at Fer.
tFess MOnrO~-Revtew Of the Leading
IncIdents of his Prison Life, Etc.

/ AACAACMNH % FfIAOn AlIe, ETC.
| WARRINGTON, May 24.-The trial of Davis under
the Norfolk Indictment will doubt ess be postponed
until AuEU Ust or Septemt er next in consequence OF
the strong feeling prevalent in Richmond on tho
subject. Much animosity prevails Owards the inry
VINO returned the verdict and until this subsiues the
AALoIney Genera tn nks It's best TO delay the trial
aounced In September 1864 will consist of Attorney.
General speed, Jonn II. z ifIord, VILLAIN II. Evarts
and MajolGeneIaI Lowell II. II, au, theatter re-
| presenting the army in The prosecution.
FoRTREss MONROE, May 2.-JofF Davis TODAY
| compile es year of prison life at Fort Monroe. On
| Just such another bright az beautiful day a year
ago the steamer Httttam r. CLYDE brought him here
history OF the 0 d Word when Napoleon Bona.
parte was landed prison er Of war on the desoate
and rocky shores of st. HeIena:-
The desolator desoate, the victor overthrown;
The ibiter OF others tate suppliant for his own
IL was ke men oIable day in the history of the
| great repuUlic OF the New or when JEFF Davis
| Was brought risoner TO Fortress Monroe He
Lad faloO as did Napoleon. The sword and sceptre
power had been wrinched hom mm He was
heip'ess now-mOst vulgar claY-a dependant on
| the government against " hch he had wIckedIy
raised his strong arm IN rebel ion for food to noursh
and give him lite
'0h what fall was there my countrymenl" y"
have compared JEFF Davis to Napoleon in respect
TO his importance as sta Q prisoner. Tnere the
Likeness hds Napoleon fought at the head of his
aIme' JEFF DAVIS never did Napoleon never
would have been guilty Of the cowardy fight OF
Jef Davis from Rlc mond. Much less would he
nave Teen captured IN the ignObe disguise OF q
woman's pettlcoats Though ambition should be
made of serner stufF-for Mr. Davis career only de-
Veloped council chamber potter and forum fig hter
most grievousy has he had to answer for his ambI
ton and the perfdy to his country in which 1t took
its deepest root Loo Ged upon as the ofiiciaI head
OF the late Rebellion, and the Rebellion viewed in
the hight OF lts gigantic ma nIlude our Government
keen nR
He has been more written about and talked about
been mace the subject more euOgies and ana.
themas and been prayed Tor more and Cursed more
than any man of tins cenurv. This state of facts
coupled with his long confinement q prisoner the
crave charOes preferred against him. and the uncer-
tam late eh9ng oven hm, nave created universal
eagerness TO know AL about him When his bio.
graphy comes 10 be wrtten-and the episoda chap
ter OF his prison life will he the least interesting
portion of fit-there will be Jack of buyers and
readers On account of this general interest attach
ing to the man, avail myself the present annyer-
sary period OF his imprisonment to write a brief
resume OF his prison life. 1t only to be regretted
that the compu sorry brevIty of a newspaper letter
enIorces such brief condensation of Topics canablo or
elaboration into volume OF absorbing INTEREST,"
JEFF. DAVIS ENTRANCE ON PRISON LIFE
The news OF the capture of JEFF Davis preceded
him. 1t was known that he was to be brought here
lhe order had been gwen in Washington Mai0r.
General nalleck was here to attend his RECEPTION
and disposal, as also that OF Mr. G. G. Clay, who
accompanied HIM. 1t Will be remembered how tlfe
wives OF both lmportuned to be allowed to remain
with their husbands, and share their prison lives
ing, al d now painfully re ucant they were to re-
turn south again on the steamer bringing them
here. MIR Davis was taken to the casemate allotted
Tor his use An extra lock had been placed on the
door door Strong iron bars tronted the windows.
slluH pine IaOe, n QlmlnutlVe lOOkiQg-plasS
wash.basln iron bedstead OF the hosnitai paItern
and very pIan and coarse bed appointments a
Bible and pray book constituted the furniture of
his room oen' RAJ hallecE PEI sonally supervised
the disposition OF the guard and sen ries. In his
own room-the bacK one of the casemate-were
placed two guards. with instructions that this num-
Der should be keptthere continually. day and night
In the 'front.' room two Other soldiers and an officer
were stationed
DAVIS DIsDAIN AT SURVEILLANCE
Mr.. Davis mace no pro esation against the number
placed as immediate guard over hm-aud besides
there was large guard outside-but the dIsdaInful
glance OF his ewes, and lowering contracted eve.
brows, showed thorough appreciation of the
Illuminating position IN whichl he was placed AS
bis coarse evening meal was brought in and laid on
the bare table before him; as the soldiers placed
over HIM paced back and forth in his narrow room
bearing bayOneted muskets, and watching him with
their curiOuslY prylng eyes; as the canPor OF
muskets uside and change of guard reached his
ears through his barred windows, fu sense of his
schemes frustrated hls patent to every one
IL sword of Damocles hanging over him as uaipabiy
visible as was to young "Hamet' the ghost of his
murdered flasher. We leave him Tonight, bur not
to darkness anG solitude for light is Kept burning
all night the roc m, and the eyes OF his vIglant
guard are never of from him. He tosses about on
his bed Weared efforts to eep; that bralns busv
memories OF the plot nps and suivngs of the past
tour years o. bus life keep away the soothing goddess
Qis lumber.
HE GROWS ooNTUMAcIoUs
The public have not yet forgotten that during the
first few days OF his imprisonment Mr.. Jefferson
Davis sno Ved decidtd dIsDositlOn put on airs
am telling the plain English of facts without fear
or iavOr, and propose doing so to tle end. He had
been dictator too long to be dictated to. He had
been too long TO allow himself to be tamely
ruled over. He might assume lofts airs of scorn
as he pleased and tume TO his hearts content but
he must be obedlent and submissive. The last he
was not inc ined TO be and the result was that his
wrists were encased IN pair of iron bracelets
Rarey at one lesson most efectualY tames the wi d.
est mustang; so this one lesson of handouts cured
Mr. DAVIS OF his contumacy' need not go INTO the
details as they were gwen at length at the time. 1t
sufices me TO give the fact and the result there
never was more agreeable or gentlemanly prisoner
TO pet along with than he has shown himself TO be
since then,
DAVIS IN CLOSE CONFINEMENT
Just month to day, Mr.. DAVIS was kept in close
confinement; that is to say, during tins ne he was
not allowed to step foot out OF his casemate He
his window upon the sea He smoked his Dine a
good deal, read his BIB and pTayeT-book one hour
each morning and evening; but as If entertaining
in the main, attitude OF chilling silence and mYs
terry. At times he would shake off this moOdness |
aud would talk with wonderful vivaclty, revealing
the brightest treasures OF dazzling thought At such
times the
Eternal spirit of the chalnless mind
Brightest IN dungeons,
would show itself with power and efRulgenee that
seemed most supernal. By this mean to say that
there no better takers than Mr.. Davis when ne
chooses to talk. During his close confinement he |
chose, however, to ia but little.
@ HIS OUTDOOR EXERCISE BOOKS AND PAPERS.
1t was apparent 10 every one that Mr.. Davis could
not long stand such continuous close confinement
The contrast to the activities and of his pre-
vous life was too great He needed both exercise |
and mental aliment, His physical condition and re-
quIrements were made known in WASHINGTON D " DR. |
j. Craven, his medical attendant at that time. The
result that on the 22d of July order from
Washington directing that he be allowed hours |
daily walk the Darapet of the fort and boo and
self Of tke prIVieses granted him under this order
decided visible Improvement in his health was the
consequence He was too proud 10 ask for these |
laVors, but he was not too proud to express his |
OYer1OWinQ gratitude at their DestOWal,