The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-20
JEFF. DAVIS.
LETTER FROM JOHN MINOR BoTTs.

LETTER FROM JOHN MINOR BOTTS.
The Richmond papers of Saturday print the
GRAND JURY Room, May l5.-My Dear Sir
Your letter OF this morning has quite sur
exercise an Independent Judgment. or a sound
discretion, with out being called TO an account
and asked for explanation by my friends2 In
other words, Will they never have SUFFICIENT
confidence in me to suppose 1t possible that
have good reasons for doing what may not ape
ps pear 10 them TO be right, without forcing me
You say my friends are expressing great i'm
suTeties for the appearance of Mr. Davis at the
next Circuit Court to be held In this State, and
that they fear Il will injure me. l regret at all
times to differ from my friends, but such con-
siderations cannot be permitted to conflict with
the performance of the positive conviction of
my motives were good, but would be glad TO
hear my reasons; and you shall have them:-
Davis securities because / thought it would
have harmonizing influence In restoring
better feeling among the disturbed and dis
cotdant elements of the state, which IL has
already done TO a very marked extent
Second. Because Thought tne Government
prepare for the trial Of Mr.. Davis; and that as
the Constitution throws its protecting shield
over every section of the United States by the
guarantee of a speedy trial for any ofense
with which he may stand charged, and as the
power OF the Government had been recently
exhibited in stretching forth its powerful arm
across oceans and continents to seize upon an
obscure individual, ana drag him to the bar of
delay that might not be resorted to for the
perpetual imprisonment of Mr.. Davis or of
some other obnoxious citizen at future day,
and thereby establish q precedent not to be
tolerated by any rejecting person Jealous of
me rights and liberties or the cltlzen; ana
his liberation upon bail, and that could not,
in any other manner, so forcibly express my
opinion upon this subject as by volunteering
to become one of the securities for his appear
ance in the future.
Third. AS Mr. Davis had thrown me into Jail,
permitted 1t to be done under his a0mlntS-
tTatioD, without Justification, an opportunity
at the moment seemed to present itself for the
exercise OF magnanimity, which 1 did not
choose to throw away, by assisting his friends
in his release from imprisonment but
Lastly, and chiefly, because thought 1t fur
nished a suitable occasion of showing to the
world, not only on my own behalf, but on be-
half of that patriotic party which to some extent
represent, that in our demands for the vindi-
cation of the law In the past, and in our deter
mination hereafter to insist upon some security
for the future, we were governed by a high
sense of public duty, and were in no degree
actuated by motives of personal resentment,
vindictiveness, or malignity.
II had failed to seize upon the opportunity
thus suddenly presented for accomplishing at
one stroke SO many advantages and much
good as 1 saw in the distance, should have
censured myself for blunder an for a lament
ond esira oi tnHse to- upon "hich
am happy to inform you, and all my friends
in Washington and elsewhere, that If have
friend here, or hereaboutS, who does not honor
me for, and rejoice that took a step so much
in the right direction, 1 do not know him or
II is not true that 1 congratulated Mr.. Davis,
or that approached him for that or any oGher
qres % Ot 70 o
O'Conor that If the name of one known every
nent and determined opponents of the Rebel
lion, the Southern Confederacy, and of Mr..
Davis whole course Of policy was desirable as
one of his securities, that mine was at his ser
vice. The proffer was promptly accepted-not
because ~ was needed, put no dopot % irom I1 tne
the oher. -. ,,,..,
to; because 1t was from public, and not per-
sonal considerations, that led me to occupy TINS
position; but when approa.che,dt the nee cIerk,s
Davis, as was both natural and becoming, APP
preached me to express his acknowledgements
for the generosity had exhibited. l told him
that among the considerations that had con-
trolled me was the sacred regard in which
held the liberty of all citizens; that believed
he was entitled to trial; that the Government
had had the most abundant time to prepare for
We're stiIl nnprepared' thought he was entitled
to his liberation on bail, and was happy to
give this PUBLIC expression OF my Opinion on
ment, worthy ofa Virginia gentleman, as he had
always known me to be, and was thankful for
it," we separated, and did not come in contact
again.
of what 1 have done, and would do 1T over
again and again, under the same cir
circum Stances while entertain every opinion
OF Mr. Davis oftense against. the Constitution
from the beginning OF the Rebellion to Its
close.
/ hope may live long enough to let my
friends understand that IL is my habit to do
whatever my conscience and judgment may
approve in my individual capacity, without
turning to the right or to the left to inquire
what may be the opinions of others, satisfied
that time will vindicate all things that In
themselves are right.
Yours truly, JOHN NJ. BorrS
p. S.-As far as my knowledge and belief ex-
tends, it is not true, as you have heard, that on
the call of my name 1t was received with misses.
1 certainly heard nothing OF it, nor have met
with any one who did; yet in so mixed crowd
remote part of the house might have done so.
j. NJ. r.
To NJ. -, Washington city.