The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-30
THE NEW YORK PRESS.
rnrroR1AL OPINIONS OF TIE LEADING JOURNALS
UPoE CURRENT Tofios-coMPnED EVERY
nav FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
Errors Corrected.

FtOm ne Tribune
Perhaps il is always the wiser course to
lava Ynisstatements and nisapprehensions to
tbe slow but sure correction of time. Ii you
chow that charge is without foundation, you
are held to admit that the ofense would be a
,,rave one if it were we'll founded; when that
NAV be lust what you would most strenuously
denv. Usually, the refutation of one falsehood
will serve as a pretext for uttering two or
three new ones.
Tbus when l returned from Richmond,
found the press ringing the changes on the
alleged otfcious, superservloeable, utterly
needless interpOsition of those Republicans
vino signed Jefferson Davis bail-bond. That,
according to many, was the most aggravating
feature of the case. was so good-natured as
to explain that the fact was the reverse of what
WAS thus asserted-that Gerrit Smith and |
went 10 Richmond and signed that bond be-
cause the counsel at whose request we acted
deemed it important that we should do so felt
tbat tbe Democratic or Southern names they
conld so abundantly proher would not answer
so well-that some Republican names were, if
not absolutely requisite, at least exceedingly
desirable. Thus the charge of rushing to the
resoue - 6thrusting themselves in, - Seeking
notoriety," ETC., was utterly baseless.
ooh, this is no excuse, etc. etc. ETC., clamor
dozens in chorus. Why, gentlemen it was not
offered as excuse, palliation, or anything of the
sort but simply to refute your assertion that
this notoriety had been sought or courted by
these bondsmen.
So with the story that there were congratu-
lations, etc. etc., on the part of those bonds
men-that had held a secret conference with
Davis, etc. etc. l never had any conference
or communication at all with him. save few
words of thanks on his part in crowded hall,
and a civil response from me. l had never
seen him to know him before, and never had
had any sort of communication with him.
Those who talk of this matter as concerning
only or mainly Jefferson Davis, take a very
narrow and shallow view of it. No individual
is of sufficient consequence to justify a hun
dred newspaper paragraphs. But Jefferson
Davis in Jail, awaiting trial for treason which
no urgency, no importantly on the part of his
counsel could procure for him, stood as the
representative, the hostage, the scapegoat of
several millions of our people, who, it had
been decided by force of arms, rightfully were
and must remain part of us. 1t did not, and
does not seem to me desirable to brand the
crime of treason-of felony-on the brows OF
these three or four millions of our country
men. Nay: it did not seem wise or we'll to
try thus to brand them whether the attempt
was or was not likely to be crowned with sue
cess. There may be honest difference on this
point to-day; but who can believe that there
will be any such difference five years hence
felt confident that the bailing of Davis in
part by Northern Republicans would exert a
pacifying, reeonciling influence at the South
and was willing to incur some personal oblo-
guy to this end; but l already realize that il
has done far more good than l anticipated
From every part of the South but Texas,
have already trustworthy assurances that
has been generally hailed as an overture t.
conciIiation-an earnest of Northern goodwill
and kindness. There is still an implacabl,
Rebel faction in the South which persists i
grumbling and sneering; but this faction
daily melting away; while great and increas
ing majority of those who have been Rebel
are inclining towards prompt and heart,
compliance with the terms of the Military Re
construction act, and are anxious to return t.
loyal self-government at the very earliest day
OF the many radicals who have returned from
the South within the last ten days, | have no
met the first one who did not hail the liberia
tion of Davis as fraught with healing in
fuences, and of benefcent promise to ever,
part of our country.
Some journals have talked of my 'com
planning of adverse criticism and the impu
tation Of unworthy motives. l beg leave t
assure them that complain of nothing, depre
cate nothing. Let every one free his min
as to him shall seem good. There neve
yet was an act so useful and noble that
mean soul could not conceive base motiv
for it. The fitting answers to such detractor
are given by silence and time.
Those who are waiting for some defense
explanation, or apology from me will wal
forever. My action in the premises has don
more good than l expected, and at less PEI
sonal cost. l may never again have a
opportunity to do so benefcent an act, br
should have, shall certainly be encourage
by this experience to improve the opportunit.
II. @.
The JefR. Davis Bail BOnd-Seeds of
Revolution.