The Portland daily press., 1867-08-21
ono Idle Curiosity.o


correspondents, have an open sesame which
enables them to disclose to the public Sthe
whole heart" of eminent gentlemen whom
they approach in the way of their vocation
The clever young man who hunted up Alex
ander HI. Stephens somewhere in central
Georgia-the members Of the great family Of
Jenkins on the staff of the Tribune and other
journals, who have recently called at the
White House-the man who ''did" Ben. Wade
after his Red Republican speech at Lawrence
all were actuated by far higher motives
than "mere idle curiosity" So with the cor
respondent of the Missouri Democrat, who
has lately had an interview with JEFF. Davis
at Montreal The latter vas assured that
the great body ofthe Radicals in the United
States are possessed Of burning desire to
learn what he thinks about reconstruction
But as a matter Of fact the views Of ]. d. on
reconstruction can have no more weight with
any Radical in the land than those of Heliog-
abalus on personal identity or the procession
Of the equinoxes. d; This the mendacious cor
respondent well knew; but 1t mattered not
to him so long as he caught so big fish as
| JEFF. with so little bait. SO
Since startling revelations from this source
are promised at an early day, we subjoin few
! extracts from the report of the conversation
in order that our readers may not be over
whelmed by the disclosure of unexpected hor-
rors :: u
told him that my visit was not one made
out Of idle curiosity that had been opposed
| to him and his people during the war, but
| that in common with the majority ofthe Rad
icals of the North, desired to hear his views
ON reconstruction. ii fnEh 'a
When 1 broached that matter to him he
cut me rather short, though in very gentle
He laughed immoderateIy when 1 asked
him as to the opinion OF the Southern people
with reference to the reconstruction acts pass
ed by Congress. He answered me, however,
in seven words, and would to God Andrew
johnson could have heard the reply as impas-
sionately. Mr.. Davis, with wave of the
hand, which, although intended not to be
gesticular, carried with it an emphasis which
l shall never forget, when in measured voice
he said sue hare nothing to do tcith H."
1 had occasion to refer to the suffcrings of
our prisoners at Andersonville, Belle Isle,
Libby Prison, etc., as well as to the exchange
of prisoners MI. Davis said that he was
ALWAYS anxious to be relieved OF the prisoners
on his hands. He said his ports were block
AIDED; that he was without supplies or the
means of obtaining them, even for his own
soldiers; and, finding himself in that strait,
he proposed to deliver, with or without ex-
change, all the sick, wounded and disabled
soldiers held by MIN. then remarked to Mr..
Davis, " Why was not an exchange effected w
He stated, "There was one man in your coun-
try who prevented it," / replied: DO you
refer to Mr.. Stanton? ?" He said, 81 do not !;
it was -" I asked him to allow me to
make use OF the name and circumstances con-
nected with it, But he said, " Occupying the
position that do, 1t woald be improper"
Next, commenced talking with him about
an Alderman from Tennessee, now loafing in
Washington. l seldom so TAR forget myself as
to talk about men who have filed "all the po-
sitiOns up" but couldn't refrain fram telling
Mr.. Davis that the controlling party in the
North regarded Mr.. johnson as the worst en-
emy of the South, and that he was the stumb-
| ling block in the way Of reconstruction. MI
Davis was quite frank in talking with me on
| this subject. l may be overstepplng tne
| bounds Of my interview when give puoi'city
| to only one of number o. signihcant re-
| marks that he made. but Mr.. DAVIS said 10 me
| that he "believed he (Johnson) tods doing
,rbot he thought best for the South
| Sut IL had resulted badly" Differing
as widely as the poles with Mr.. Da
Wis. did not hear him utter an unkind WORT
against any one, especially Mr.. johnson, anG
must admit that l was more charmed will
his conversation than that OF any prominent
man with whom it has been my fortune te
meet. He expressed himself for peace, and
l believe him to-day, great rebel as he was
less traitor and more honest man Mdt
A. III. Il Ia
"odorousr'
informed Mr.. Davis that the people OF tn
North held him, as representing the Conted
eracy, largely responsible for the suffering
and deaths of our prisoners at Andersonville
| Libby, and other places. He replied tha