The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-06-27
REY. PAUI RAGLEY.

1t was mentioned yesterday In let
ter from Bethany, published in our
columns, that this gentleman had been
recently tarryin9 in that neighborhood.
he is a queer individual, and is not
supposed to be strong by the head"
Nevertheless the following account Of
his efforts on behalf of JEFF. will be read
with general interest:
He says that with the knowledge
that Governor Vance. of North Caro-
lima, had received the signature of
Senator Sumner and other influential
public men, to his application for par
don ON the ground that he would con-
sent to advocate negro suffrage at the,
South, he endeavored to induce JEFF.
Davis to consent to the same condition,
and thereby secure his pardon. This
Davis declined to do. subsequently
Mr.. RaUley waited upon the fallen chief
and solicited him to make application
for pardon, assuring him that he had
every reason to believe the application
would be successful. To this Davis re-
piled: 5
"Had you uttered these sentiments
you in the Old Capitol prison. fully
appreciate your motives. but you must
| be aware that cannot approach the
Executive with an application for par
don, as you propose. / cannot even
addEess the Attorney-General except
through the general commanding here.
NV case is entirely different from
Yance's. have had a hundred thou
sand dollars put on my head, am now
prisoner, subject to whatever the
Government may see fit to impose upon
me, and you must see that cannot
sign the petition as you propose, nor
even discuss the matter" .f--g
Mr.. Bagley did not permit himselft TO
become discouraged in his self-imposed
task, but Immediately proceeded 10
/ make application TO Senators and
4 others for their signatures to. the petit
ton for pardon, and encountered a Sc
ries OF rebuffs that would have thor
/ oughly discouraged less persistent
/ man. We quote from his letter:
i "Senator Howard, on the subject,
said: did you ever hear of man in
such a condition that he could not ap-
ply for pardon If he would? 1fMr. Da-
| Wis would go to work and help us TO
give equal rights 10 the negroes and
poor white people of the South, there Is
no power in the country that could keep
him out of Congress; but to tell yon that
he couldn't apply for pardon Is non
sense "a. .-r,...,.,.-t
"Ex-Attorney General Black said: 1T
Ii LEub ne GOulI hOb dLC1bAJ- upPAJ "
the President, as you proposed, because
his letter would have TO be opened by
the Attorney General; but this is a mere
formality.' ...t,.
"Judge Advocate General Holt said:
| Ills application would have to be first
submitted to the General in command
OF the Fortress; but that would be a
matter of no difficulty" MOI
Mr.. Ragley then made a set at the
President, to learn from him in advance
II he would pardon Davis II application
for his pardon was made, and, as he
says, satisfied himself that the Presi-
dent would risk reputation, imp each
ment, or, perhaps, life itSeg, to pardon
the chief oft the rebellion, and was earn
estly solicitous to have him apply per-
sonally for pardon. Mir. Bagley's ac-
count of his Interview with the Presi-
dent is as follows: esls
President johnson said: "Mr. Bag
ley, you must be aware that you place
| me in very delicate position, to re-
quest of me beforehand promise 10
pardon man who has never made app
plicatiOn for pardon" .-,e-s.,5-
1 replied: when the Lord sends
me to rebellious men, He sends me
with u certified promise that II they.will
apply for pardon they shah have It."
He answered: Eve have made our
proclamation long ago, and Mr.. Davis
knows its conditions.n ,.I
I continues: "But he thinks his case
peculiar: and tina. he cannot approaeh
the President with an application
He answered.; "His case is not differ
ent from any, other, except that he is N
prison and ought to have been tried
long ago. We have urged 1t upon Con-
gress 10 try him, and they have not
seen fit to do SO.
added: There Is no court on earth
that has power 10 try him.
He said: The SUPP eme Court has"
1t was answered.: "TechnicaIlyi Il has,
but actually it has not. The Confeder.
acy is dead, and yon cannot place 1t
now at the bar for trial. 1t has been
tried by the God OF battles with a jury
OF a million of men in arms, and will
twelve men now reverse the sentence !?
Will they eoltdentn II in the person OF
Davis? He Is condemned already.
But If he will accept the condemnation
by applying for pardon you have the
power TO pardon him." 80
He replied .'If the case comes before
us shall act upon It according to the
power that is given to me, irrespective
of the opinion of any one. They may
abuse me in the future as they have in
the past, but ], shall do my duty, Butt
will say this, thatI have no luminosity
against any man."
said about negfo suffrage and Governor
Vance, and the proposition i had made
to Mr.. Davis. n 10
He replied: Will negro suffrage heal
eveEything2 Wilt put arms and legs
on our wounded soldiers? / do not
mean It for you. but TOR those People
who think negro. suffrage will cure
everything.n
1 concluded "Then will tell Mr..
Davis that his case Is not beyond the
reach of pardon. and encourage him to
make application" and left.
The above conversations, it will be
observed, took place before the release
of Davis upon bail. Bagley is still OBJ
tanning names 10 his petition.
THE loyal Presbyteriaus Of Missouri
have recently won a signal victory over
their secesh brethren by decision of
Judge Edwards in an application made
by Samuel s. Watson, President of the
Board of Directors of the Linden Fee
male College, for an injunction to re-
strain the directory from granting a
nine years lease of the college property
to French Strether. In this case was
involved the legality of the action of the
General Assembly Of 1885 in casting out
the st. Louis Presbytery for disloyalty.
The rebel Presbytery claimed that the
General Assembly bad NO right to dis
solve any Presby tery, being the crea-
ton OF the Presbytefies and having no
rights not expressly granted to ia
similar argument 70 that used by the
State rights party in attempting to
fasten their views upon the conn
try. The court held that the Presbv.
teries are under the control Of The A.
and justified its action In dis
missing the ST. Louis Presbytery. BY