Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-05-21
Mr. Betts Gives His Reasons for
. Becolning a Surety for HIr.
GRAND Jury RooM., Nav TX 1ee.

Becoming a Surety for 8Ir.
Davis. sba1l szlsmmf 7.f a,if51
GRAND JURY Room, May Is, 1857
u MY DEAR SIR Your letter of this morn
ing has quite surprised me-, VIII never
see the day that 1 can exercise an indie
pendent 1udgment,Eor sound discretion,
without being called to account and asked
for explanations by my friends PIN other
words, will they never have sufficient con-
fidence in me to suppose it possible that
have good reasons for doing what may not
appear to them to be right, without forcing
me before the public. 50 T"a 0AeS U.'lG
, You say my friends are expressing great
Indignation at my having become one of
the sureties for the appearance of Mr.. Davis
at the next Circuit Court to be held in this
State, and that they fear it will iDjure me-
regret at all times to differ from my
friends, but such considerations cannot be
permitted to conflict with the performance
of the positive conviction of my duty. You
say you do not doubt but that my motives
were good, but would be glad to hear my
reasons; and you shall have them :ili1Iq
7 First, then, offered myself as one of
Mr.. Davis securities because thought it
would have harmonlzing influence in re-
storing better feeling among the disturbed
and diseoFdant' elements of the State
which it has already done to very marked
extent. ri Ifti st1 70i 9glIr- ems
'. Second. because thought the Govern
ment had had quite time enough to make
out case, and prepare for the trial of Mr..
Davis and that as the Constitution throws
its protecting shield over every citizen of
the United States by the guarantee of a
speedy trial for any offense with which be
may stand charged, and as the power of the
Government had been recently exhibited
in stretching forthits powerful arm across
oceans and continents to seize upon an OBJ
scure individual, to drag him to the bar of
justice, l thought there was no excuse for
the delay. that might not be resorted to, for
the perpetual imprisonment of Mr.. Davis
or of some other obnoxious citizen, at a fu-
ture day, and thereby establish precedent
not to be tolerated by any rejecting per-
son jealous of the rights and liberties of the
citizen; and therefore l thought Mr.. Davis
was entitled to his liberation unnn bail :;
and that could not, in any other manner,
SO forcibly, express my opinion upon this
subject as by volunteering to become one
of his securities for his appearance in the
fut nre. - f.e--.-..r.- - .... .....
Third. AS Mr.. Davis had thrown me into
Jail, or permitted it to be done under his ad :
minlstration, without Justification, an op-
portunity at the moment seemed to present
itself for the exercise of magnanimity,
which L did not choose to throw away, by
assisting his friends in his release from i'm
prisonment; but, Ii r.ru .zf aai yle7 !
4 Lastly and chiefly, because thought it
furnished a suitable occasion of showing to
the world, not only on my own behalf OF
that patriotic party which to some extent
l represent, that in our demands for the
vindication of the law in the past, and in
our determination hereafter to insist upon
some security for the future, we were gov
erned by high sense of public duty, and
were in no degree actuated by motives of
personal resentment, vindictiveness or ma
ligniGy. rflI,raI .#f.,..a.s g...e
If had failed to seize upon the oppor-
tunity thus suddenly presented for accom-
plishing at one stroke so many advantages
and so much good as saw in the distance,
i should have censured myself for blum
der and for lamentable deficiency of
those qualities upon which would most
desire to pride myself. ~ .:.1 ...aaGt. |
l 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 l
took step SO much in the right direction,
I do not know him or hear of him. -;
1t is not true that | congratulated Mr..
Davis, or that / approached him for that or
any other pnrpose. During heprogress of
the case authorized a friend of Mr.. Davis
to say to Mr.. O'Connor that if the name of
one known everywhere and to all men as
one of the most prominent and determined
opponents of the rebellion, the Southern
Coniederacy, and of Mr.. Davis whole
course of policy, was desirable as one ofhis
securities, that mine was at his SERVICE
The protfer was promptly aecepted-not
because it was needed, but no doubt from
the same generous impulses that had led
me to make the offer.
i did not approach Mr. Davis, nor did I
intend to do so /; because it was from public,
and not personal considerations, that led
me to occupy this position; but when
approached the clerks desk to affix my
signature to the bond, Mr.. Davis, as was
both natural and becoming, approached
me to express his Acknowledgements for the
generosity had exhibited. l told him that
among the considerations that had controll-
ed me was the sacred regard in which l
held the liberty of all citizens; that be-
lieved he was entitled to trial; that the
Government had had the most abundant
time to prepare for one, and if, after two
years. imprisonment, they were still un-
prepared, L thought he was entitled to his
liberation on bail, and was happy to give
this public expression of my opinion on
the subject. He replied, SIT was noble
sentiment, worthy of Virginia gentleman,
as he had always known me to be, and was
thankful for it," We separated, and did
not come in contact again.
I am not only satisfied with, but am
proud of what l have done, and would do
it over again and AGAIN and AGAIN under
the same circumstances, whilst l entertain
every opinion of Mr.. Davis's offense against
the Constitution and laws of his country
that have expressed from the beginning
of the rebellion to its close.
hope may live long enough to let all
my friends understand that it is my habit
to do whatever my conscience and judg-
ment may approve in my individual capac-
ity, without turning to the right hand or
to the lett 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. Boris.
P.S.-As far as my knowledge and belief
extends. it is not true, as you have heard,
that on the call of my name it was received
with Kisses. / certainly heard nothing OF
it, nor have 1 met with any one who did
yet in so mixed a crowd it is not impossi-
BILE that some one or two in remote part
of the house might have done so.
JIM B.
To Mr.. -, Washington City.
DiSoracp tn HuTnanity