Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-17
Release Of Ex-President Davis.

The telegraph brings Us the pleasant in
telligence OF the release on bail OF Elk
PRESIDENT DAVIS that the unnecessary
and disgraceful imprisonment of two years
has at last been brought to a termination.
Protracted as has been his unlawful con-
fnement, we are glad to believe it was
finally ended in obedience to the sentiment
of the Northern people. None but con-
temptible towards could wish his longer
incarceration.
During his long imprisonment, there has
never been exhibited such an example of
accomplishing christian fortitude and dig
nified submission to outrages, as illegal as
they were cruel, as has been illustrated in
the prison life of Mr.. DAVIS. The South
ern people, with one heart, will rejoice at
his liberation--the whole civilized world
will be glad that his wicked Imprisonment
no longer continues. He comes forth from
his dungeon with the undivided sympathy
and kind feeling of the entire South, and
his manly endurance and bearing has won
for him scores of friends north of the Po-
tomac The people of the South with one
voice, unite with Judge Underwood in
thanking GENERAL BURTON, they, however,
for the kindness and liberality which
marked his treatment of the noble pris-
oner, and especially since leaving Fortress
Monroe-his conduct indicates the gentle
man and gallant soldier.
Nearly year ago, in speaking of the
imprisonment of Mr.. DAVIS, and the sym
pathy, increasing with his continued con-
finement of our people, we used the fol-
lowing language which we deem appropri-
ate here:
ssThe waning fortunes of the Confed-
eracy during the last part of 1864, and the
earlier months of 1865, and which culmi
mated in its final overthrow in May of the
latter year, had served to render President
Davis unpopular in the South. He was
charged, unjustly we know, with all errors,
with all weaknesses and all insuficiencies,
military, Legislative and judicial, which
were supposed to be the forerunners of our
| final defeat By the timid and whipped,
| he was regarded as head-strong and pre-
! cipitate by the violent and rash, as slug
,
rants for civic and military honors freely
denounced him as partial and obstinate,
and with nearly ALL except the noble sol
die rs, who followed the declining fortunes OF
the Confederate flag with the self-sacrifcing
patriotism and gallantry with which they
| gave it to the breeze, he was made the re-
sponsible agent of all the suferings of the
Southern people. Many of the very peo-
pie who had, by their votes and acts,
| brought on the war and elevated him to
place, and fawned upon him while in pow
er, with cowardly tickleness and fear OF
loss of property, hailed his capture with
| pleasure, or what was worse, with felgned
| Indifference. The impulse of the moment
was to make some one the scape-goat fol
or own short comings and faults, and the
universal hatred of President Davis by the
Federal troops, and their loud denuncia-
tions of him and the thirst for his blood,
caused the impulsive, and those actuated
! by timld or corrupt motives, to yield to
this popular, and often profitable, feeling.
'sWe are glad to believe that to-day,
however, there is throughout the South, q
great and universal sympathy for the dis
| tinguished prisoner at Fortress Monroe
| That he, who became the Southern repre-
sentative in the unfortunate conflict, by the
| unanimous wish of his people, and not by
| his own choice, is to-day, in his unwarrant-
| ed and severe confinement, more entirely
| the idol of his people than when, as the
successful soldier in Mexico. he brought
victory to the national arms or as the
peerless Senator in Congress, he added lus-
tire to American eloquence and renown to
American craftsmanship or yet as the
President of the short-lived but world-re-
nowned Confederate States, he linked his
name in immortal glory, with those men
whose proves on the field and sufferings
in the camp have illustrated the history OF
the world with its grandest picture of he
rOiSm."