Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-04-13
GREELEY AND DAVIS.


The following letter from Mr.. Greeley
explains why he bailed Jefferson Davis
and why he would not speak in Connec'
ticut, with other matters:
NEW YoRk. April 2, 1868.
Ny DEAR Sir: / duly received your
telegram inviting me to speak in Dan
bury, in company with ex-Vice President
Hamlin, on Friday evening next had
prior engagement for that evening, yet
/ presume l could have been released
from it had the necessity been urgent
and pslpable. But had already decided
not to speak in Connecticut this spring
and it seems due to frankness that
should say why. -s
In May last Jefferson Davis, having
been two years state prisoner in Fort
ress Monroe, was taken thence to Rich.
mond as if for trial. On his arrival the
prosecution was not ready to try him, as
it had not been at any time during hi:
long detention. l did not then know
whatever / may have suspected, that
Judge Underwood of that district had
already testified before Committee of
Congress thai to try him would inevitably
result in defeat, unless a jury were packed
expressly to convict. The result of the
trial of John Fl. Surratt at Washington
is an impressive commentary on Judge
u extorted averment.
In the eyes of mankind and in verify,
the Republican party was and is respon.
sible prosecutor of Jefferson Davis.
am not aware that Andrew johnson and
his Cabinet had intermeddled In any way
with the course of justice in the premises.
If the Chief Justice, whose district in
cludes Virginia, or the district judge for
that State, had seen fit to try this pris.
oner, he would, of course, have been tried
long ago. Why they did not, can only
infer but the testimony drawn from
Judge u, as aforesaid, convinces me
that neither of them deemed it wise Or
salutary to invoke failure which would
be widely hailed as proving therebellion
legally right, the nation essentially
wrong, in our late arduous and bloody
struggle. l quite concur in the sug-
gestion of some one who, with reference
to this matter, observed that, A good
lawyer having won his case in one court,
never appeals 1t.
The Federal Constitution expressly
provides that "In all criminal prosecu
tons, the accused shall enjoy the right to
q speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury of the State and District wherein
the crime shall have been committed"
Here was man two years in prison,
persistently demanding trial, and per-
sistently refused it. The judge of his
district had testified that to try him &C.
cording to the aforesaid provision would
result in defeat of the prosecution.
That he was not likely to be tried soon,
if ever, was plain. l thought he had
right, if not tried, to be bailed and l
had already said that, while l should
prefer not to be required to do SO, /
would sign his bond if that should be
found necessary. Being assured that it
Das necessary-that the thousands Of re-
sponsible men who would gladly have
signed in my stead would not answer
the same purpose-I made good my
proffer.
/ had never seen Jefferson Davis SO ns
to know him. had never held any sort
of intercourse with him. There, are
probably few men more antipathetic in
all their visws, opinions, convictions,
purposes, than he aud l. After l had
signed the bond, he asked an introduc-
ton to me, and we civilly greeted each
other. We have not met nor exchanged
a word since that day, and never may.
/ did in his case what would readily
have done for Maximilian, if could
thereby have saved the Republicans OF
Mexico from the blunder and reproach
of needlessly taking his life. | would
gladly have moved them to set an ex-
ample to the despots of Europe, by pa
rolling Max. never again to lend himself
to any plot against Mexican liberty and
Independence, aud thereupon contemp-
tuously dismissing him from our hemis-
phere.
In either case, considerations of fair
ness, of justice, of humanity, would have
had much weight with me. In neither
would | have been impelled by these
alone / believed that the Republicans
of Mexico could not really afford to shoot
Macmillan. / believed that the Repub-
licans of this country could not afford,
after he had lain two years in prison, to
try, convict, and execute jefferson Davis;
still less could they afford to make the
attempt and fail. Had he been executed,
/ believe his death would have been
bloodily avenged on thousands Of unof-
Tending Unionist,, especially blacks, aud |
would have made thousands of votes for |
the common cause Of rebellion and sham
Democracy. Had the Republicans been
beaten in an earnest attempt to convict |
and hang him, l think the consequences
would have been different, but equally
baleiul.
The convictions were not lightly
formed. acted on very full considsra-
tion, aud have seen no reason either TO
change my views or regret my action.
| was quite aware that my act would be
censured and my motives impugned.
The clamor actually raised somewhat
transcended my expectations, alike IN
rs extent and its hercehess; but | at
tributed this in part to rivalry in busi-
ness, aud patiently waited for the gale to
exhaust itself
Ifmy recollection is not at fault, most
Of the Republican journals Of Connecti-
cut including those Of staieliest preten-
,ions, we're prominent in thus sssailing
md denouncing me. think q fall pro-
portion Of the orders to have the III
bHae stopped, because Of my action
came from your State. And,
sven 90 late as last January, received y