The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1869-09-01
Mr.. Davis,

Postmaster.G eneral Reagan, of tho
late Confederaoy, in letter to the
Galveston News, vindicates Mr.. Davis
from some accusations made against
him by Judge Evans, of Texas. They
charged him with excessive care of
his money-bags, and with a scheme
for Western Empire beyond the
Mississippi. Mr.. Reagan completely
answers them all aud vindicates Mr.
Davis. They were together in the
journey from Richmond, and continu-
cd together for long way. The first
idea of Mr.. Davis was to effect
junction between Lee and Johnston,
Mr.. Davis and his advisers determin-
cd to GROSS the Mississippi and if pos
siole to continue the struggle there
only with the same Wow that govern.
ed him in Richmond. But the troa-
sure still held by the Confederacy he
left entirely in charge of others, and
showing entire self-denial, moved in
advance. Mr., Reagan makes tho fol-
lowing statement
"ln coming through South Carolina,
he and myself, riding ahead of our
company, passed cabin on the road
side, when he asked woman who
was standing in the door fora drink of
water. On handing it to him she
said, 'Are you President Davis?' On
his replying in tho Affirmative, she
said to him, pointing to little boy
barely large enough to walk little,
THAT is your namosake; wo call him
jeff. Davis He took from his pock-
ct gold coin, apparently the size of
a three.dollar piece or sovereign, and
handing it to her, told her to give it
to the little boy, saying to me, as he
rode oil, that that was his last piece
of coin, which he had kept as a sort of
keepsake on account Of it's being
coin seldom seen in this country.
subsequently, when in company
wit1 several members of his Cabinet,
the subject of their finances was men.
toned, and their poverty was made,
among themselves, the subject of
passing amusement. Mr.. Davis took
out his pocket book and counted, |
think, about two hundred aud seventy
dollars in Confederate Treasury notes,
then almost entirely worthless, and
said, laughingly, that was his fortune
in money. He then added that it
was source of qualification rather
than of regret to himself aid nearly
all the members of his Cabinet had |
sacrificed their private fortunes in the
struggle for the liberty of the people.
| will also add, that when it was dc.
termined, after the surrender of Gen.
Johnston, to transfer the field of mil. |
itary operations to the. west of the
Mississippi one of his Cabinet told
MIR. Davis that he had money enough
to take them both across that river.
"These facts are given to show the
injustice which has been done to one
whose hopes and thoughts and ener-
gies were all wholly devoted to the
cause, then SO dear to us, in which ne
was engaged; and who, amidst his all
engrossing public duties and RESPONSE
bisitics, took no thought Of his private
fortune or of his personal safety.
"l am persuaded that the wise and
good and honorable, even among those
who thought him wrong in his sup
port of the cause of Southern indie
pendence, and imperilied their lives
in opposing him on tho battlefield,
will accord to him sincerity of con-
victions as to the righteousness of the
cause in which lie was engaged, integ.
rity of purpose, and those great quail
ties of head and heart which fitted
him to be the leader of heroic peo.
pie in great struggle.
'I know the time has not yet fully
come for explanations like this to be
received without offence to the preiu-
dices of many good people, who have
only viewed Mr.. Davis of late years
rs public enemy. But trust now,
since that cause has been forever
abandoned, the generous and just will
see that [ perform duty to one who,
while ho is in distant land, is yet
very dear to mo and millions Of others
in the United States.
Very respectfully,
JOHN II. REAGAN"