Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-21

From the new 1Ork W Orlu'I
For one reason-apropos of manacles
we shall be glad IL it turn out to be
true. n We have heretofore blushed under
the belief that the enormity Of manacling
prisoners of war of rank was rather on
our sholders, and have found consolation
in one notable instance in the fact that
the shame of it was due, not to regular
soldiers but to such as we have spoken
of as civilian busybodies. "0n the morn
ing of the 23d of May" says loyal his
torian and gallant man-for such were
both Dr.. Craven and Mr.. Weeds dear
friend Halpin--" on the morning of the
23d of May yet bitterer trial was in
store for the proud spirit Of the captive
"a trial severer, probably, than has ever
in modern times been inflicted upon any
one who had enjoyed such eminence.
This morning Jefferson Davis was shack
led" ..a.af tst
At the end of exactly the period when
in ancient days, even of civil war, the
expatiating sacrifice was offered and the
sins of all washed out, we read of this in
cident in our modern story with pang
There is not a true-hearted man. or wo-
man in the land, be their political preju-
dices what they may, who does not wish
this deed of unnecessary cruelty had not
been done, and it is one of the admins
tration secrets, which has been most
carefully guarded, by whose order or at
whose instance it was done. We doubt
not the truculent civilian busybody had
his share in it, or some amateur soldier,
who either had personal wrong to
avenge or a political end to gain. On
the 22d of May, Colonel Roberts, Of the
regular service, was relieved OF the com
mand Of Fortress Monroe, and in his
room was put New England hero
baptized, oddly enough, Napoleon Bona
parte (Oh, st. Helena and Sir Hudsonl) }
who was smarting under the recollec-
ton that, but one month before, he had
been soundly thrashed by the rebels at
Farmville, in the very last skirmish in
Virginia. Co-incidentally with him
came, so says Craven, Major General
Halleck and the Hon. Charles A..
Dana, Assistant Secretary of War, under
whose immediate inspection the prison
ers were landed and marched to their
casemate. We do not read that they
went away, and have right to infer
that they did not, until the voluntary or
delegated work was done, and they had
| listened with delight, not all like Henry S
on the eve Of Agincourt, to "armorers
closing rivets up on the wasted limbs
of feeble prisoner in their hands. 1t
is sad thought think of it as we may
The deed was, according to the Talley-
rand formula, worse than crime-a
huge, stupid blunder, having for its direct
and permanent effect the awakening of
pity and sympathy where according to
the current judgment of the North,
neither was due. The whirligig of even
so short a time as three or five years
works odd changes. The manacled pris-
oner of 1865 was released from all GUS
tody-loyal Radical men of the North
gladly entering the bail and becoming
responsible for him and his good beha-
vior: and the whole world of humanity
and chivalry will agree with us in saying
that the consciousness Of the sureties is
more. to be envied than are the ghastly
memories of those who ordered the
shackles and superintendent the black
smith t baF