The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1871-07-27
The JEFF. Davis Scandal.
(From the Memphis Appeal. July 81.

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(From the Memphis Appeal. July 2I.)
We are not disposed to speak in un.
due haste even In defense of an injured
fellow -citizen or friend. We think that
life of Integrity and honor as pure
and rs much above suspicion rs the
driven snow or Caesars wife; as ire
proachable rs the chaste name of CAL
houn, or the fame Of Lee or Wash.
ington, which has endured for period
bordering on three score years and ten.
should be q sufficient shield against all
possible calumny. Upon this have we
thought proper to rely in the case Of
certain Charge brought by his enemies
against Mr.. Jefferson Davis. We have
hitherto declined in his behalf, lest we
might give countenance to the idea that
denial might be required, but we are
told the silence of the appeal is mis-
construed. and that an inference is
drawn therefrom that the charge
brought to defame him cannot be de-
MED. While we can be responsible for
no mans honor but our own, we find 1t
necessary, in self defense, to say that
we both deny and disbelieve the accusa-
ton made by the correspond ent of the
Louisville Commercial. We believe It
originated in malice alone, and that 1t is
as false as it is Infamous. This same in
dividual, we are informed, visited Mr..
Davis for the purpose of interviewing
him, and was expelled by Mr.. Davis
only the day or two before. He was a
correspondent of the New York Herald,
writing for SO IAi1l1e line IN the Louis
vile CommesaS pmediately af-
ter his expulsion Fe been told. in
a SI.,.,
in this city. he said That he would get
even with Mr. Davis. He has cssayed
to do it by this SANDER. He was expell-
ed for using publicly the contents of a
letter marked private and confidential.
written by Mr.. Davis. He was too de-
graded to know, or too vile to refrain
from an intamy impossible to honorable
men. 1t is not strange that such a crea-
ture should be little sore and become
malignant from the touch of Mr.. DIS
boot, nor is it strange that one capable
of violating confidence among gentle.
men should also be capable Of any Sian.
Ger necessary to crafty his revenge
against man he had injured. 10 such
a reptile the motive was irresistible
and no possible testimony from him is
worthy Of a thought, or could receive
attention from any not the enemies Of
Mr.. Davis.
Men of as high character as live IN
the world are to be found here, and
whose voucher in behalf of the distin.
guished statesman, soldier and EXPIRES.
ident, goes back for forty years. We
quaintance with his public and private
| faf cincn 1QOS o,,.1 s,,s,, hoc
1910 four years in the same county with
him, never heard a breath to suily his
fame from that day to this, notwith.
standing the readiness with which, as a
Wing antagonist and editor, we may
then be supposed to have welcomed
charges against political opponent. II
Wis, known intimately Ly millions, Is
not to go unscathed among men, then
we despair Of finding taultless gentle
man.
The card Of Mr.. d. appears in ano.
Their column. He has never been sus.
pected, much less accused, Of falsehood
The whole story originated with an ig.
norant negro. 1t was readily gobbled by
this revengeful correspondent. who may
; have easily instigated the negro to the
ulu 81. NO IT,
spectacle citizen will give it counte
nance; that will be left to the enemies
Of Mr.. d., who arc numerous and pow.
erful enough, and the enemies of the
Southern people as well.
The following is the Card of Mr.. Da.
Wis alluded to: 81.
MEMPHIS, July 81, 1S7l.-Before and
since my arrival in Memphis this day
week my attention has been called tC
slanderous articles i'm certain radica
papers, which attack my private char
actcr, in connection with that OF lady
who, it is falsely stated, was travelling
under my charge. 1t is deemed due to
myself, as well as to my personal
friends, to state unequivocally and
without delay that the story in whole
and in all its essential parts is unm;sta
kably the instigation of malice, and il
hereby pronounced utterly false.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
1t is proper to state that since the APP.
pearanoe of Mr.. Davis Card, the Com.
merciaI, in which the scandal first ap.
peared, retracts, and alleges that it was
not written by correspondent, but by
; the city editor of that paper. based upor
the statement of a railroad passenger
| A Lady Killed at Prayer.
The St. Joseph (Mo.) Gazette of Sat
urday gives the following particulars o.
the death by lightning of Mrs. Lovel
and Mr.. Brakeman during the terrible