Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-07-23
THEJEFF. DAVIS SCANDAL
what . Memphis paper says OF the
Affair.
From the Memphis appeal, July 81.


Affair.
From the Memphis appeal, July 81.
We are rot disposed to speak in undue
haste even in defense Of al injured fel-
low-citizen OF friend. We think that
life of integrity and honor as pure and as
much above suspicion as the driven snow
OF Caesars wife; as irreprOacbaole Us the
chaste name of Calhoun, or the fame of
Lee or a Washington, which has endured
for q period bordering on three score
wears and ten, should be Q sufficient shield
against all possible calUmny. Upon this
have We thought proper to rely in the
case of a certain charge brought by his
enemies against Mr.. Jefferson Dsvis 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 o. the appeal is mis-
construed, and that an inference is drawn
thereff0m that the charge brought to de-
fame himCan not he denisd. While we can
be responsible for no mans honor but our
own. we tipd it necessary, in self de-
tense, to say that We both deny and dis
believe the accusation made by the cor
respondent of the Louisville Commercial.
We believe it originated in malice alone,
and that it is as false as it is Infamous.
This same individual, we are informed,
visited Mr.. Davis for the purpose Of in
terviewing him, and was expelled by Mr..
Davis from his Office only the day or two
before. He was correspondent Of the
New York Herald, writing for so much a
line in the Louisville Commercial; and
Immediately after his expulsion, We nave
been told, in the presence Of two or more
gentlemen in this city, he said that he
would get even with Mr.. Davis. He has
essayed to do it by this SANDER. He was
expelled for using publicly the contents
of letter marked private and confidential,
written by Mr.. Davis. He was too degfa-
ded to know, or too vile 10 refrain from an
infamy impossible to honorable men.
II Is not strange that such Crea-
ture should be little sore and become
malignant from the touch of Mr.. ID. s
boot, nor is it strange that one capable
of violating confidence among gentlemen
should also be capable Of any SANDER n6-
cessary to CRAFTY his revenge against 3
man he had injured. To such reptile
the motive was irresistible, and no posi-
bic testimony from him is worthy of q
thought, or could receive attention from
any not the enemies Of Mr.. Davis.
Men of as high character IS live IN the
world are to be found here, and through
out the State of Mississippi, whose
voucher in behalf of the distinguished
statesman, soldier and ex President, goes
back for forty years. We have ourselves
had more or less acquaintance with his
public and private reputation since 1888,
and living before 1910 four years In
the same county with him, never heard a
breath to sully his fame from that day to
this, notwithstanding the readiness with
which, as q Wing antagonist and editor,
we may then be supposed to have vel
coined charges against political oppo'
nent. If private life like that OF JET
ferson Davis, known intimately by mil
lions, is not TO go unscsthed among men,
then we despair of finding q faulues!
gentleman.
The card of Dir. d. appears Ia another
column. He has never been suspected
much less accused, of falseh0od. Toe
whole story originated with an Ignorant
negro. l. was readily gobbled up by Thu
reYengeful correspondent, who may hayi
easily instigated the negro to the Islander
and probably did 50. No Tespectabl.
citizen will give it countenance; that VII
be left to the enemies OF Mr.. d.; who ar
numerous and powerful enough, and tn
enemies of the Southern people as well