Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1871-08-04
THE ssrF. nAvEs SCANDAL.
What "a Memphis Paper Says Of
the Affair.
From the Menphis Anneal.


From The Memphis Appeal, July 81
We are not disposed to speak in
undue haste even in defense Of an in /
ured fellow-citizen a friend. We /
think that a life of integrity and hon
or As pure and as much above suspic |
on as the driven Stow or Caesars |
wife; az i,reprOachabIe as the chastc
name of Calhoun, or the fame Of a
Lee or a Washington. which has en-
dared for period bordering Oh three
scare years and ten. should be Sufli-
Gent shield against all possible ca
lumBy. Upon this have We thought
proper to rely in the case of certain
charge brought by his enemies
glinst Mr., Jefferson Davis. We
have hitherto declined in his Lehali,
lest we might give comtenance to the
idea that a denial might be required.
gut We are told the silence Of the al,-
osI is lriscon, trued, and that infer
ence is drawn thercirom that the
charge brought to delame him can
not be denied. While We can be re-
sponsible fer 10 mans honor but our
own, we find it necessary in self de-
tense, is say that we both deny and
lisbelieyc the accusation made by the
correspondent OF the Louisville Com
a3ercid. We believe it originated in
malice alone. and that it is as false
rs it is Infamous This same individ
ual, we are informed. visited Mr.. Da
Wis for the purpose of interviewing
him, and was expelled by Mr.. Davis
from his office only the day or two be-
fore. He was a correspondent of the
New York HerHd, written for so
much a line in tie Louisville COM
nercju; and Immediately after his eX>
pulsion, we have been told, in the
presence Of two or more gentleman IN
this city, he said that he would get
even with Mr.. Davis. He has essay
! ed to do it by this SANDER. He was
expelled for using publicly the con-
tents of letter marked private and
confidential, writted by Mr.. Davis.
He was too degraded to know, or too
vile to refrain from an infamy imposs-
IDLE to honorable men. 1t is not
strange that such creature should
be a little sore and become malignant
from the touch Of Mr.. DIS boot, nOI
is it strange that one capable of vio-
lating confidence among gentlemen
should also be capable of any Islander
necessary to crafty his revenge
against a man be had injured. To
such reptile the motive was irresis-
tible, and no possible testimony from
Kim is worthy of thought, or could
receive attention from any not the en-
emies of Mr.. Davis.
Men of as high character as live ii
the world are to be found here, anc
throughout the State of Mississippi
whose voucher in behalf of the distin.
guished statesman. soldier and eX'
President, goes back for forty years
We have ourselves had more or les:
acquaintance with his public and pri
vate reputation since 1885, and living
before 1910 four years in the same
county with him, never heard a breath
to suIly his fame from that day tC
this, notwithstanding the readiness
with which, as 4 Wing antagonist and
editor. W may then be supposed tC
have welcomed charges against pc.
Etical opponent. If a private life
like that of Jefferson Davis, known
intimately by millions, is not to @
unscathed among men, then we de-
spair of finding faultless gentleman.
The card of Mr.. ID. appears in an.
other column. He has never beer
suspected, much less accused. Of false
hood. The whole story originated
with an ignorant negro. 1t was read
lily gobbled up by this revengeful cor.
respondent, who may have easily in
stigated the negro to the SANDER, and
probably did so No respectable cit
izen will give it countenance that
will be left to the enemies Of Mr.. d.
who are numerous and powerful
enough, and the enemies of the South
ern people as well.