The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-05-24

DAVIS BAIL BoND.-The New York
World says the following correspondence
was handed to it for. publication:
MAY 13, 1872.
Charles O'Conor, Esq My DEAR SIR:
Will you allow me to call your attention
to the enclosed extract from an editorial
in the World newspaper OF Friday last,
and to ask you whether it does or does
not accurately represent the facts in re.
gard to the connection of Mr.. Greeley
with the release Of Mr.. Jefferson Davis?
No man is no competent as yourself to
speak to this point.
We will not do Mr.. Greeley any injus-
tice; we acknowledge that with iiberali-
ty and defiance Of party trammels
which reflects honor on his generous
impulses, he advocated universal am.
nesty, when it cost him his chances for
United States Senatorship. and that he
signed the bail bond of Jefferson Davis.
But these commendablea aots resulted from
mere generous impulse, without much
regard to principle. After the court
had decided to set Mr.. Davis free on
bail, he could have found plenty of
bondsmen, and Mr.. Greeley's journey
to Richmond was quite superhuous as u
means of benefiting Jefferson Davis,
while it impaired his influence in his
own party as an advocate Of universal
amnesty.
The impression of many persons is
that this statement is not wholly Just,
and that Mr.. Greeley's journey to Rich
mond was not quite superHuous, as
means of benefting your client, tho
prisoner. IF you pronounce this impres-
sion correct, may ask you to favor me
with all exact statement of the facts, and
with permission to 10y it before the
editor of the World for publication L
remain, with great respect, your most
obedient, faithful servant, -
New YORK, May IA, 1872.
MY DEAR SIR: From his capture until
the honr within which lie was bailed,
Mr.. Jefferson Davis was in military Gus
tody. He was then confined as n prison
er of war for about two years. From the
very commencement of this torn his
counsel directed their efforts to procur-
ing his delivery into civil custody, to the
end that he might have his triul at once,
or obtain liberation upon bail until the
Government should think fit to bring on
the trial. The counsel for Mr.. Davis,
having htot H)itCltcu duO ODLalQeu tile
consent of Mr.. Greeley. Mr.. Gerrit
Smith and Commodore Vanderbilt, Of
fered to give bail in any sum that might
be required, aud to procure those three
gentlemen to unto in the bail bond.
This offer was never formally accepted; F;
but, under the belief that it was satisfac-
tory, the counsel of Dir. Davis obtained
q writ OF habeds corpus, and brought Mr..
Davis before the court at Richmond.
MIR. Evarts attended by appointment,
and, on the part of the Government, he
acquiesced in bailing Mr.. Davis in $780,
900. Conceiving himself bound so to
do, tho counsel of Mr.. Davis requested
the attendance Of the gentlemen in Ques-
tion. Commodore Vanderbilt's attorney
acted for him; the other two gentlemen
appeared and signed the bond in person.
They had every reason to understand and
believe that their attendance was abso-
lutely necessary to the release of MIR.
Davis. The counsel of Mr. Davis sup.
posed it to be 80. and he has now no rea-
son to think otherwise. I am not aware
OF any officiousness on the part of Mr..
Greeley in this business. and never sup
posed that he did anything beyond what
be considered essential to the liberation
of Mr.. Davis. am, dear sir. yours
truly, CH. O'CON6R.
The Chester Reporter, in an article in
a. Cy