Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-08-21
GREELEY's OBSERVATION Of
How He Became Bondsman for JEFF. Davis
An Incident that Reveals Character,

The Cambridge Henry Co.. chronicle,
Of the l4th, says:
Neither are we one ~ no would deem the bail
ing Of Davis by Greeley \ very monstrOus
oHenss, Il done without thought Of personal
combinations. But it looked 10 us Ike en- act
Of ostentatiob, unnecessary for the oItensible OBJ
jset In view, and in the light Of many other acts
Of bis, evidence Of weakness Of character If not
impropristy Of purpoIe.'
II the editor Of the Chronicle is sincere
in his remarks and we have NO. reason to
think otherwise he will doubtless be glad to
know the real facts in this case. The Ma.
con, Georgia, Telegraph and Msssngs,pub
fishes communication on this subject,
which" the editors Of that paper say
"comes from = source which is q guarantee
Of its unqusstionAbe authority and dis
closes the real circumstances under which
Mr. Greeley took the step The following is
the communication
EDITORS TELEGRAPH AND sIEssENGER :
Il wish 70 give you the true history Of the
bailing Of Jefferson Davis, A. / recently
heard II 10 New York from gentleman
who kuSv all about IT, Mrs. Davis went TO
New York TO consult Charles O'Couor Mr..
Mr.. Davis counsel as TO the best manner
Of sfsoting his release from prison. Mr.
O'Conor told her that in hisopiuion there was
only one way that it could DO done, and thai
was 10 get = representative man Of the Re
publican party 10 sign his bond. Mira. Dayi.
inquired who that man was. Mr.. O'Conoi
replied that il was Horace Greeley. She then
aaksd him II he Would not see him and gel
bin 10 do il. lie replied that be had no 10
dusuoo with Me-. Greeley, and that she was
the proper person 10 see him. She said she
would 20 aud see him. She went 70 his
office, sent in her card and Was invited into
his private Office. She said to him "Mr.
Grseley, my husband is confined in case
mate ~ Fortress Monroe. He has been
there for many long, weary months. He is
feeble old man, and he 10 gradually sink
ing under mis- rigorous imprisonment. lie
will die II he remains there much longer.
came here TO consult Mr.. O'Oonor as to the
means of getting him released. He has told
me that there is but one way to do it, and
that u 70 get representative man Of the
Republican party to sign his bond, and says
that you are that man. He has advised me
TO apply TO you. He says you have a kind
heart, aud that you will do it, il you believe
IL 70 be right Ny husband is dying, Mr.
Greeley; may hope that you will fayorabl
consider my application p
Mr.. Greeley arose, extended bis hand e
Mrs. Davis, and said: MADAM, you may
for will sign his bond
Mr.. Greeley was then q prominent cAudi
date before the Legislature for the United
States Senate. Some Of his friends heard
that he had agreed to sign Mr.. Davis bond
They went TO him and protested against it
They told him that they had made n count
and that he would be elected by six majority
but that II he signed this bond il would de
feat him. he replied: ~ know It will.
They told him that he was one Of the owners
OF the Tribune, and il he signed this bond
he would lose thousands Of subscribers. II,
said 81 know it, They said "Mr Gree
ley, you have written history Of the war
one volume you have out, and have sold
large numbers Of il. Your second volum,
is nearly out, and you have large orders fol
thai II: you sign this bond, these order'
will be countermandsd and you will lose
large amount OF money" He replied
Gentlemen, know it, but IL is right, anc
III do IT," He did do it, aud / am informed
that he lost . seat in the United States Sen
ate and over thirty thousand dollars.
10 my mind this does not look like "im
pertinent Interference"
SOME MORE LIGnT ON THE SUBJECT FROM OH
OF pAyIs's LAWYERS.
NEw YoRK, May II, 1872.
DEAR sR; The manner in which Mr.
drsslsy became connected as surstv on IN,
bond gwen in the case Of the United State,
OF America us. Jefferson Davis, is simpl,
this:
DssPairing Of causing Mr.. Davis To b,
mAnumistsd from military prison by direc
means, or having him assured Of a spesd,
trial before civil tribunal, his libe
ration was a subject for frequent oonsidera
ton bssveen Mr.. Greeley and myself chiefy
bu' l had similar conferences with othe
gsnhsmsn Of like disposition, ineludin
uos@rAor John A. Andrew, OF Massaehu
49, LA At Ia,