Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-05-24
JEFF DAVIS BAlL-BOND
MR.. CHARLES O'CONOR RE-
CITES ITS HISTORY.
MR.. GREELEY NOT SUPERFLUOUs
He Neither "Rushes In"
Nor Feared to Tread"
&C., &C., &C.,
I From Many. worli, 2l,tl


The following correspondence has been
handed to rs for publication
May 49, 1872.
Charles O'Conor, Esq
MY DEAR SIR: Will you allow me TO
cal 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 regard to the connection OF Mr..
Greeley with the release OF Mr. Jefferson
DAvm3
No man 10 so competent As yourself to
We will not do Mr.. Greeley any ihjustiesi we
aokno Wedge that with liberality and dehsncs
Of party trAmmsls which reflects honor on his
generous impulses, he advocated universal am
nsSly when It oosthim his chances for United
States senAtorship, Aud that be signed tire bail
bond Of jefferson Davis. But these commsndA-
bic acts resulted from mere generous impulse
without much regard % principle. After the
court had decided to set Mr.. Davis free
on bail he could have found plenty Of bonds
men, and Mr.. GTssley's journey 70 Richmond
vAs quite superauouI AZ means Of bsnshting
Jefferson Davis, while IL impaired his influence
in his own party A. an advocate Of universal
amnesty
speak TO this point.
The impression Of many persons is that
this statement is not wholly Just, and that
Mr. Grselsy's journey 10 Richmond was not
quite supsrauous ~ = means Of bsne6linR
your client the prisoner. IL you pronounce
.his Impression correct, may ask you to
favor me with an exact statement Of the
fscls, and with permission 10 lay it before
the editor Of The WORLD for publication
/ remain, with great respect, your most
obSdient fGiihfAl servant
M. o'CoSoR's REPLY.
Nav IoRE, May ii, 1872.
MY DEAR Sra: From his capture until
the hour within which he was bAiled, Mr.
Jefferson Davis was in military custody
He was then confined ss q prisoner Of war
for about two years. From the very com
mencemen, Of this term his counsel directed
their efforts to procuring hiG delivery into
civil custody, 70 the end that he might have
has trial ~ once or obtain Liberation upon
bail until the government should think ft 10
bring on the trial. The counsel for Mr..
Davis, having first solicited and obtained
the consent Of Mr.. Greeley, Mr. Gerrit
Smith, aud Commodore Vanderbilt, offered
10 give bail IN any sun that might be re.
CURED and 30 procure those three gentle
men to unite in the bAil-bond. This offer
was never formally accepted but, under
the belief that II was satisfactory, the ooun-
sci OF Mr.. Davis obtained writ Of hAbeas
corpus, aud brought Mr.. Davis before the
court At Richmond. Mr.. EvArts attended
by appointment, and, on the part of the
Vornment, be Noqsissosd in battling Mr..
Davis in 100000. Conserving himself
bound so TO do, the counsel Of Mr. Davis
requested the attendance Of the gentlemen
in question. Comm odore Vsnderbit's a..
tornsy acted for him the other two gentle
men appeared and signed the bond in per-
sou. They had every reason TO understand
and believe that their attendance was Abso
lutsly necessary to the release Of Mr.. Davis.
The counsel Of Mr.. Davis supposed ii to be
80, and he has now no reason TO think other
wise. Am not aware Of any offioiousness
on the part Of Mr.. Greeley in this business,
ana never supposed that he did anything
pSeeJond whsi he considered essential to the
liberation Of Mr.. Davis. / am, dear sir,
yours truly, On n,Covov