Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-05-27
GREELEY AND DAVIS.
what Charles O'ConOr SAYS of q
BaflfnK.

Railing.
From the New York World
The following correspondence has
been handed to us for publication:
May 10. 1872.
MY DEAR SIR--Will you allow me to
call your attention to an enclosed ex-
tract from an editorial in the World
newspaper Of Friday last, and to ask
you whether it does or does not accu-
rately represent the facts in regard to
the connection OF Mr.. Greeley with the
release of Mr.. Jefferson Davis?
No man is so competent as yourself to
speak to this point.
We will not do Mr. Greeley any in
justice; we acknowledge that with a
liberality and defiance of party tram
mels which reflects honor on his gener-
GUS impulses, he advocated universal
amnesty when it cost him his chances
for United States Senatorship, and
that he signed the bail bond of Jefferson
Davis. But these commendable acts
resulted from mere generous impulses.
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.. Greeleys journey to Rich
moad was quite superAous as a
means of benefitting 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 superhous as
means of benehtting your client the pris-
oner. If you pronounce this impression
correct, may ask you to favor me with
an exact statement of the facts, and
with permission to lay it before the edi-
tor of the World for publication? ] re-
main, with great respect, your most obe-
dent, faithful servant, -.
MIR. O'CoNOR's REPLY.
NEW YORK, May II, 1872.
MY DEAR SIR: From his capture until
the hour within which he was bailed, Mr..
Jefferson Davis was in military custody
He was then confined as a prisoner of
war for about two years. From the very
commencement of this term, his counsel
directed their efforts to procuring his
delivery into civil custody, to the end
that he might have his trial at once, or
obtain Liberation upon bail until the
Government should think fit to bring on
the trial. The counsel for Mr. Davis
having first solicited and obtained
the consent of Mr.. Greeley, Mr.. Ger
rit Smith and Commodore Wander
bilt offered to give bail in any sum
that might be required, and to procure
those three gentlemen to unite in the
bail-bond. This offer was never formally
accepted; but under the belief that it
was satisfactory, the counsel of Mr.. Da-
Wis obtained writ of habeas corpus,
and brought Mr.. Davis before the court
at Richmond. Mr.. Evarts attended by
and, on the part of the gov
ernment, he acquiesced in bailing Mr..
Davis in 100000. Conceiving himself
bound so to do, the counsel of Mr.. Davis
the attendance of the gentle
men in question. Commodore Wander
bilts 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 at
tendance was absolutely necessary to the
release of Mr.. Davis. The counsel of
Mr. Davis supposed it to be so, and he
has now no reason to think otherwise
am not aware of any officiousness on
the part of Mr.. Greeley in this business,
and never supposed that he did anything
beyond what he considered essential to
the liberation of Mr.. Davis.
am, dear sir, yours truly,
CH. O'CoNoR.