The New York herald., 1873-09-04
He Rises to Explain His White
Sulphur Speech.
His "Cheated Rather Than Conquered" Ex-
preston Interpreted.
Vindication of His Past and
Present Position.
THE CAUSE IS NOT LOST.
Interview by a Memphis
Editor.

bne subject OF much comment. some OF 1t very
severe and but little of 1t natterng to that gentle
man, and, thinking that perhaps ne might nave
been even unintentionally misrepresented, we yes
terday detailed one OF editorial corps to inter-
view him in order that the public might have COM
pete, reliable and satisfactory Information in the
premises. Mr.. Davis, we have always felt and con-
tended, needed no defence or defender. His life
rs statesman has been too consistent for
that. From first to last, identified with
The States rights school Of public men,
he has steadily persisted in standing to
the colors he unfured in early life. And for this,
uke all men who serve the public, he has been the
subject too often Of malevolent and purposed mis-
representation Our readers need hardly be in
formed that this Is one OF the penalties and the
greatest curse Of American politics. Our contests,
even that which closed in bloody defeat for the
South, have been so dwarfed that principle has
been lost sight of In the mass OF side issues and
personalities that have enshrouded them, even out
ofsight Of their best defenders Neither in nor out
Of Congress have we yet reached that dgnified
mode Of treatment OF public subjects which in
Europe secures those engaged in their
pohticaI oia bacEbites, S and, % as w Consequence, @
we are apt to forget in the presence OF
the mistakes real or assumed OF our best public
servants the honorable record OF consistent steady
labor in the public service and visit them with q
measure of reprobatiOn and censure out OF all pro-
portion, and that could only be deserved by one
the whole term of whose life was "evil and that
continually" We have not yet learned TO Offset
the bad with the good ID our public servants and
petition and even when, like Mr.. Davis they are
Tar removed from active life, we vex ourselves
them to the point whence they have retired
forever. In this spirit and way Mr. Davis
ana with ns tho s G
men would have aliayed his late speech, as all his
speeches have been commented upon and magn
rance intended by the speaker. Journalists and
public men will insist upon putting such construc-
lion upon his words as best suits either their frame
Of mind or their purposes, and then holding the
whole South responsible for them, Just as II the
south had not already, in the reconstruction of all
the States and the peace and prosperity that pre-
vail therein, given ample proof OF their intention in
all time TO come to abide by the issues which the
war determined, and among these surely we must
not number the underlying principle OF our form of
government. AS the Appeal has already SAID, too
much stress has been laid upon the speeches OF Mr..
Davis and q significance given out OF all propor
non TO them and far beyond anything he intended
While he must ever hold high place in the affec
lion and confidence OF all people who love constl-
tutional principles, especially those of the South,
whom he served so well, this does not give license
70 MS opponents nor ours 10 aCt MN Win .heir
4 we put him forward on every chance occasion as
our spokesman. To do this is to do him and US an
Of private lie as a private citizen, and while
he may when his friends desire, express
llfnSel In SET WOruS as lie believes duu as he
chooses and as he has perfect right TO do, it is
not fair to change those words to a purpose
foreign TO his intention or torture them into an
expression OF hidden or latent desire on the part
Of the people of the South to keep alive the issues
Oi the war in the hope OF sooner or later encOun-
tering the North in the field again. AS we have
Of contrary spirit for any journalist not intent on
our Misrepresentation so to represent US. Let 1t,
Mr. Davis says Mr.. Davis is alone responsible
Tor, and that what the Southern people, do
N their workshops, on their M farms i IN their
is the only criterion BY which they can be fairly
Judged No one man or set OF men are authorized
or can speak tor them. Their public journals only
must be taken as their mouthpieces and organs
Of their will. With this preface We introduce our
subject promising that MIR. Davis was throughout
promptly and unreservedly responded to all our
questions, desiring nothing so much as that he
should be fully understood by the public; and we
think, after careful reading OF the following, our
readers VIII say that nothing remains to be said BY
EDIToR-I come, Mr. Davis, in the interest OF
the public, who feel and must always feel an in
terest in anything you say or that concerns you,
to ask some questions relative to your recent
speech before the Southern HISTORICAL Society, at
White sulphur Springs Virginia. DO this be-
cause that speech has been variOusy commented
upon by the Northern and Southern press, and
severely denounced by many who have heretofore
been numbered among your friends and admirers,
actuated to. this. as they believe by the present
condition OF public feeling. This speech was not
prepared nor thought Of but was impromptu, as
Mr.. DAvIs-Certainly, it was impromptu. 1t
was reply made to an address OF welcome by the
President OF the Historical Society OF the ex-Con-
sDIToR-A political significance has been given to
this speech or short address that you no doubt
never intended, removed as you are from the poll
Mr.. DAvIs-It seems strange, indeed that a few
remarks addressed TO a few friends and associates
on a subject upon which between them and myself
there could be no diversity OF opinion, with the
proprety OF a historical vindlcation Of the cause
war, should be regarded as an address made to the
public with any expectation OF Affecting political
opinion But waving all question as to the cnarac
ter OF the address, the place where 1t was made,
anu the circumstances under which 1t was de-
hvered. what is there In 1t TO Justify
criticism or excite apprehension OF evil eject
upon the efforts OF those whose political success
uesireY The expression which Is usually referred
10 LOIS Is mat the southern people have been more
"cAeated than conquered Now, is this true or
noty ND the Congress OF the United states by
soemh resolutions, not assure the people OF the
the Institutions OF the States; tnat the object was
i and esiabsEed Sia not er the wplsa Ex
assurance to the people of the Southern sSe States. se
DID not United states generals commanding de.
people9 And did not this lead to the impression
on the part OF very many that the war was waged
ior an apstraction, or at most for the preserva
not the consequence frequent desertion in the
winter of loS4-5, and were not people reluctant to
furnish COmmlSSary suppilcs lOr lne support OF the
(ConIederate) arpieI ARd was not au this the
result OF the belief that theft material interests
and domestic peace might exist as well under one
government as the other, as the result Justified
That belief' Is there any well-iniormed man who
will not say that had the armies known what
surrender would bring that they would and could
have continued the struggle and that the people
of the country as long as they had any food, would
nave contributed IL freely to the support OF the
armies, and that the contest would have continued
nm chi the invader weary OF what might be regarded
an endless struggle would have retired, and, In
fhe language OF General Scott, allowed the "erring
sisters to 20 in peaceV
EDIToR-Of course you dld not mean by the use
Of the word ''cbeat" to reject upon any OF the
officers who surrendered without communicating
With you as the Executive or the confederacyY
They held out as long as they had troops and num-
tions, and only gave up to overwhelming numbers
and the pinchngs OF poverty everywhere leltY
Mr.; DAvIs-0i course the idea conveyes py tne
word cheated" was that the people OF the Soutn
were deceived by assurances given them by the
United States government, through It's ofnclals
Int the belief that they laid down their arms they
would be restored TO all the advantages and privl-
leges OF citizenship which they had previously en-.
rod Inn VtAla x.f had rnnd a