Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-01-31
LETTER FROM NR. DAVIS.


MEMPHIS, Tenn, November p. IS7S.-Mr
-, Dear Sir; Yours of the Goth instant la:
been this day received. have not seen any
of the articles which You inform me H. s.
Foote had written in abuse of ne nor have
hal any desire to read whatever he might write
In the year 1851 published him as coHSt-
hiionaly iior, aud his subsequent career
only served 70 confirm me in that Judgment
Since that date, therefore, | have taken no
/ heed # the uteranceS Of said Foote
His lattery, when he was seeking political
preierment IN the Conieleracy and his abuse
when, iai,hIess to his trust as q representative
in the Congress Of the Confederate States, b,
was preparing for his subsequent dcserton 10
their enemy, We're alike disregarded by me-
You are at liberty To use this as You think
proper. | remain, respectfully and truly
yours, JEFFERSON DAVIS.
BELIIGEEENT GARD FROM MIR. FooTE.
The following card is published in the Wash.
ington Chronicle of yesterday br Mr.. Foote
As portion cf the community may posi-
( bly, expect from me some notice of the insu L.
in and grossly aSpersive letter over the sigma
ture of jefferson Davis, which yesterday morn
| ing made It's appearance in the columns Of the
| Capital though the glariug mepdqciW Of all
the allegations o! .fac' contained therein might
well Justify me IN treating the letter itself and
its infamous author with cool and passoules,
contempt, yet for certain reasons not diff
cult, imagine, to be OWNED, have thought
proper to take a somewhat different course.
shall not now 90 into q detail OF past &C.
currences with a view Of my own vindication
1t is not possible for the ruined and disgraced
champion Of disunion to say aught of me, or
Of my public career, which could in the least
degree disturb my equanimity He has cher
ished an undying hatred for me ever since his
own presumptuous arrogance, on very noted
occasion, compelled me 20 slap his Jaws in this
city in the winter of lS47-4S The hostility
thus engendcred was afterward much height
ened by my defeat of his reasonable aspira-
tons to the Office Of Governor of Mississippi
as a secession candidate in 1851 My con
slant and unyeldng opposition to him and
bis neiIriouS schemes IN Richmond during the
war of the rebellion f0r three years was not at
all calculated to asSuage his enmlty My free,
but unanswered, and | venture 20 say unan-
swerable, eXpositions last summer of his indie
cent and seJtiOuS attempts % keep alive IN the
bosoms of his couutrymen feelings Of irritation
and alienation. which ought never TO have been
brought into existence, have doubtless much
n6amed the malignity which was sumbering
in the recesseS of heart capable of all mis-
chief | rejoice to know that the blightiug
curse Of Mr. Davis's commentator it never can
now be my i'll fortune TO incur But bid
this mighty man of Gath, who writes so blus-
trouSly for publication in the newspapers, that
| do not live in absolute concealment; my
whereabouts may be easily found by bin or his
idolizinG Confederates He knows, as thou
sands Of others know, that for full twenty years
| have stood ready to accord to him such sat
isfaction as he might deem necessary to MS
deeply-wounded honor; and that, whatever
general views / may entertain touching the
propriety of settling such issues as have arisen
between him and myself in the mode referred
to. yet that, from srecial Difference to him.
shall be altogether induced to make his an er-
cepfional case The ha5jtual cal,mnjqfor of
honest and patriotic men has no right to sflt
behind the bypocridcal preteases Of erireme
piey H. 5. FooTE.