Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-10-07

You fail to inform me for what pur-
pose you make the inquiry, for publi-
cation or your own satisfaction. If
the latter, I hope this is sufficient, but
If for publication, numbers Of others
will take pleasure in making . state
ment of denial to his publication, and
to give such character to Rosewater as
will differ very materially from the es.
innate that may be placed upon him by
strangers, his statement remaining un-
contradicted. Amy way I can favor
you, will cheerfully do when desired.
Write me if further testimony is desir-
ed. ...,..
Your ob't serv't,
GEO. W. RICE.
(C.)
STEVENSON, Ala, Aug. 81, 1875.
MAJ. A. r. WIGGs.
Dear Sir.-Your letter Of the 23rd
inst, with Enclosures came to hand, ask
ing information as to the correctness Of
facts, published by one Rosewater, then
telegraph operator at this place, in re-
porting q speech said to have been made
BY jefferson Davis, in 1861, in this town
on his route to Montgomery, to assume
the duties Of President of the Southern
Confederacy. We were present at the
time alluded to. The citizens having
been warned of his approach, number
hastily assembled with Capt. J. D. Rags
dale's company, then being raised, and
loudly called on Mr.. Davis to make a
speech. After repeated calls Mr.. Da-
Wis came out of the car upon the plat
form of the depot, and thanked the peo-
pie for the kindness and honor showed
him; that he was then en- route to NJ ont
gomery to take upon himself the Exc
cutive duties of the Confederacy; that
o sectional war he deeply regrets and
one to be deplored; but the South had
no other alternative but to resist in de-
fense of her rights under the Constitu-
tion, and spoke hopefully for the South
if the war should become general and
result in separation of the sections;
that the South was the producing Sec
tion and had less to loose by a separa-
ton than the North, and that her cities
now so prosperous in commerce and
manufactures by the withdrawal of
supplies from her BY the South instead,
grass would grow in their streets, and
mentioned as one, the city of New
York; but on the contrary, BY the sep
aration the South would advance in
peace and prosperity. That the Ian
guage reported as made by him in Rose
waters publication that "we will carry
the war where it is easy to advance,
where food for the sword and torch
awaits our armies in the densely popu-
lated cities" we most positively assert
was not spoken by him then or any 9TH
er time in our presence or hearing, and
the reported speech by Rosewater only
confirms the opinion entertained of him
in this community in coming here to
avail himself of the favorable position
at Stevenson, being the connection of
the Memphis & Charleston with the
Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, that
he might be the better able to send
abroad by telegraph such misrepresen-
tations against our section and people
as his vile nature and uuscrupulous ex-
actions of his employees might require,
q fit subject for all such dirty wos6and
employment. And the statement that
he was one Of q committee Of three Sc.
lected by the citizens of Stevenson to
wait on jefferson Davis and invite him
to make speech, is only equalled in
arrogance and falsehood by his pub
lished remarks at that time made by
Mr.. Davis, that 1--WE viii carry the wal
where it easy toadvance, where food for
the sword and torch awaits our armies
in densely populated Cities" both state.
ments being entirely fabricated. We
have given the substance, if not the ex.
act language used BY Mr.. Davis, who
said he greatly desired a peaceful sep
aration Of the sections and would dc
all in his power to effect it withou,
future hostile collision, and did repeat.
edly declare that the war on the part oi
the South was alone for defense and no,
aggression on the North. We make
YOU this statement in order that you
may use it in such manner as you MAY
wish. We are very respectfully,
! Your ob't serv'ts,
| Csc. w. RICE,
i T. +. CorSAM,
/ w. ]. McMAHAN,
i J. T. WALKER,
II B. L. DAVIS,
1 N. b. BuRcH.
1t seems that the fellow Rosewatel
was not member of any committee t.
wait on Mr.. Davis (no committee be
! ing appointed on the occasion) nor die
he then enjoy the confidence of the com
munity. He was regarded nj that Sery
time, with suspicion as Northern mar
"a stranger, and, perhaps spy. Al
; all events, his statements, naked ans
uncorroborated, as to the tone and tenn
per Of Mr. Davis brief sIempors re