The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-20
JEFFERSON DAVIS md ANDERSON
PILLE.


Mr.. Blaiues oloquence, among other
effects, has had that of stirring up Justice
Shea of the New York marine court. JUS
tice Shea is the professional gentleman TO
whom Horace Greeley went in June, 1863,
when he received Mrs. Davis's letter i'm
plcring him to use his Influence to procure
either the trial or release of her husband !;
and the good justice tells the whole story
of what followed iii letter to the Tribune
1t appears from his narrative that, besides
MT. Greeley and Gerrit Smith. our own
John A. Andrew and Henry Wilson were
early taken into consultation, and were
knowing and advising to- what was done
throughout. The question of Jefferson
Davis's responsibility for the Anderson
vile atrocities came up at the very out:
start. AT the Instance of Greeley and
Wllson-and, as he understood at the time,
with the approval of Thaddeus Stevens
Justice Shea took tri p to Canada, going
by the way of Boston, in order to see Gov.
Andrew. This was III January, 1866.
The late Gen, Brock enridge met hin, bav-
ing come from Toronto for the purpose,
and placed in his hands the secret records
of the confederate Congress. including MT.
ID ,vis's confidential nesss5ea A careful
study of those records convinced Justice
Shea: First, that the reports OF cruelty TO
Soutl.rn prisoners in northern prisor o
were widely believed at the South second,
that this belief was shared by tue Goa
gress third that a great pressure was
brought to bear on Mr.. DAVIS to recon-
mend policy of retaliation; fourth, that
Mr.. Davis steadily and consistently resisted
this pressure, and that in these confidential
communications he constantly deprecated
that policy. Farther, that the humane,
though unfortunately unsuccessful, mission
of Alexander II. Stephens was Mr.. DAvis's
idea aud work. Justice Shea reported &C
cordingIy. Greeley, Wilson and the rest
were satisfied, and Mr.. Davis was ulti
mately bailed, after a delay aud irresolute
hesitation in high places which will not
look very we'll iii history. "These mep,"
says Mr.. Shea. " Andrew, Greeley, Smith
aud Wilson have each passed from this life.
The history of their Efforts TO bring all
parts of our common country once more
and abidingly into unity, peace and con-
cord, aud of MIR. Greeley's enormous sacri-
fee to compel justice to be done to one
man, and he an enemy, should be written"
Not so important but hardly less inter-
estiug is Justice Shea's reminiscence of q
talk he had with Thaddeus Stevens in the
spring of 1866. The gruff old commoner
had been given sight of evidence on
which the proclamation charging Davis
with completely in the assassination of
Lincoln had been issued. He told the
Justice that he pronounced it at the time
insufficient and incredible, and refused
point black to be party to such a dis
graceful business. Then he added with
! impressive earnestness " Those men are
no triends of mine. They. are public
enemies and would treat the South as q
conquered country, and settle it politically
upon the policy best suited for ourselves.
But l know these men, sir. They are
gentlemen, and incapable of being assas-
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