Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-02-16
JEFFERSON DAVI SPEAKS.

| H4AlNE NliAhuIN fNbNVtNtEb fht' y
AND MALICIOUS LEADER OF THE
LOST CAUSE APPEALING TO THE WAR
RECORDS or THE coNfEDERAcy AND OF
THE uNIoN--TnE DEAD or ANDERSON
WILLIE.
WASHINGTON, February 6.-'Jcilorson
Davis has written tho following letter
TO Judge Lyons of Richmond, Va;
New ORLEANS, La, Jan. 27, 1876.
Hon. James Lyons.
My DEAR FRIESD Your very kind
letter of the 18th inst. was forwarded
from Memphis and has been received
at this place. | have been so long the
object of malignant slander and the
subject of INSCRIPTIONS ialsehood by
partisaEs of the class OF Mr.. Blaine,
that though cannot say il has be-
como to me matter Of indifference, II
has ceased to excite my surprise even
in this instance, when il reaches the
extremity of accusing me of cruelty to
prisoners. What matters il to one
whose object is personal and party ad-
vantage, that the records both Federal
and Confederate, disprovc the charge,
that the country is full of witnesses
who bear oral testimony against it,
and that the effort to revive the bitter
animositics Of the war obstructs the
progress toward the reconciliation Of
the sections2 II is enough for him if
his selfseeking purpose be promoted.
1t would, however, seem probable that
such expectations must be disappointed,
for only those who are wilflly blind
can fail 10 see in the circumstances OF
the case the ialacy of Mr. Blainc's
statements The published fact of an
attempt to suborn Wirz when under
sentence of death, by promising him u
pardon il he would criminatc me in re-
gard to Andcrsonvillc prisoners, is con
elusive as to the wish of the Govern
ment to make such q charge against
me, and the failure TO do so shows that
nothing could be found TO sustain it.
May we not say the evidence of my
innocence was such that Holt and Con
over, with their trained band of sub.
orncd witnesses, dared not make against
me this charge, tho same which Wirz
for his life would not make, but which
Blaine for the Presidential nomipstion
has made?
Now let us review the leading facts
Of the case. The report Of the Con
fcderate Commissioner for the exchange
of prisoners shows how persistent and
liberal were our efforts to secure the
relief of captivcs Failing in those at
tcmpts, ] instructed Gen. r. Il. Lee to
go, under flag Of trHce, and seek an
interview with Gen. Grant, to repre-
sent 10 him the suffering and death Of
Federal prisoners held by us, 10 cx-
plain the causes, which were beyond
our control, and to urge in the name of
humanity the observance Of the cartel
for the exchange of prisoners. To this
as to all previous appeals, deaf ear
was turned. / will not attempt from
memory to write the report made 10
me of the incidents of this missidn.-
Lee no longer lives to defend the cause
and country he loved so well and served
so efficiently, but Gen. Grant cannot
fail to remember so extraordinary o
visit, and his objections TO executing
the cartel are well known TO the pub
lics But whoever else may choose to
forget my efforts in this regard, the
prisoners at Andersonvllc and the dele
gates ! permitted them to send to Prcsi.
dent Lincoln to plead for tho exchange
Of prisoners cannot fail 10 remember
how willing was TO restore them to
their homes and to the comforts OF
which they were in need, provided the
imprisoned soldiers of the Confederacy
should be in like manner released and
returned to us.
This foul accusation, though directed
specially against me, was no doubt in.
tended and naturally must be the ar
raignment of the South, by whose au.
thority and in whose behalf my deeds
were done, IT may be presumed that
the feelings hnd tho habits Of the South.
ern soldiers were understood by me,
and in that connection any fair mind
would perceive in my congratulatory |
orders TO the army after victory, IN
which the troops were most commended
for their tenderness and generosity to
the wounded and other captives, as
well the instincts Of the person who
issued the order as the knightly temper
Of the soldiers to whom II was address.
ed. 1t is admitted that the prisoners
in our hands were not as well provided
for as we would wish, but il IL claimed
we did as well for thom MS we could.
Can the other side say as much? 10
the bold allegations of i'll treatment of
prisoners by our side and humane treat.
ment and adequate supplies by our op-
poncnts il is only necessary TO offer
two facts
First-lt appears from the reports Of
the United States War Department
that though we had GO,O0O more Fed.
oral prisoners than they had Of Con.
fcderates, G,000 more Of Confedcratcs
died in Northern prisons.
Sccond-The want and suffering Of
men in Northern prisons caused me to
ask for permission to send out cotton
and buy supplies for them. The re-
quest was granted, but only on condi
tion that the cotton should be sent to
New York and the supplies be bought
there. Gen. Bcale, now of st. Louis,
was authorized to purchase and dis.