The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-11
JEFFERSON DAVIS LETTER.


| south duiing the war, "nu 10 MI. Blalne's |
objections 10 including Mr.. Davis in an
amnesty bill Our Geographic columns
of Monday morning Contained a portion of
this Letter but we publish it in full.
THE LETTER.
NV Orr RANs, La, Jan. 81, 1876
To Hos. JAMES LYoNs.-NV Dear
Friendy I. Your very kind letter of the 18th
instant Was Forwarded from Memphis and
has been received at this place. have
been so mig the object Of malignant SLAM
der and The subject of interruptions false
hood by Thrlisans of the class of Mr.. Blaine
that. though cannot say 1t has become to
me a Matterof Indifference, il has ceased
to excite my surprise, even in this instance.
when breaches the extremity of accusing
me oftinelty to prisoners What matters
| It TO one whose object is personal and party
| ADVANTAGE that the records, both federal
and confederate, disproye the charge; that
| the country is full oil witnesses who bear
oral teIimony against II, and that the eff
| fort ID ievive the bitter ahimosities of the
war otslructs the progress toward the re-
| concilltion of tho sections. 1t Is enough
for him If his selt.seking purpose be pro-
moted.- II would, bOwever, seem probable
|
| ed. for only those Who are wilfully blind
can fad, to see Ia tbs circumstances Of the
case tho fallRey qMr Blaine's statements.
The pnbliehed fdD Of an attempt to suborn
| Wiz when undr sentence OF death. by
| promising him apardOn il he would crimi-
nate me in IegardW AndersOnville prison
| ers, is concusiveas TO the wish of the gov
eminent to make sch charge against me.
and the failure 10 10 so shows that nothing
could be found tOsusiain it. MAY we NOT
say the evidence Gmy innocence was such
| that Holt and OorOver, with their trained
band of subornel witnesses, dared not
make against me this charge, the same
which Wirz for bis life would not make,
but which Blaine for the presidential NOM
inatiOn has made
SOUTHERN HEARTLEssNEss DENIED.
Nov let us review the leading facts of
the case The report of the confederate.
commissioner for the exchange of prisoners
shows bow persistent and liberal were our
efforts to secure the relet of captives.
Failing in these attempts, INSTRUCTED Gen.
X. +. Lee to go. under flag of truce, and
| seek IN Interview with Gen. Grant to rep.
resent to him the suffering and death of
federal prisoners held by us TO explain
the causes, which were beyond our con-
troll aud to urge in the name of humanity
the observance Of the cartel for the ex-
change of prisoners. To this, as to all
previous appeals, a deaf ear was turned. l
will not attempt from memory to write the
report made to me of the incidents of this
mission. Lee no longer lives to defend
the cause and country he loved so we'll and
served so efficiently, but Gen. Grant can
not fail to remember so extraordinary a
nd ,biaptip,- L =.
cartel are well known to the public. But
whoever else may choose to forget my eff
forts ia this regard the prisoners at Ander-
sonyille and the delegates permitted them
to send to President Lincoln, to plead for
the resumption of the exchange of prison.
ers, cannot fail to remember how willing |
was TO restore them TO their homes and 10
tbecomforts of which they were in need,
provided the imprisoned soldiers of the
confederacy should be in like manner re-
leased and returned to us.
This foul accusation, though directed
specially against me, was no doubt intend
ed, and naturally must be the arraignment
OF tAe south, by whose authority and in
whose behalf my deeds were done.
1t may be presumed that the feel
ings and the habits of the southern
soldiers were understood by me, and
in that connection any far mind would
perceive in my cCngratulatory orders to
the army, after victory in which the
ts2ops were most commended for their
'tS$'u11css anu aenert'aity Ia the .nvoupSeh
and other captives, as well as the instincts
of the person who issued The order as the
knghtly temper OF the soldiers to whom it
was addressed. II Is admitted that the
prisoners in our hands were not as well
provided tor Us we would, bu: it is claimed
that we did as well for them as we coull.
Can the other side say as much? To the
bold allegations of ill-teatment Of prisoners
by our side, and humane treatment and
adequate supplies by our opponents, it is
only necessary TO offer two facts:
First-It appears from the reports of the
United States war department that, though
VIC had 60,G00 more federal prisoners than
they had of conlederates, 600 more of
confederates died in northern prisons.
Second-That want and suffering of men
in northern prisons caused me to ask for
permission TO send out cotton aud buy sup
plies for them. The request was granted,
but only on condition that the cotton
should be sent TO New York and the sup
plies be bought there. Gen. Bealc. now of
81. Louis, was authorized to purchase and
distribute the needtul supplies. Our SYM
pathy rose with the occasion and respond
ed to its demands, not waiting for ten
Years, then to vaunt itself, when 1t could
serve no good purpose to the sufferers.
under the mellowing influence Of time and
occasional denominations AT the North Of
a desire for the restoration Of peace and
good will.
The southern people have forgotten
much, have forgiven much of the wrongs
haN No Inc II. /.
vaders, il is but another example of the
rule that the wrong-doer is less able to for
give thai he who has suffered causeless
wrong. 1t is not, however, generally
among those who braved the hazards Of
battle that unrelenting vindicliveness is to
be found, the brave and generous and gen
tie. 1t is the skulkers of the fight, the
Blaines, who display their flag on the un-
tented field They made no sacrifice TO
prevent the tspdratton of the states.
Why should they be exre ted to promote
the confidence and good will essestial to
their union ?
NO DESIRE FOR AMNESTY PERSONALLY.
When closely confined at Fortress Mon
roe | was solicited to- add my name to
those of many esteemed gentlemen who
had signed petition for my pardon, and
an assurance was given that on my doing
so the president would order my liberation
Confident of the justice of our cause and
the rectitude of my own conduct | de-
clined to sign the petition, and remained
subject to the ineXcusaple priyations and
tortures which DIR. Craven has but family
described. When after two years of close
confinement was admitted to bail as of
ten as required | appeared for trial under
the indictment found against me, but in
n Al.
The indictment was finally quashed on
no application Of mlne nor have / ever
evaded or avoided trial upon any charge
the general government might choose to
bring against me, and have no view of
the future which makes it desirable TO me
to be included in an amnesty bill. Viewed
in the abstract, or as general question, |
would be glad to see the repeal OF all laws
intlicting the penalty Of political disabil-