New-York tribune., 1876-02-07


a LETTER THROWING OFF TIE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
ANpKRsoNvILLE-AN INTIMATIoN THAT Mr..
DAVIS DOES NOT DESIRE AMNESTY FOR HIM
sEIF-xIsREPREsESTA ION CHARGED IN PUB
IIsHING THE ANDERsoNvIILE PICTURES.
WASHINGTON, Fob. 6.-Jefferson Davis has writ
ZEN a long letter to Judge Lyons Of Richmond, Va,
IN regard to the treatment OF prisoners at the South
during the war; and TO Mr.. Banes objections to in
cluding Mr.. Davis in an amnesty BILL Some OF his
statements are remarkable and significant. The let
ter is as follows: ,r,,,, ,,rrpp
NEw-ORLeANs. La, Jan. p, 1876
To Hon. JAMES LYoNs.-My Dear F'7end: i0ur
very kind letter Of the 14th instant was 1or"arued
from Memphis and has been received AT TINS place
have been 80 long the Object OF malignant slahuer
and the subject of unscrupulous faisehood Dy par
tsans of the class of Mr. Blaine that, though can
not say il has become to me matter OF lndnerehce'
n has ceased to excite my surprise, even In TINS IN
stapce. when it reaches the extremity OF accusing
ma of cruelty to prisoners. What matters IL 10 one
whose object is personal and party advantage tiia'
the records both Federal and Confederate dlspro'e
.h charge that the country is fullof witnesses who
hear oral testimony against it, anu that the enor' 10
rev1vs TN. bitter animosties of the war oOSIucts
a.. n,oorcss toward the reconciliation of the
,oo,ons IL ia enough for him II MS sell
sosking purpose be promoted. 1t would, however,
.eem probable that such expectations must oe aus
annointed. for only those who are wllliuly ohhu
can fail TO see in the circumstances OF the case the
falaoy of Mr. Blaines statements Inc puolsnou
fact of An attempt to subOrn WIZ when under sell
tence of death, by promising MN paruoii no
would criininate in regard to AndeIsohNn'e PiiS
oners il conclusive as TO the wish OF the uoNcIH-
ment to make such charge against me- ana tiie
fa;,ure Tn do 80 shows that nothing could be found
70 sustain it. May we not say the evidence OF my
Innocence was such that Holt and Conover, WIN
their trained band of suborned witnesses, dared NOT
make against me this charge, the same which WIZ
for bis life would not make, but which Blame ior
the Presidential nomination has made
soUTHERN HEARTLEssNBss DENIED
Now let US review the leading facts of the case
The report of the Confederate Commissioner for the
exchange of prisoners shows how persistent and
iheral were our efforts to secure the relief of cap
tiyes Failing in these attempts, instructed Gen.
RE Lee to CO. under flag of truce. and seek an
interview with Gen. Grant TO represent TO him the
suffering and death of Federal prisoners held by u.s.
to explain the causes which were beyond our con-
troll and TO urge in the name of humanity the 0o-
seryapco 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 to of the incidents OF tins mis-
sion 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 extra
ordinary visit and his objections to executing the
cartel arc well known to the public. But whoever
else may choose to forget my efforts
In this regard the prisoners at Andersonviue
and the delegates 1 permitted them to send to
President Lincoln to plead for the resumption of the
exchange Of prisoners cannot fail to 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 intended, and naturally
must be the arraignment of the South, by whose
authority and in whose behalf my deeds were done.
Itmay be presumed that the feelings and the habits
of the Southern soldiers understood by me, and
In that connection any fair mind would
perceive in my congratulatory orders to the
army after q victory in which the troops were most
commended for their tenderness and generosity to
the wounded and other captves, as well as tine in
st,ncts of the person who issued the order as the
knghtly temper of the soldiers 10 whom II was ad-
dressed. 1t is admitted that the prisoners In our
hands wer. not as well provided for as we would,
but il is claimed that did rs well for them as we
could Can the other side say as muchi To the
bold allegations of illtreament of prisoners by our
side. and humane treatment and adequate supplies
by our opponents it is only necessary to offer two
facts:
First II appears from tho reports of the United
States War Department that, though we had 10000
more Federal prisoners than they had of COnfed-
erates 900 more of Confederates died in Northern
prisons.
Second The want and suffering of men in North
ern prisons caused me to ask for permission to send
out cotton and buy supplies for them. The request
was granted but only on condition that the cotton
should be sent TO New-YoTk and the supplies be
bought there. Gen. Beale now of 1T. Louis, was
authorized To purchase and distribute the needful
supplies. Our sympathy rose with the occasion and
responded to its demands. not waiting for ten
years, then to vaunt itself when it could serve no
good purpose to the sufferers under the mellowing
influence of time and occasional demonstrations at
the North of desire for the restoration of peace
and good will.
The Southern people have forgotten much, have
forgiven much of the "".r.S they bore. 1t 1t he
less 80 among their inya, but another exam
pie Of the rule that the Is less able TO for
give than he who has useless wrong. III
is not, however. generG, those who brayed
the hazards of battle l. "nting vindictive-
is to be found, t. We and generous and
gentle. Ii is the skulkers i've fight, the Blanes,
who display their flag untented field. They
made no sacrifice to prevent the separation OF the
States. Why should they be expected TO promote
the confidence and good will essential to their union
NO DESIRE FOR AMNESTY PERSONALLY.
Whom closely confined ut Fortress Monroe was
solicited 10 add my name TO those of many esteemed
gentlemen who had signed petition for my pardon.
and assurance given that on my doing so the
President would order Dy liberation. Confident OF
the justice Of our ami the rectitude of my own