The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-09
GheG1telIiqente
JEFF. DAVIS, LETTER.
Uhv Does He Not Demand an In"
VestigRtiOn OF thc He"ei mr.
chiVeS?


Editors IntelllGcncOr:
II Mr.. Jefferson Davis, cx-President o.
rho late, so.called, Confederate States o.
America, desired to vindicate his official
ac,, in relation 10 the alleged inhuman
treatment OF Federal prisoners dpring thu
war, and to prove to the country that thC
nccrsations Of Mr.. Blaine were inspired
bv motives OF personal and party ad
vantage, and are wholly destitute Of
truth, why does he not appeal to the gov
ernment for the appointment OF COM
mission 10 examine the orders anu cor
Tespondence OF the executive ONCE ~
Richmond, from 1861 to :lSOo' ana 10
record the testimony Of witnesses yet nv
inc M n his general policy in relation to
ca0tiys Union soldiers, and especially 70
determine whether or NOT Mf. D oL"sn nSu
personal knowledge Of the character
and capacity OF his subordinate lallors,
Windcr and Writ, and was cognizant OF
,hs rrle, md regulations adopted by them
Gov rho government and safe keeping Of
iii prisoners OF war committed to their
custody
ted BIZ an ignominious death on the scat.
ioId, and although for ten years the loyal
citizens OF the country have entertained
n strong belief that prominent Conieder-
Ntc officials, particularly Mr.. Davis as
The recognized military and civil leader
Of the rebellion, could not have been ig.
norant Of the barbarous cruelties inflicted
upon tho helpless captives Of the Union
army. they have abstained heretofore
from prcierring this charge against him
from Il feeling that his responsibility for
the Inauguration OF the war, and after
ward, for the unnecessary prolongation
Of hostilities, were sufficient to altix TO his
memory the indellible stain OF treason
and deny him forever any participation
in the government he attempted to de-
stroy.
But now that the struggle is over, ard
the attempt to disrupt tho Union long
since conceded by its projectors to be q
failure, and admitted by them, or many
Of them, to have been monstrous crime
for which they profess to be repentant
now that the passions Of the brave survi'
yors who defended the country have
wholly subsidized, their anger appeased by
the knowledge that the principles Tor
which they contended are triumphant
and that they will be permitted to trans
nit to posterity the liberties which
their vaIor has preserved to them
sclves-now that after ten years o.
peace, followed by at least partial res
toration Of respect and amity between
tho sections, from which has arisen q
general belief that tho adhercnts OF Jetf
Davis and the los! cause were sincere in
their desire to bury the past in oblivion
and from which condition Of things ha'
resulted the accession to power, in ont
ofthe legislative branches OF the govern
mont, Of that party whose traditions ant
sympathies best accord with the prescn
views and aspirations Of the defeated
Confederates, and through whose protect
ing influence they can alone expect to at
tam to places OF political prominnce ant
honor under the gOvernment-now ate
this succession OF events what 10 we be-
hold? Let every intelligent man asl
himself this question, and find the answe
in the speech OF Mr.. Hill and the lette
Of Mr.. Davis. They both imputc to Mr.
Blaine motives OF seltishncss, yet in de
uouncing his accusations as malignan
and unpatriotic, do mott attempt!to res
train themselves from indnIging recrim
nations Of the most Incorporating nature
1. Mr.. Blaine has ruthlessly tori
open the rapidly healing woundl
Of war, they have witnessed
the operation with no emotions Of grie
or sorrow, nor lost any opportunity tt
pour into them tho corroding venom o
their hate, carrying their spleen 80 tal
az to deliberately insult the nation b!
proclaiming that its honored defender
we're guilty OF the very crimes which Mr.
Blaine has charged upon the Confederate
chicitain. Nay, Mr.. Davis goes even fur
Their, and asserts that the Federal author
tiles practiced tho incffable meanness o
photographing emaciated invalid prison
era lust released from Confederate hospl
tails, and presented the hideous picture'
TO committees OF Congress as specimen
OF prisoners in ordinary health as they
came from the gentle custody OF Windel
and Wirz. Is this an example OF dignity
aud virtue, Mr.. Davis? Is this the way
10 restore harmony, Mr.. Hill?
Laying aside the question oil the trutl
or ialsity Of tho maltrcatnent OF cap
tiyes by either side, ia not this discussion
to DO deplorcd as u misfortune to tn
country, proving, us it does most conciu
sively, that the memory Of our public mel
from the South is so much sounder thar
their Judgment, that wholly undeterrct
BY the irightful dcvastations OF long an'
exhaustive war, learning nothing
forgetting nothing, they come to tho hall
Of Congress by the grace Of the Ameri
can people, with rancor in their hearts
and by every word and gesture dlssprov'
their assertions Of repentance, seeking on
" by their acts to humiliate and distrcs
those who opposed their insane and rect
less effort to build up slave oligarch
on the ruins OF this Republic. The Dem
ocratic rarty will find too late that i
aiding It's old allies to indulge their re
sentiments il has committed blunde
which will cost it dearly. All the legis
lation now being directed against III
army springs not from any desire TO ID
troduce true measures OF reform; no
from an honest disposition to lighter
tho burdens OF the people, but from
vague and i'll defined feeling that the army
though its officers generally arc non
partisan, somehow deserves their displeas
IRE. 1t shelters and affords occupation
t6a great many mon who distinguishes
themselves in The suppression OF the re
bellion, and it seems that this is provo
cation enough to excite the luminosity o
the average Democratic Congressman, an
although The next year the army wouI'
probably have to be increased to meet th
actual wants Of the country, nevertheless
the cry now is cut down the forces ant
send these we'll trained soldiers adritt
The same spirit is observable in the hast
and indecent expulsion Of disabled UnloI
soldiers from the petty offices under tn
control Of the House OF Representatives
and filling their places either with OK
ConiederStes, or some Of the obscur
henchmen Of the new Aedged politicians
But whatever acts Of meanness an
petty tyranny may DO perpetrated .
these revengeiul partisans, the peopl
need entertain no apprehension that the
will carry reaction so far as TO again as
sail the constitutional laws Q
the land. Like the Bourbons G
France they will never abandso
Nha L. Al lINF