National Republican., 1876-02-09
LE1IER FROM IEEEERsoN DAVIS.

The Hon. James Lyons, of Virginia, has
written 4 letter TO Jefferson Davis, asking
him to answer Blaine, " ''to reply to him
by simple statement OF facts" and Mr..
Davis has answered the letter of Judge
Lyons, which answer will be found else
where in the national REPUBLICAN this
morning. We have heretofore given Mr.
DaYis some credit for frankness, but in his
letter 10 Mr.. Lyons he proves himself an
"Art!ul DOdger," who can "wire in and
wire out as successfully as any political
acrobat OF the day. Mr.. Blaine, in his
truthful ard terrific arraignmcnt of Jrffer-
son Davis, charging him with being re-
sponsible FOR the proven atrocities of the
Southern prison pens, was careful to show
how that responsibility attached. He
showed that Davis, as the President of the
Confedcracy, had the appointing power;
that he appointed Winder, Wirtz and the
other butchers who slaughtered delcnseless
prisoners; that when the cruelty Of these
men was conclusively proven, and their
removal asked for by the more humane
ConFcGcrates, Davis refused to remove
either or any Of them. He showed that
when tie situation of Andersonville was
clearly explained as rendering it unfit for
the purposes of prison; when it was
shown that it was crowded beyond its ca
pscity, and was, because OF its uufituess or
situation and crowded condition, nothing
more nor less than an immense na0rgue,
where men were placed to become fostering
corpses, that Jefferson Davis refused to in
terfcre. Mr.. Davis in his letter fails to
touch upon these points at ALL He says
no word in defense of his action in retain
ing these monsters in the positions where
they were enabled to exercise their cruelty,
and tells about his attempts to effect cx-
changes. In doing this he lays the blame
of Andersonville upon President Lincoln
and General Grant. Mr.. Davis is guilty
of paltry subterluge in this part of his
letter. lie, by avoiding the issue, admits
the truth of Mr.. Blaine's charges as to his
responsibility for Winder and Writ,
when their acts were well known to him.
Mr. Jefferson Davis attempts to play the
role of martyr. Holds himself up as the
type through which the South is arraigned; ;
says that the accusation is against the whole
people of that section. In thus perverting
and misstating the language of Mr.. Blaine,
the Confederate eX-President palters with
the truth to advance his individual inter
ests, and to secure the sympathy of South
ern men who condemned his action in
keeping the hell hounds, Winder, Writ
and others, in charge Of the Federal pris-
oners as heartily as it was condemned by
the whole civilized world. Mr. Blaine
made no charges Of cruelty against the
Southern people en- masse. lie stated this
distinctly, and Mr.. Davis must have known
it when he asserts TO the contrary. We
will leave to Mr.. Davis or his defenders
the task of defining what a man is guilty
Of who knowing The facts TO be one way
states tham another.
The next part of Mr. Davis letter is a
rehash of Ben Hills statement about the
difference in the death rate in Northern and
Southern prisons. This fact has been so
efectually answered that we shall pass it
by. But. before the next paragraph we
pause, wondering at the sublImity of its
impudence. To show "the Northern mud
sills'' the spirit of such men as Davis, Ben
Hill and the Southern leaders who are in
sympathy with them, We ask them to read
this from the arch. traitor: "Under the mel.
Glowing influence of time, and occasional
demonstrations at the North of desire
for the restoration Of peace and goodwill,
"the Southern people have forgotten much,
"have forgiven much of the wrongs they
"bore; if it be less so among their invaders,
cit is but another example Of the rule that
"the wrong-doer is less able to forgive than
che who has suffered causeless wrong. 1t
"is not, however, generally among those
"who braved the hazards of battle that un-
"relenting vindictiveness- is TO be found.
"The brave are generous and gentle; it is
"the skulkers Of the fight, the Blaines,
"who display their flag on an untented
"field. They made no sacrifice to prevent
the separation of the States; why should