The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-08
JEFFERSON DAVIS LETTER.
Mr.. Blaine's Charges Denied.

|
regard to the treatment of prisoners at the
south during the war, and TO Mr.. Bane's
objections to including Mr.. Davis in an
amnesty bill. Our Geographic columns
of Monday morning contained portion of
this letter, but we publish 1t in full.
THE LETTER.
NEW ORLEANS, La, Jan. 81, 1876.
To Hon. JANIS LYoNs.-My Dear
Friend: Your very kind letter of the 14.h
instant was forwarded from Memphis and
has been received at this place. have
been so long the object of malignant SLAM
der and the subject of INSCRIPTIONS false
hood by partisans of the class of Mr. Blaine
that, though cannot say 1t has become to
me matter of Indifference, it has ceased
to excite my surprise, even in this instance,
when 1t reaches the extremity of accusing
me of cruelty to prisoners. What matters
it to one whose object is personal and party
advantage that the records, both federal
and confederate, disprove the charge that
the country is full of witnesses who bear
oral testimony against it, and that the eff
fort to revive the bitter animosities of the |
war obslructs the progress toward the re-
Cancellation of the sections. 1t IS enough |
for him If his selt-seeking purpose be pro-
that such expectations must be disappoint- |
ed, for only those who are willfully blind |
can fail to see in the circumstances of the
case the fallacy of Mr.. Blaines statements.
| The published fact of an attempt to suborn
| WirZ when under sentence OF death, by
promising him a pardon if he would crimi-
nate me in regard to Andersonvlle prison
ere, is conclusive as to the wish of the gov
ernment to make such 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 Conover, with their trained
band of suborned witnesses, dared not
make against me this charge the same
which Wirz for his life would not make,
but which Blaine for the presidential NOM
ination has made.
SOUTHERN HEARTLEssNEss 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 liberal were our
efforts to secure the relief of Captives.
Failing in these attempts, instructed Gen.
II. +. Lee to go, under flag of truce, and
seek an interview with Gen. Grant to rep
resent to him the suffering and death Of
federal prisoners held by us 10 explain
the causes, which were beyond our con-
troll, and 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, deaf ear was turned. /
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 well and
served so efficiently, but Gen. Grant can
not fail to remember SO extraordinary a
visit and his objections 10 executing the
7 cartel are well known to the public. But
whoever else may choose 10 forget my eff
, forts in this regard the prisoners at Ander-
sonville 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 to
the comforts of which they were in need,
provided the imprisoned soldiers of the
confederacy should be in like manner re-
e leased and returned to us.
8 This foul accusation, though directed
specially against me, was no doubt intend
; ed, and naturally must be the arraignment
: of the south, by whose authority and in
n whose behalf my deeds were done.
il 1t may be presumed that the feel
= ngs and the habits of the southern
soldiers were understood by me, and
y in that connection any fair mind would
Il 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
n and other captives as well as the instincts
Q of the person WHO, iSsnaddheeG fiat he
prisoners in our hands were not as well
, provided tor as we would, but it is claimed
p that we did as well for them as we could.
n Can the other side say as much? To the
| allpnatinpc NJ .C
u by our side, and humane treatment and
;, adequate supplies by our opponents, it is
C only necessary to offer two facts:
q First-lt appears from the reports of the
United States war department that though
we had $4,000 more federal prisoners than
they had Of confederates, 5000 more of
confederates died in northern prisons.
. Sccond-That want and suffering of men
Il In northern prisons caused me to ask for
o permission to send out cotton and buy sup
plies for them. The request was granted,
but only on condition that the cotton
should be sent 10 New York and the sup
6 plies be bought there. Gen. Beae, now of
ST. Louis, was authorized to purchase and
distribute the needful supplies. Our SYM
patty rose with the occasion and respond
g 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 demonstrations at the North of
desire for the restoration OF peace and
good will.
The southern people have forgotten
q much, have forgiven much of the wrongs
r they bore. If it be less so among their in
vaders, 1t is but another example of the
rule that the wrong-doer is less able to for
t give THAI he who has suffered causeless
: wrong. 1t is not, however, generally
among those who braved the hazards Of
. battle that unrelenting vndictveness 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 separation Of the states.
Why should they be expected 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 nv doing
so the president would order my liberation
Confident of the justice of our cause and
the rectitude OF my own conduct | de-
cined to sign the petition, and remained
subject to the inexcusable privations and
tortures which DIR. Craven has but family
described. When after two yearsof close
confinement l was admitted to bail. as Of
, ten us required appeared for trial under
the indictment found against me, but in
which Mr.. Blaines fc,ons do not appear.
The indictment was finally quashed on
no application of NINE, 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
iinilcting the penalty of political disabil-