Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-02-19
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
A YindicatOry Letter From the Ex-
Confederate Chief.
His ScathIug Answer to BIaine's
Charges About AndersOnvflle-

. | AMAo kJCMtMAMk hMSWCG W OA4aAMC
Charges About AndersOnvflle-
| Jefferson Davis has written the fo
lowing letter to Judge Lyons, of Rich
mond, Virginia:
| NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 27.-Hor
James Lyons--My Dear Friend =
! Your very kind letter Of the 14th inst
was forwarded from Memphis, and ha
been received at this place. hav
been so long the object of malignan
slander, and the subject of unscrupu
lous falsehood by partisans of the clas
of Mr.. Blaine, that though l canno
say it has become to me q matter O
Indifference, it has ceased to excite m,
surprise. Even in this instance, wheI
it reaches the extremity of accusing
me of cruelty to prisoners, what mat
ters it TO one whose object is persona
and party advantage that the records
both Federal and Confederate, dis
prove the charge, that the country il
full of witnesses who bear oral testi
mony against it, aud that the effort tc
revive bitter animosities Of the wal
AhG pIOSICcc tOMOIO
the reconciliation of the sections. II
is enough for him if his slf-seekine
purpose be promoted. Itwould, how
ever, seem probable that such expec-
tations must be disappointed, for only
those who are willfully blind can fail
to see In the circumstances Of the case
the fallacy of Mr.. Blaine's statements.
The published fact of an attempt to
suborn Wirtz while under sentence OF
death, by promising him pardon if he
would crlminate me in regard to An
Jacksonville prisoners, is conclusive as
to the wish of the Government to
make such charge against me, and
the failure to do so shows that moth
ing could be found to sustain it. May
We not say the evidence of my inno-
eence was such that Holt and Como
yer, with their trained band of sub
orned witnesses, dared not make
against me this charge, which Wirtz
for his life would not make, but which
Blaine for the Presidential nomina-
ton, has made?
Now, let us review the leading facts
of the case. The report of the Con-
federate Commissioner for the Ex-
change of Prisoners shows how per-
sistent and liberal were our efforts to
secure the relief of captives. Failing
in those attempts, / instructed Gen.
X. E. Lee to go, under flag of truce,
aud seek an interview with Gen. Grant,
to represent to him the suffering aud
death of federal prisoners held by us !:
to explain the causes, which were be-
yond our control, and to urge in the
name of humanity the observance of
the cartel for the exchange of prison.
ers. To this, as to ali previous APP
peals, 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 cannot fail to remember so
extraordinary visit, and his objec-
tions to executing the cartel are well
known to the public. But whoever
else may choose to forget my efforts 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 ex-
change of prisoners, cannot fail to re-
member how willing l was to restore
them to their homes and to the COM
forts of which they were in need, pro-
vided the imprisoned soldiers OF the
CoRfederacy should be in like manner
released and returned to us.
This foul accusation, though direct
ed especially againstme, was, no doubt,
intended, and naturally must be, the
arraignment of the South, by whose
authority and in whose behalf my deeds
were done. 1t may be presumed that
the feelings and the habits of South
ern soldiers were understood by me,
and in that connection any fair mind
would perceive in my congratulatory
orders to the army after a victory in
which the troops were most commend
ed for their tenderness and generosity
to wounded and other caprives, as well
as the instincts of persons who issued
the order, as the knightly tempers Of
the soldiers to whom il waB addressed.
1t is admitted that the prisoners in
our hands were not as we'll provided
for as we would like to have had them,
but it is claimed that we did as we'll
for them as we could. Can the other
side say as much7 To the bold alle-
CATION of the ill treatment Of prisoners
by our side, and the humane treat
ment and adequate supplies by our
opponents, it is only necessary to offer
two facts First--It appears from re-
ports of the United States War De-
partment that though we had 10000
more Federal prisoners than they had
6,000 more of Confeder-
ates died in Northern prisons. Sec
want and suffering of men
in Northern 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
York, and the supplies be bought
there. General Beale, now of st.
Louis, was authorized to purchase
aud distribute the neediul 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 to
the sufferers.
Under the mellowing influences of
time, and occasional demonstration
at the North OF a desire for the resto-
ration Of peace aud good will, the
Southern people have forgotten much
and forgiven much OF the wrongs they
bore. fit be less among their inya-
ders, it is but another example of the
rule, that the wrong doer is less able
to forgive than he who has suffered
wrong. It is not, however,
among those who hraved the
hazards of battle that unrelenting vim
dictiveness is to be found-the brave
and generous and gentle. 1t is skulk-
ers of the fght-the Blaines-who
display their flag on an untented field.
They made no sacrifice to prevent the
separation Of the States; why should
they be expected to promote conf
dencc and good will, essential to their
union?
When closely confined at Fortress
Monroe, [ was solicited to add my
name to those of many esteemed gen.
tlemen, who had signed petition for
my pardon, and an assurance was given
that on doing the President would or
der NY liberation. Confident of the
Justice of our cause and rectitude OF
my own conduct, | declined to sign
the petition, and remained subject to
the inexcusable privations and tor
lures which DR.. Craven has but faint
ly described. When, after two years
of close confinement, | was admitted
to bail, as often as required | appeared