The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-02-12

pend on it, that the ONCE, instead o.
weakening this true patriot, will make
him stronger In body and mind.
ALABAMA.
Letter from Hon. Jefferson Davis.
NEW ORLEANS, January n.
To the Hon. James Lyons:
M Denr Frten1- Your very kind let
ter Of the 18th inst. was forwarded from
Memphis, and has been received at this
place. have been 50 long che object o.
malignant SANDER and the subject oil
INSCRIPTIONS faIsehood by partisans o.
the class Of Mr.. Blaine, that though
cannot say it has become TO me q mater
Of indifference, it has ceased TO excite
my surprise even In this instance, when
it reaches the extremity Of accusing me
Of cruelty to prisoners What matters
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 wit.
nesses who bear oral testimony against
it? And that the effort to revive the
bitter animosities Of the war obstructs
the progress toward the reconciliation
Of sections? It is enough for him II his
self-seeking purpose be promoted. II
would. however, seem probable that
such expectations must be disappointed
for only those who are willfally Blind
can fail to see, In the circumstances Of
the case, the fallacy OF Mr.. Blaine
statements.
The published fact Of an attempt to
suborr. Wirtz, while under sentence OF
death. by promising him pardon ii ne
would crirninate me in regard to the An
Jacksonville prisoners, is conclusive fs
to the wish Of the Government 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,
that Holt ard Conover, with their train
Ell bands os snborned witnesses, dared
not make a9ainst me this charge which
Wirtz for his - would not make, bat
which Blaine. foe Presidential nomifla-
ton has nadA now?
To revieweaeading facts OF the case
The report CT fhe Confederate Commits
sioner for the exchange At prisoners
our efforts forT Ne release Of captiyes.
Failing in those ssttempts, / instructed
Gen. r. r.. Lee TO go under flag OF
truce and seek an interview with Gen.
Grant, to represent to him the suffering
and death of Federal prisoners held by
as, to explain thecauses which were be-
yond our contfo., and to urge in the
name OF humanity the observance OF the
cartel for the exchange Of prisoners.
To this, as 10 all previous appeals, q
deaf ear was turned.
+ will not attempt from memory to
write the report made to me OF the Incl
dents Of this mission. Lee no longer
lives to defend the cause and country
which he loved 30 we'll and served 50
efficiently, but Gen. Grant cannot fail
to remember 80 extraordinary p visit,
and his objections TO executing the car
tel are we'll known TO the public. But
whoever else may choose to forget my
efforts in this regard, the prisoners at
AndersonyiIIe and the delegates whom
permitted them to send to President
Lincoln to plead for the resumption Of
the exchange Of prisoners cannot fail
10 remember how willing [ was TO re-
store them To their homes and to the
comforts Of which they were in need,
provided the imprisoned soldiers Of the
Confsdsfaey should % in like manner
released and returned to Us.
This foul accusation, though directed
especially against me, Was no doubt in
tended or naturally must be, for the ar
rai9nment Of the South, by whose au-
thority, and in whose behalf my deeds
were done, r. may be presumed that
the feeling AID thS habits OF Southern
soldiers were understood ~ ne, and ~
that connection any fair mind would
perceive in my congratulatofy orders 70
the army after q victory, in which tfle
troops were most commended for their
tenderness and generosity to the wound
ed and other sautiyes, as well the in
stincts Of the person who issasd the Or
der as the knfghtly ternpers OF the sol
diers to whom it was addressed, 1t ~
admitted that the prisoners In our hands
were not ~ we'll provided as one would
like to have had thsks, bgt it is claimed
that we did as we'll for them aS w6 could
Can the other side say as much?
10 the bold allegations Of ill-treat-
ment Of prisoners by our side. and hui
name treatment and adequate supplies
by our opponents, it is necessary 10
offer two facts;
First--It appears from the reports Of
the United States War Department that
though we had sixty thousand mofe
Federal prisoners than they had Con-
federates, six thousand more OF Confed-
crates died in Northern prisons.
Second The want and suffering OF
men in Northern pfisons caused me to
ask for permission 10 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. Gen
Beale, now of So. 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 va1nt
itself, when it could serve no good pur-
pose to the sufferers.
Under the msllowinR influences OF
time and the occasional demonstrations
Of the North for q desire for the resto7
ration Of power and good will, the
people have forgotten much,
have forgiven much, OF the wrongs they
bear. II it be less so among their In
yaders, ii is but another example OF the
rule that the wrong doer Is less able to
forgive than The who has suffered cause
less wrong.
II is not, however, generally among
those who bTaved the hazards OF battle
that unrelenting vindictiveness is to be
found-the bravo, and generous, and
gentle. 1t Is the sculkers OF the fight
the Blaines who display their flag on an
untented field. They made 40 sacrifice
TO prevent the separation OF states, why
should they be expected to promote the
and good will essential to
their union?
When closely confined at Fortress
Monroe, was solicited to add my name
to those Of many esteemed gentlemen
who had signed a petition for my pardon,
and an assurance was given that on my
doing 90 the President would order my
liberation. Confident OF the justice OF