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

privations and fortunes which DIR. Craven
has but family described When, after
two years Of close confinement, / was
admitted to bail, as often as required 1
appeared for trial under the indictment
found against me, but in which Mr..
/ Blaine's fctions do not appear The
Indictment WAS finally quashed, on no
application Of mine, nor have / ever
evaded or avoided q trial on any charge
which the General Government might
choose TO bring against me.
I 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 a general question, |
would be glad TO see the repeal OF all
laws infictin9 the penalty Of political
liabilities on classes Of people, that it
might, as prescribed by the Constitu-
ton, be left to courts 10 decide and TO
affix penalties according TO legislation.
The discrimination made against our
people is unjust and impolitic. Ii the
Tact be equality and the purpose be
fraternity among citizens OF the United
States, conviction and sentence without
hearing, without jurisdiction, and
affixing penalties by ec post factD legisia-
tfor, are part Of q proceeding which had
its appropriate place Id the assumption
by Congress Of The executive function OF
granting pardons. To remove political
disabilities which there WAS not legal
power to impose, was not an act Of so
much grace as to form a plausible pre-
text for the reckless diatribe OF Mr..
Blaine.
The papers preserved by DIR. Steven
son happily furnish full proof of the
cause Of disease and death at Anderson
Vile They are now, believe, at Rich
mond, and it is to be hoped that their
publication will not long be delayed.
+ have no taste for recrimination,
| though the sad recitals made by our sol
diers returned from Northern prisons
can never be forgotten, and you will re-
member the excitement they produced
and the censorious publication which
was uttered against me because / would
not visit on the helpless prisoners in our
hands such barbarities as, according TO
reports, had been inflicted upon
men. Imprisonment is a hard lot at
best, and prisoners are prone to exa9
gerate their sufferings, and such was
probably the case on both sides; but we
did not seek by reports of committees,
with Photographic Illustrations, TO in
huence the passions Of our people. How
was it with our enemy? Let one sample
suffice. You very we'll remember the
published report Of the committee Of
the United States Congress which was
sent to Annapolis TO visit some ex-
changed prisoners, and which had ap-
pended to IL photographs from ernaeiat-
ed subjects, which were offered as sam
pies Of the prisoners returned from the
South.
When a copy Of that report was re-
ceived [ sent 10 Col Ould, commissioner
for the exchange Of prisoners, and
learned, as Anticipated, that the pho
tographs had been taken from men
who we're in our hospitals when they
we're liberated for exchange, and who
were regarded rs convaleseent, but too
weak to be removed with safety to them
selves, The anxiety Of the prisoners to
be sent TO their homes had prevailed
over the objection Of The surgeon.
But this fs not all, for ] have recently
learned from priest who was then at
Annapolis, that the most wretched-
looking photographs were taken from q
man who had never been prisoner,
but who had been left on q SICK list at
Annapolis when the command to which
he was attached had passed that place
on it's southwark march.
Whatever raay DC said in exsen aation
Of such innpostnre because Of the ext
gencies of war. there can be no such
excuse now for the attempt Of Mr..
Blaine, by gross misrepresentation and
slanderous accusation, to revive the
worst passions Of the war and it is to be
hoped that, much as the event is to be
regretted, it vii! have the good effect Of
evoking truthful statements In regard
to this little understood subject, from
men who would have preferred to leave
their sorrowfui story untold, the sub
iect could have been allowed peacefully
to sink into oblivion.
Mutual respect is needful for the
common interest, is essential to q friend
ly feeling, and when SANDER comes
from high places. public welfare de-
hood Of its power for evil. I am re-
spectfully and truly your friend.
JEFFERSON DAVIS.