Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-08
A LETTER FROM JEFF DAgISTA
WEAK DEFENCE OF HIS CRULLLInM-,
STILL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THE NORTH.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6.-Jefftrson Davis has writ
ton letter to Judge Lyons of Richmond, Va
dated Sew Orleans, Jan. q, 1876. lie says
have been so long object OF Iignant sian
der and the subject OF interruptions iaseho4o W
narti.ans of the class of Blaine, that though can
not saw it has become to me matter OF lndiher-
epce it has ceased to excite my surprise even I'D
hi, instance when it reaches the extremity OF ac-
cusing me of cruelty to prisoners. what matters
II IN one whose object is personal and party al
van,soe that the records Of both the Federal and
corfedcraies dsproye the charges that the coun-
try il full of Witnesses who bear testimony against
il and tn at the effort to revive the bitter anm0si-
ties of the war obsructs progress towards The re-
cancellation between States. 1t Is enough Tor MN
II his selfseekiug purpose be promoted. ltwould,
however seem probable that such expectations
must be disappointed for only those who are Will
fully blind eau fail to see in the circumstances
of the case the pohcy OF Mr.. Blame state
ments The published fact of an attempt TO su-
born Wirz when under sentence OF death, by prom
isinr him a pardon if he would crnnate me IN
regard to the Andersonvile prisoners, Is conclu-
siye as to the wish of the government to make
such charge against me, ard its failure to do SO
shows that nothing will be found to sustain 1t.
May we not say the evidence OF my innocence wa;
such that Holt and Conovcr with trained band
of suborned witnesses dared not make against me
this cha ge-the sane which WIZ Tor his lie
would not make, bat which Blaine for the fresi-
dental nomination has MADE.
Now let us review the leading facts OF this case
The report of the confederate commissioner Tor
exchange of prisoners shows how persistent and
liberal were our efforts TO secure the release oil
caItives. ,,c ID,
ert Z. Lee to go under flag of truce and seek an
interview with Gen. Grant, to represent to MIN
the suffering and death of the Federal prisoners
held bv US, to explain the causes which were be-
You'd our control, and TO urge in the name oil ho-
manty the observance Of the cartel for the ex-
change of prisoners. To this. as to all previous
appe ais, deaf ear was turned. will not attempt
from memory to write the report that was maze
to me of incidents OF the mission. Lee no longer
lives to defend the cause and country he loved so
wei, and served so efficiently but Gen. Grant can
not fail to remember so extraordinary VISIT and
his objections 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 Andersonville and delegates l per-
United them to send to President Lincoln to plead
for resumption Of exchange OF prisoners 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 Oh
the Confederacy should be in like manner re-
leased and returned to US. This foul accusation
though directed specially against me, was no doubt
intended and naturally must be the arragnme Mt
of the South, by whose authority and In whose
behalf my deeds were done.
He then refers to his commentators to the
rebel army after their victories, for their tender
ness to the wounded and captured Union soldiers.
He says:
1t is admitted that the prisoners in our hands
were not as well provided for IS we would have
liked but it is claimed that we did not 90 for them
as well as we could. Can the other side claim as
much To the bold ale cations fcruel treatment
of prisoners by our side and of humane treatment
and adequate supplies by our opponents, 1t Is only
necessary to offer two facts First, it appears
from reports of the United States War Depart
ment that though We had 10000 more prisoners
than they had of confederates, 5000 more of the
confederates died in Northern PRISONS Second,
the want and suffering Of the men In Northern
prisons caused me to ask for permission to send
out cotton and buy supplies for them. The re-
qncst was granted, but only on condition that the
cotton should be sent to New York and the sup
plies be bought there. Gen. Beale, now of st.
Louis was authorized to purchaseaaDd distribute
neediu supplies. Our sympathy rose with the &C
cason and we responded to It's demands, not walt
ing 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 DEM
constructions at the North of desire for restoration
of peace and good WILL the Southern people have
forgotten much and have forgiven much of the
wrongs they bore. II it be less so among their
invaders, it is but another example ofthe rule that
the wrong is less able to forgive than he who
has suffered q canseless wrong. 1t Is not, how
ever, generally among those who braved the haz-
ards OF battle that unreentng vndictiveness Is to
be found,-the brave, generous and gentle. 1t is
the shukers of the fight. The Blanes who dis
play their fame on an untented field. They made
sacrifice to prevent separation OF the States.
Why should they be expected to promote conf
dence and good will, essential to their union.
When closely confined at Fortress Monroe l
was solicited TO add my name to those of many es-
teemed gentlemen, who had signed petition for
my pardon, and an assurance was given that on
my doing so the President would order my liberia
ton. Confident of the jmstice of our cause and
the rectitude Of my own conduct, | declined to
sip fha pptitiou and remained suhippt n the in
excusable privations and torture which DR.. Cra
ven but family describes. When after two years
of close confinement, i admitted to bail as
often required l appeared for trial under an in
dictment found against me, but in which Mi.
Blaines fictiOns do not appear. The indictment
was finally quashed, on no application of mine,
nor have ever evaded or avoided trial upon any
charge the general government might choose to
bring against me, and have no view ofthe 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 Il laws intictiDg the penalty of political dIsa-
bilites on classes of the people, that 1t might as
prescribed by the constitution be left TO the courts
to hear and decide causes, and to aiiix penalties
according to pre-existng legislation. The dis
elimination made against our people is uDjust and
mpolitc if the fact be equality and the purpose
be fraternity among the citizens of the United
States. Conviction and sentence without hearing,
without jurisdiction, and atiixing penalties by ex-
post facto legislation are part Of the proceedings
which had its appropriate end in the assumption
by Congress of the executive function Of granting
pardons. To remove political disabilities which
there not legal power to impose, not an
act of so much grace as to form plausible pre-
text for the reckless diatribe of Mr. Blaine.
The papers preserved by DIR. Stevenson happily
furnish full proof of the causes of disease and
death in Andersonville. They now believe,
in Richmond, and it is to be hoped their pubica-
ton will not be much longer delayed. have no
taste for lecriminanon, though the sad recitals
made by our soldiers returned from NortherH
prisons can never be forgotten, and you will
member the excitement those produced and the
ccnsorious public atoms which were uttered against
me because would not visit on helpless prisoneIs
such baibaritics according 10 reports mad been
inflicted upon our men. imprisonment is a hard
lot at the best aad prisoners are prone TO exag-
gerate their sutierings and such was probably the
case on both sides, but did not seek by reports
Of committees, with Photographic illustrations to
iniiame the passions of our people. How was it
with our enemy: Let one example suffice. You
may remember Published report of the commit
tee Of the United States Congress- which was sent
to Annapolis to visit some exchanged prisoners,
and which had appended to it photog graphs OF
some emaciated subjects, which were offered as
samples OF the prisoners returned from the South.
When copy of that report was rece wed l sent
1t to Col. Ouid commissioner for the exchange of
prisoners. and learned | had anticipated that
the photographs, as fan as they could be identified,
had been taken from men who were In our hos
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