The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-02-13
HON. EFF. DAVIS.
after i'm Answer to the AtIacA Oh
Hon. James u. bialhes
of Maine.

WASHINGTON. Feb. Jefferson Davis
has written the following letter 10 ouuse
LYONS. of Richmond, Virginia:
NEW ORLEANS, January ~.
Hon. James Lyons.
MY DEAR FRIEND: Your very KIND letter
of the 18th instant was forWarueu iIo.i
Mace I have been so long the OBJECT OF
malionant SANDER, and the subject OF IN
scru6ulous falsehood by partlsans OF the
class of Mr.. Blaine, that though L cannot
say it has become to me- matter OF lhuiIeI-
ence. il has ceased TO excite my surprise
aven in this instance, when it reaches the
extremity of accusing me of cruelty TO
prisoners. What matters it to one whose
object is personal and party advantage, tnat
the records, both Federal and Confedera1e,
disprove the charge; that the country Is
fuli of witnesses who bear oral testimony
AGAINST il. and that an effort TO revive the
bitter animosities of the war, obstructs pro-
gress toward reconciliation of the sections!
III is enough for him, If his self-seeklng pur-
pose be promoted. 1t would, however, seem
probable that such expectations must oe as
appointed. for only those who are wiltully
blind can fail to see in the circumstances
of the case the fallacy of Mr.. Blaine's state
ment The published fact of an attempt TO
suborn WirZ when under sentence or oeaCn,
by promising him pardon ii he would Grim
mate me in regard to the AndersohViIe
prisoners, is conclusive. As 1t was the WISH
of the gentleman to make such charge
against me, and his failure to do so shows
that nothing could be found to sustain lt,
NAV we not say that the evidence OF my IN
nocence was such that Holt ana ConoVer,
with their trained band OF suoornea VII
nesses dared not make against me TINS
charge which Wirz, for his life would not
make, but which Mr.. Blaine, for Presl-
Dental nomination has made. Now, let us
review the leading facts of the ease: Inc
report of the Confederate Commissioners Tor
the exchange of prisoners, shows now per-
sstent and liberal were our efforts to secure
the relief of the captives. Failing in these
attempts, I instructed General Robert E.
Lee to go, under a flag OF truce, and seek
an interview with Gen, Grant; to represent
to him the suffering and death OF the FED
eral prisoners held by us: to explain the
causes, which were beyond our control;
and to urge, in the name OF humanity, the
observance of the cartel for the exchange
of prisoners. To this as to all previous
appeals, deaf ear was turned l will not
attempt, from memory, to write the report
made to me OF the incidents of this mis-
sion. Gen. Lee no longer lives to defend
| the cause and the country he loved so we'll.
and served so efficiently; but Gen. Grant
cannot fail to remember so extraordinary
visit, and his objections 70 executing the
cartel are we'll known to the public. But
whatever else he may choose to forget of my
efforts in this regard-the prisoners at An
dersonille, and the delegates | permitted
them to send to President Lincoln to plead
for resum ption of the exchange of prison
ers-he cannot fail to remember how will
| ling l was to restore them to their homes
| and TO the comforts of which they were in
| need, provided the i'm prisoned soldiers of
The Confederacy should, in like manner, be
! released and returned to us. This foul ac-
| cusatiOn, though directed especially against
| 1n1h infn Aa1 for
uraly must be the arraignment of the
| South, by whose authority and in whose be-
/ half my deeds were done. 1t may be pre-
| sumed that the feelings and the habits OF
the Southern soldiers were understood by
me, aud in that connection any fair mind
would perceive in my congratulatOry orders
to the army after a victory that the troops
were most commended for their tenderness
and generosity to the wounded and other
captives, well as the instincts of the per-
| sons who issued the order, and the knightly
| tempers of the soldiers to whom it was adj
dressed. 1t is admitted that the prisoners
in our hands were not as well provided as
we would have liked to have them, but it is
claimed that we did as well for them as we
| could. Can the other side say az much to
the bold allegations of the ill-treatment of
the prisoners by our side, and the humane
treatment and adequate supplies by our OPP
ponents? 1t is only necessary to offer two
| facts:
EiISb-lt appears lEOtll Tie reports Oh the
/ United States war department that though
we had sixty thousand more Federal pris.
oners than they had Confederates, six thou
sand more of the Confederates died in
| Northern prisons.
| Second--The want and sufferings of our
| men in DOrthern prisons caused me to ask
| Tor 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 au-
thorized to purchase and distribute the
needful supplies Our sym pathy rose with
the occasion and responded to its dema nds
not waiting for ten years to vaunt itself
Wnen lt could serve no good purpose to the
sufferers. Under the mellowing influences
OF time, and demonstrations at the north of
desire for the restoration Of peace and
good will, the southern people have forgot
ten much and forgiven much of the wrongs
they bore. If it be less so among their
invaders, it is but another example OF the
rule that the wrong doer is less able to for
give than he who has suffered causeless
wrong, it is not, however, generally among
those who brayed the hazards of battle that
the unrelenting vindictveness is to be
tound-1the brave the generous and gentle
lt Is che skulkerS of the fight who disnlav
their Nag on an untented field. They made
no sacrifice to prevent the separation of the
states; why should they be expected to
promote confidence and good will so essen
tlal 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 a petition for nv
pardon, and an assurance was given that on
my doing so the President would order nv
liberation Confident of the justice of our
cause ana the rectitude of my own conduct
remained, subject to the inexcusable pri-
vatlons and tortues which Dr. Craven has
but family described, when after two wears
OF close confinement | was admitted to bail.
AS often as required | appeared for trial
uhogf tte lndictment found against me, but
IN which Mr.. Blaine's fictions do NOT an
pear. The Indictment was finally ouashed
on no application of mine, nor have I ever
eVaded or avoided trial on any charge The