The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-07
JEFFERSON DAVIS SPEAKS.
BLAINE'S CHARGES PRONOUNCED
FALSE 1ND MILICIOUS.
The Leader Of the Lost Cause Appcaline to
the War Records ef the COntrdcrlcY aud

has written the following letter to Judge Lyons
OF Richmond Va:
NEW ORLEANS, La, Jan. 27, 1879.
hon. lanes Evons.
My DEAR FRIEND: Your very kind letter Of
the llth inst. was forwarded from Memphis and
has ooen received at this place. have been so
long the object OF malignant slandcr and the
subject Of unscrupuous folsohood by partissns
OF the class Of MIR. Blaine, that though cannot
Say 1t has become to me amatter OF Indifference,
II has ceased to excite my surprise even In this
Instance when 1t reatSes the extremity OF ac.
cusng me Of cruelty to prisoners. What mat
ters II to one whose object Is personal and party
advantage. that the records, both Federal and
Confederate, dlsprOve the charge, that the coun-
try Ia full OF witnesses who bear oral testimony
against IT, and that the effort to revive the
bitter animosltes OF tho war obstructs the
progress toward the reconciliation OF the sec
ions2 1t Is enough for him II his self
seeking purpose be promoted. IL would,
however, seem probable that such expectations
must be disappointed, for only those who are
wiltully blind can fail to see in the circum-
stances of tho case tho fallacv Of Mr.. Blalne's
statements. The published fact Of an attempt
TO suborn wirz when under sentence OF death,
by promising him pardon II he would crmi-
nate me In regard to Andersonville prisoners IL
conclusive as to the wish OF tho Government TO
make such charge against me, and tho failure
60 do so shows that nothing could be found to
sustain 1t. May we not say tho evidence Of my
innocence was such that Holt and Conover with
their trained band Of suborned witnesses, dared
not make against me this charge. the same
which wirz for his life would not make, but
which Blaine for the Presidential nomination
has made
Now lot us rcviow the leading facts OF the
-, 81. ~ 81. n.
sioner Tor the exchange Of prisoners shows how
persistent and liberal were our efforts to secure
the relief OF cap,lves. Failing in those attempts
/ Instructed Gen. H. L. Lee TO go, under a Il a oi
truce. and sock an iutcryiow with Gen. Grant, to
represent to him the suffering and death OF Fed
cral ~ iisoners held by us. to explain the cluses,
which were beyunu our control. ana TO urge in
tho name OF humanity the Observance ~ the
cartel for the exchange Of prisoners. To this,
Us 10 all previous appeals. de Il ear was turned.
will n IT attempt from memory TO write the re-
mission. Lee no longer lives to defend
the cause and country he loved so wcll and
served su efficiently, but Gen. Grant cannot fril
e. remember 80 extraordinary visit, and his
objection % executing the cartel are well
Choose TO forget my efforts In this regard the
prisoners at Apders lnylle anj the delegates
permitted them TO send 70 President Lincoln TO
plead Tor the resnmption OF exchange of pris.
oncrs, cannot fail To remember how willing |
was 10 restore them TO their homes and to the
comforts OF which they were In need provided
the impiisoned soldiers Of the Confedcracy
should be IN liko manner released and returned
TO us.
THIS foul accusation. though directed specially
against me, was no doubt Intended and natu-
rally must be tha arragn nent OF the South, by
whose authority and Ia whose behalf nly deeds
were done. IL nay be presumed that the feel
diers were understood by me, and in tha.
connection any fair mind would per
ceive in my congrAtulatory orders to the
army after q victory, III which the troops were
most commended for their tenderness and
generosity to tie wounded and other captves,
the order As the kniehtly TEMPER of the soldiers
to vi nom II wss addressed. 1t Is admitted that
the prisoners In our bands were not a. well piO-
Weed for as We would wish. hut II Is claimed
We aId a. well for them ~ we could. Can the
humane treatment and adequate supplies uy our
oinou'nts, 10 Is only necessary To oIer Two facts.
iirat II appears from the reports of the
Tinted states War Departmcut than though we
had GluVJ more Federal Prisoners than tney hai
OF { niedcrate-. 600 more OF COnfederates died
III Northern prisons.
second The want and suffering Of men in
Northern prisons caused me t. ask for pernis-
sion to send out cotton and buy supplies for
them The request was grant,d ID. but only on
York aud the supplies be bought there Gen
Bcalc, now Of St. Louis, was autho oriz-d to pur-
chase an distribute the needful supplies
our sympathy rose with the occasion ana re.
spo n led To Its demands, not waiting for ten
years, then to yaunt itself when It could serve
mellowing influence Of time aud occasional
demonstrations at the North OF a desire for the
restoration OF peace ana good VIII. Ihe
southern people have forgotten much, have Tor
given much Of the wrongs they bore. III IL be
less so among their invaders 1t Is but another
example OF the rule that the wrong doer Is less
aols TO forgive than he who has suffered cause
less wrong II Is not, however generally among
those VINO brayed the hazards Of battle that un-
relenting vindictyeness Ia TO be fOund-the
brave and generous and gentle. 1t is tho skulk-
fag on an untented Geld. They made no sacrl-
fee to prevent the separation Of the States.
Why should they be expected to promote the
IN
When closely confined In Fortress Monroe, |
esteemed gentlemen who had signed petition
for my pardon and an assurance was given that
on my doing so the President would order my
liberation; Conhient OF the Justice Of our
cause and the rectitude of my own conduct,
declined to siEn the peiition, and remained
subject 70 the ineXcusahle puyatlons and tor
lures which DR.. Craven has but family de-
s'ribcd. when, after two years Of close
confinement, Was admitted to ball
often as required / appeared for trial un-
der the inuictment found against me, but
in which Mr.. Biliuc's hciions do not appear
the indictment was finally qlashed, on no aDpli-
cation Of mine, nor have ever evaded or avoid
ed "A trial upon any charge tho General Govern
have no Vlew OF the future which makes IL de-
sirdbio 20 me to be Included In an amnesty till.
Viewed in the abstract or rs a general question,
] would be- glad TO see the repeal OF all laws In
hcting the penalty OF political disabilities on
courts TO hear and decide causes and
To hnlN ltnhlIeS aCCOldlnH 10 pIC0AiSt-
ing legisation. The discrimination mado
against The people is unjust and impOlitic
II the fact be equality and tho purpose be fra
ternity among the citizens Of the United States,
conviction and sentence without hearing,
without Jurisdiction, and ahiXing penalties by
OK post facto legislation are part OF the proceed
ings which had It's appropriate end In tho as
sumption by Congress OF the executive func-
ton of granting pardons. To remove political
disabilities, which there was not legal power to
impose, was not an act Of so much grace to
form plausible pretext for the reckless dia-
frih nf Mr. aA Nv
DIR. Stevenson happily furnish Iull proof of the
They are now, believe, In Richmon ana 1t Is
to be hoped theiI publication Will not be much
longer delayed.
have no taste for recrimlnatlon, though the
sad recitals made by our soldiers returned from
Northern prisons can never bo forgotten, and
you Will remember tho excitement they pro-
duced and the censorlous publications which
were uttered against me because ! would not
visit on the helpless prisoners in our hands such
baTbaritcs as, according to reports, had been
inflicted upon our men. imprisonment Is a hard
lot at the best. and prisoners are prone to eX-
aggerate their suierlngs, and such was probably
the case on both sides but we did not seek by
reports OF committees, with Photographic Illus
tratOns, 10 Influence the passions Of our people.
How was II with our enemy2 Let one example
suifice.
You may remember published report of
committee of the United States Congress which
was sent 70 Ann polls To visit some exchanged
prisoners, and which nad offered 10 it the pho-
VNa sN tod