The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-02-17
JEFFERSON, DAVIS SPEAKS. .~o
Blaine's Charges Pronounced False and
Malicious. .

....,..- -i.-,. ..s.. i.--n Hf = -
Jefferson Davis has written the follow
ing letter to Judge Lyons, Of Richmond
Virginia:
NEW ORLEANS, La, Jan. 81, 1876.
NM Dear Friend: Your very kind let
ter of the 18th inst. was forwarded from
Memphis and'has been received at this
I have been so long the object of ma
lignant slander and the subject Of uni
scrupulous falsehood by partisans of the
class of Mr.. Blaine that, though I cannot
say it has become to me matter of indif'
ference, it has ceased to excite my sur
prise, even in this instance; when il
reaches the extremity of accusing me ol
cruelty to prisoners. What matters it te
one whose object is, personal and party
advantage that the records, both federal
and Confederate, disprove the charge
that the country is full Of witnesses 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 the sections?' 1t is
enough for him if his self-sseking ipur-
pose be promoted--It would, however,
seem probable that such expectations must
be disappointed, for only those who are
wilfully, blind can fail to see, in the cir
cumstances of the case the fallacy of Mr..
Blaine's statements. The published fact
of an attempt to suborn Wirz, when un-
der sentence of'death, by promising him
a. pardon if he would criminate me in re-
gard to Andersonyille prisoners, is con-
elusive as to the wish Of the government
to make such charge against me, and
the failure to do 80 shows that nothing
could be found to sustain it. May we
not say the evidence Of my innocence was
such that Holt and Conoyer, 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 Presidsn-
tial nomination has made'2 ,,.. .....
THE LEADING FACTS, ,...
Now let us review the leading facts Of
the case. The report of the Confederate
Commissioner for the Exchange of pris.
oners shows how persistent and liberal
were our efforts to secure the relief OF
captives.q Failing in those attempts, l
instructed General R. E. Lee to- 60, .un-
der q flag of truce, and seek an interview
with General Grant; to represent to him
the suffering and death Of federal prisonL
ers held by us to explain the causes
which were beyond our control, and to
urge in the name of humanity the OBJ.
seryance of the cartel for the exchange of
prisoners. To this, as to all previous 'ap.
peals, a. deaf ear was turned. i will not
attempt from memory to write the report
made to me of the incidents of this mis-
sion. Lee no longer lives to defend the
cause and country he loved SO well and
served so efficiently, but General Grant
cannot fail to remember so extraordinary
a 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
Andersonyille and the delegates per-
mitted them to send to President Lincoln
to plead fer the resumption of exchange
of prisoners cannot fail, to remember how
wiling I was to restore them to. their
homes and to the comforts of which they
were in need, provided the imprisoned
soldiers of the Confederacy should be in
like manner released and returned to us.
yi!.... THIS FOUL ACCUSATION, y :.
though d. ected specially against me, was
no doubt intended and naturally must be
the arraignment of the South, by whose
authority and in whose behalf my deeds
were done. 1t may be presumed that the
feelings and, the habits of the Southern
soldiers we're understood by me-, and in
that connection any fair mind would per-
ceiye in my congfatllatory orders to the
army aftera victory in which the troops
were most commended for their tender
ness and generosity to the wounded and
other captives, as well the instincts of
the person who issued the order as the
kniehtly temper of the soldiers. to whom
it was addressed. ,, IT is admitted that the
prisoners in our hands were not as well
provided for as we would; ;:but it is claim
ed we did as well for them as We could,
Can the other side say as much? To the
bold allegations Of ill-treatment of pris-
oners by cur side and humane treatment
and adequate supplies by our opponents,
it is only necessary to oferetw facts: ;;
Fsrst-It appears from the reports OF
the United States War Department that,
though we had $4,000 more federal pris-
oners than they had of Confederates,
5000 more of Confederates died in North
Second d-Tbo want and suffering Of men
in Northern pl sons caused me to ask for
permission to send out cotton and:ibny
supplies sor., 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 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 o"vaunt
itselfiwhen it could serve no good purt
pose to the sufferers. -, -, I'll;
Under the mellowing influence OF time
duu UCCdSlUudl OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES oe VIZ
North of a desire for the restoration of
peace and good will the Southern people
have forgotten much, have 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 wrongdoer is
less able to forgive than he who has suf-
fered causeless wrong. 1t is not, how.
ever, generally among those who braYed
the hazards of battle that unrelenting
vindictiveness is to be found. :, The brave
are generous and gentle. It's ,...s
THE sKULKERs OF THE FIGHT, =.
the Blaines, who display their flag on an
untented field. They made no sacrifice
to prevent the separation of the States.
Why should they be expected to promote
the confidence and good will essential to
their union? E.;a
When closely confined at Fortress
Monroe I was solicited to add my name
to- those of many esteemed gentlemen
,rho bo n o;nnod a r,etition fnr NV nardon