The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-02-17
he SASES no AASEsfT, IskS no
GRACE.
fns Old Rebels Presumption Is anus.
Ing to Read.

WASHINGTON, Feb. G.-Jeifsrs,n
Davis has written tie following letter
70 Judge Lyons, of Richmond, Va
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. y.
Hon. James Lyons:
MY DEAR FRIEND-Ycur very Kind
letter OF the l4th inst, was forwarded
rom Memphis and has been received
81 this place. / have been so long the
OBJECT of malignant slander and the
suugeet OF unscrupulous falsehood by
partlsans of the class OF Mr.. Blaine
tnst though cannot say it has be-
come matter of Indifference il has
ceased to excite my surprise.
Even in this instance, when il
reaches the extremity of accusing nae
OF cruelty to prisoners, What matters
IL 70 one whose object is personal aud
party advantage that the records,
both Federal and Confederate, dis
prove the charge that the country is
full OF witnesses who bear oral testi-
mony against it, and that the effort
to revive the bitter amin Osities OF war
o6struets the progress toward recon-
citation OF the sections 1t is enough
Tor him II his self-seeking purpose be
promoted. 1t would, however, seem
probable that such expectations must
be disappointed, for only those who
are Willfuly blind can fail to see in the
circumstances of the case the falIaey
of Mr.. Blaine's statements.
The published fact OF an attempt to
suborn WirZ when under sentence of
death by promising him pardon il he
would crlminste me in regard to An
dersonvllle prisoners, is conclusive as
10 the wish of the Government to
make such charge against me, and
the failure to do 80 shows that moth
ing could be found TO sustain it. May
we not say the evidence of my inno-
cenee was such that Holt and Con-
over, with their trained band of
suborned witnesses, dared not make
against me this charge which Wirz
for his life would not make, but
which Blaine for Presidential nUmi-
nation has made.
Now let US review the leading facts
of the case. The report of the Con-
federate Commissioner for the ex-
change OF prisoners shows how persis-
tent and liberal were our efforts to Sc
cure the relief OF captives. Failing in
those attempts I instructed General
K. r. Lee to go under flag of truce
and seek an interview with General
Grant to represent TO them the suffer
ing and death of Federal prisoners
held by US; to explain the csuses
which were beyond our control and
to urge in the name of humanity the
observance OF the cartel for the ex-
change of prisoners. To this, as to all
previous appeals, q deaf ear was
turned. 1 will not attempt from
memory 20 write the report made 10
me of the incidents of this mission.
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 ex-
traordinary a visit, and his objections
to executing the cartel are well known
to the public. But whoever else NAV
choose to forget my efforts in this re-
gard, the prisoners of Andersonville |
and the delegates 1 permitted them to |
send to President lincoln to plead for
resumption of the exchange of
prisoners cannot fail to remember
how willing was to restore them to
their homes and the comforts to
which they were in need, provided the
imprisoned soldiers of the COnfederacy
should be in a like manner released
and returned to us.
This foul accusation, though direct
ed 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 pre-
sumed that the feelings and habits of
Southern soldiers were understood by
me, and in that connection any fair
mind would perceive in my congratu-
latory orders to the army, after a
victory, in which the troops were
most commended for their tenderness,
generosity to the wounded and other
captives, as well as the instincts of the
person who issued the order as the
knighuy temper of the soldier to
whom it was addressed. It is admit |
ted that prisoners in our hands were
not as well provided for as we would
like to have had them, but it is
clsimed that We did as well for them
as we could. Can the other side say
as much 7?
To the bold allegations of the ILL
treatment of prisoners by our side and
the humane treatment and adequate
supplies by our opponents, it is only
necessary to offer two facts First, it |
appears from the reports of the United |
States War Department that though |
we had sixty thousand more Federal |
prisoners than they had COnfederates, !
six thousand more of Confederates
died in Northern prisons. Second, |
the want and suffering of men in |
Northern prisons, caused me. to esk |
for 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 bought there. !
General Beale, now of st. Louis, was
was authorized to purchase the need |
full supplies. Our sympathy rose with
the occasion, and responded to its de-
mands, not waiting for ten years,
and then to vaunt itself when it
could serve no good purpose to the
sufferers.
Under the mellowing influence Of
time, and occasional demonstrations
at the north of desire for the restOra-
ton of peace and good will, the south
ern people have forgotten much of
the wrongs they bore if it be less so
among their invaders, it is but anoth-
er example OF the rule that the wrong
doer is less able to forgive than he
who suffered causeless wrong. 1t is
not, however, generally among those
who braved the hazards OF battle that
unrelenting vindictiveness is to be
found, the brave and generous and
gentle. 1t is the skulkers of the fight,
Mr.. Blaine, who display their flag on
an untented field. They made no
sacrifice to prevent the separation of
States-wby should they be expected
to promote the confidence and good
will essential to their union
When closely confined in Fortress
Monroe was solicited to add my
name to those of many 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.
Confident Of the justice of our cause
and the rectitude OF my own concuet,
L declined to sign the petition and re-
manned subject TO the inexcusable
privations and torture which DIR.
Craven has but family described.
When, after two years of close con-
fnement, 1 was admitted to bail, as
often as required, / appeared for trial
under the Indictment found against
me, but in which Mr.. Blaine's fie-
tions do not appear. Tue indictment
was finally qnashed 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
of the future which makes it desirable
to me to be included in an amnesty
bill.
Viewed in the abstract, or as gen.
eral question, would be glad to see
the repeal Of all laws inhicting the
penalty of political disabilities on
classes of the people, that it might, as
prescribed by the constitution, be left
to the courts to hear and decide a
cause and to affix penalties according
to pre-existing legislation. The die
elimination made against our people
is unjust and impolitc if the fact be
equality and the purpose be fratern!-
ty among citizens of the United
States. Conviction and sentence
without Jurisdiction and affixlng
penalties by an expsrte facto legisla-
ton, are part of a proceeding which
Il hoo ifa annropriafa and in the asaUmr-