The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-08-28
Mr.. Jefferson Davis aud mrs. For
Ges's VIII.
A New orleau. correspondent of the

Having known DIS. DO sey from ny
childhood, and having been for several
years previous TO her death her solicit
tor and legal advisor, claim TO speak
with some degree Of authority In the
mater.
In the first place, the extent of Mrs.
Dorse7's estate has been enormously ex
aggerat.d. Instead OF being q quarter
OF million, thirty thousand dollars IS
the extreme limit that can be placed on
is value. IA far as personality is con-
cerned, Mrs. Dorsey had comparatively
nothing. She owned no stocks or
bonds of any kind. She has no oney
in bank Except few hundred dollars),
ani none at interest. Her only source
ofrevenue was the rental Of her planta
tions in the parish Of Teusas, and this
amounted TO about $500 year-baIcly
sufficient to give her support. These
plantations were once valuable; but,
like all properties situated 10 the allu-
vial parishes, annually threatened with
disastrous oveIlows, they have depre-
ciated to one-Sxth of what they were
worth before the war, when the levce
system was perfect, and the labor was
tied to the soil by the chain of slavery.
/ should consider it bal bargain II
give $40, 900 Tor them now.
The lands in Arkansas may be set
down as absolutely worthless. They
are uncultivated swamp LANDS, for
which there is no market, even a. fifty
cents an acre. Indeed, il ] mIst Ike
not, they were all sold for taxes years
ago.
fhe only other property that Mrs.
ID lrsey leaves is the house and grounds
near Mississippi CITY, known as
.sBssuvoir.n Whatever value it bas
was given it by Mrs. Dorsey, who pur-
chased it some years ago for, think.
about $4,000. She has improved It to
some extent, but Its present value l.
dependent upon go many contingencies
"a virtually to deprive 1t Of market
prize.
The disposition of Mira. DJrsey's viii
and the motive which induced her to
make it were communicated 60 me by
her own lips early in the year 1873.
and very shortly after the will wa
written. These are the circumstances
under which this communication was
made: Mrs. Dorsey came to New o.
leans wit the intention Of undergoing
a Severe surgical operation for cancer,
under which she expected to die, and
from the effects of which she finally do
die. She sent for me, told me OF the will,
its contents, her motives or making it.
her anticipations of death, and gave
me directions as to what should do in
that event. The operation, by the ad-
vice Of her physician, was postponed n
year. She subsequently, brought the
will t. my office, and let it there &c
be deposited In the Canal bank, which
deposit was made by my associate, Mr..
+. D. King.
The mot yes which Mrs. Dorsey gave
for making Mr.. Davis her iegatee were
In substance those set forth in the body
of the will itself given, however, more
IN detail and expressed with that fine
ellnestness OF manner that was peculiar
TO herself. She said that she was
childless; that she had done all for hol
relatives that they deserved AMI thai
she felt bound to do; that the small
fortune she possessed came to her from
the bounty Of her husband, who had
also made provision for his own rela
tions; that she was daughter of the
South Cher nom dc Blanie was Fil,s) and
loved it--it3 history, it's deeds and It's
eause-with all the enthusiasm of heI
nature; that she regarded Mr.. Davis a'
the embodiment of that cause; that,
maligned and abused even by his OWL
people, unassisted and in straiteneC
circumstances, he was devotiDg the re
naming OF his lie 10 the vindl'
cation through history of the South
that she was II intense sympathy witt
this work, the progress of which she
had watched day n day with heI
own eyes, and towards which she had
been gsaciously permitted to contribute
what p rsona' aid she could give; that
had X iown, hon0red ana loved Mr.
Davis from her girlhood with the sirec
ton II daughter, and th.t she did
not know where her property could b'
maze. Worthily bestowed than upon thu
ex President Of the Confedtrlcy.
If Ms. Dlrsey's relauVes-es peciall
the Dahlgren and L lie eranohes-ex'
pscted to get her property, they were
awaiting for dead mems shoes" IN vain
Aside from the personal relations tha
existed between them, | speak authori
tatitely when ray that her idea wai
10 leave it TO some literary or scientific
purpose. Previous to the formation o.
this design OF leaving 1t to Nj ID WI,
her intention was 10 establish and en-
dow in some American college q chat
OF Sauscrit language, literature and re
ligion her own profound studies hav'
ing been turned in that dir elton foi
>Qsny years, to such an ext mt, that hei
frisnas would laughiDgly accuse her Of
Being >worshipper of Brahma.
Al the time of the conversation above
alluded 30, jokingly asked Mrs. Dor
sey what would become of her profess
aorship OF Slnscrit, and she answered
that she was doing the greatest service
possible to her country and her people
in placing Mr.. Davis in position
where, unpinched by the fcs augusta
4 nli. he could finish his work anu HI:
HE in peace and comfort.
To the second place, | wish to advert
TO The grounds upon winch it is pro.
posed To attack Mrs. DJrsey's will
The testament being perfect in form,
the testatrix being capable of giving
aud the legatee esoable of receiving, II
Is said that il will be attacked as having
been made through undue influence,
or on the ground that the ttstatrlx wa:
insane.
Now Mrs. Dorsey was citizen o.
Louisiana; she uied here, her will wa
pFohated here and the bulk Of her prop
efty is here. Uader our benefieent sys
ten oil law which suppresses and dis.
countenances scandalous litigation oil
al sorts, no such contests over will
can take place as disgrace the surrogate
courts OF New York. Article 1892 o.
he Civil Code provides that ''proof il
net admitted Of the dispositions { ate
sicas ana iacftss csWas having be, /
made through hatred. anger, suggss.
. ton CT captation.n So much for th,
tir ground. As your article states
Z, a. tn heirs are looking Tor a cantiE'
ent fee lawyer. do not think sR,
shark In the profession-for contingen
fee lawyers are generally msrine mon
slers OF that .species-can be fond Wit
win be fool enough to hurl himse
against the prohibition contained ii
article i492.
But even If the law were otherwise
I do not hesitate 10 declare boldly from
my personal knowledge Of he fact
aEa the parties that all statements aas
suggestions that Mr.. DAVIS exercised /
paftilce OF influence over Mrs. Dorse,
10 induce her to make him her legate,
are born Of greed and hate--the filthy
progeny Of the asfel sscrd TaaeS-snC