The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-25
Tho Davis-sohnston na.te,.
WHAT GENERAL DABNEY MAURy MAS tn sA,
on THE SUBJECT.

WHAT GENERAL DABNEY MAURy HAS tn SAT-
on THE suBJEcT.
Editors Dispatch: The recent publication
OF a reported interview with Genera, zoe
Johnston about Mr.. Davis and the Conied-
crate treasure has Justly stirred the indil,-
nation OF our people. We regard II rs an
assault upon tS--as false rs Il is insidiou.
II Is base attempt 10 strike ut as throug
The two highest living representatives OF
"our cause the cause I'm which thee
staked and lost the very fruit OF their long
and distinguished career. II seems futile
10 discrcdit statement so bold and tn
probable.
IL is incredible that General Johnston.
habitually careful TO reticence, even with
ms friends, should unfold himself TO any
stranger; and IL Is utterly at variance with
ms HE and character that ne should have
made such utterances rs this interviewer
reports.
The facts attending Mr.. Dayis's move
mcnts every hour after he left Richmond.
April 2, 1868, in oil their details have passed
into history.
Eight millions Of southern people had
put him forward 10 lead them in that great
struggle for civil liberty. lie owed IL 10
them TO be the very last 10 give it up; and
without care or thought for his individual
tate he played his part like a man TO the
very last.
When he and his Cabinet were IN Dan
vile they heard OF Lees surrender. While
being entertained at breakfast i'm the house
OF one o. the hospitabe citizens Of that
town they began to discuss their present
resources. They were slender enough. One
Cabinet minister had near one hundred dol
lars in gold. None OF the rest were so for
tunate. Mr.. Davis kept silent until his
host said: Mr.. Davis, we have not heard
from you. We hope you have been more
prOvident than your Cabinet" "Sir,"
said he, Il have not one dollar in the world
save the Confederate money in my purse"
Soon afterwards the party took the train
FOR Greensboro, and Just before starting Il
Virginia woman sent to Mr. Davis a bag Of
gold with her simple Good speed" With
great emotion be declined to accept one
cent OF it, and so cast his fortunes to the
last with his people. At Washington, Ga,
ali OF the coin about s3O,OOW carried along
with the presidential party was divided
amongst the escort.
After the failure TO try Mr.. Davis for
treason, after his incarceration, after the
attempt TO degrade him with handouts,
Mhcn 81 last he was again at liberty to relOln
his people, movement was made in New
Orleans 10 raise 100000 TO he given him
by the southern people. II was taken up in
the generous way characteristic OF that gal
liant people. But 50 soon rs Mr.. Davis
heard Of it he forbade it peremptorily.
The invention and publication OF such
stories now as this interviewer has sent out
are only malicious and mischieyOuS in
suits to a gallant people. While we were
lighting we fought in earnest, and when
we surrendered we were I'm earnest, and
have ever since striyen TO rebuild our
Masterpieces and TO cultivate kindly and
peaceful relations with our late enemies,
and to promote the power and prosperity
Of this whole country. As for Mr.. Davis,
he has played his great part and passed
from the arena Of public lie forever.
Whatever sins or errors he may have
committed in his high Office they are ours.
We put him there. lie was the exponent
of oar cause, and its brave, unilinching
champion to the very last; and no smirch
OF cOwardice, inldel;y TO trust, or ayarlcc
furnishes his bright shield.
DABNEY Ii. MAURY.