Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-10-22
Extracts from Letter from Mr.. Davis
to Hon. James Lyons.
NEW ORI.EANs

| NEW ORLEANS, January 27, 1876.
Hon. James Lyons:
My Dear Friend, Your very kind letter
of the 18th instant was forwarded from
Memphis, and has been received at this
place.
| have been so long the object of malig-
nant SANDER and the subject of unscrupu-
lous falsehood by partisans of the class of
MIR. Blaine that, though cannot say it has
become to me matter of indifference, it
has ceased to excite my surprise, even in
this instance, when it reaches the extremity
of accusing me of cruelty to prisoners.
What matters it to one whose object is per-
sonal and private advantage that the re-
cords both Federal and Confederate, dis
prove 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
seeking purpose be promoted.
| 1t would, however, seem probable that
such expectations must be disappointed,
for only those who are wilfully blind can
| fail to see in the circumstances of the case
the fallacy of Mr.. Blaine's statements.
The published fact of an attempt to suborn
Wirz, when under sentence of death, by
promising him a pardon if he would crimi-
nate me in regard to the Andersonville pris-
| oners is conclusive as to the wish of the
Government to make such charge against
me, and the failure to do so shows that
nothing could be found to sustain it. May
we not say the evidence of my innocence
was such that Holt and Conover, with
their trained band of suborned witnesses,
dared not make against me this charge
| tho "a which Wirz
not make, but which Blaine, for the presi-
DENTAL nomination, has made?
This foul accusation, though directed
specially against me, was no doubt intend
ed as, and naturally must be, the arraign-
ment 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 were
understood by me, and in that connection
| any fair mind would perceive in my con-
gratulatory orders to the army after vic
| tory, in which the troops were most COM
mended for their tenderness and generosity
to the wounded and other captives, as well
| the instincts of the person who issued the
order as the knightly temper of the soldiers
to whom it was addressed. 1t is admitted
that the prisoner in our hands were not as
| WSh PlONiOOd lOl 40 We WOulu, UuU IL IL
claimed that we did as we'll for them as
we could. Can the other side say as much2
| Under the mellowipg influence of time
and occasional demonstrations at the North
of desire for the restoration of peace anu
| good will, the southern people have for
| gotten 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 wrong-doer is less able
to forgive than he who has suffered cause
less wrong. 1t is not, however, generally
among those who braved the hazards of
battle that unrelelenting vindictiveness is
| to be found. The brave are generous and
gentle. 1t is the skulkers of the field-the
Blaines-who display their flags on an un-
| tented field. They made no sacrifice to
prevent the separation of the States. Why
should they be expected to promote the
confidence and goodwill essential to their
union?
When closely confined at Fortress Mon
| roe l was solicited to add my name to those
of many esteemed gentlemen who had
signed a 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 conduct, 1 de-
clined to sign the petition, and remained
subject to the inexcusable privations and
| tortures which DIR. Craven has but family
described. When, after two years of close
confinement, was admitted to bail, as Of
ten as required l appeared for trial under
the indictment found against me, but in
which Mr.. Blaine's fictions do not appear.
The Indictment was finally quashed on no
application of mine, nor have l ever evaded
or avoided trial upon any charge the
General Government might choose to bring
against me, and have no view of the fu-
ture which makes it desirable to me to be
included in an amnesty bill.
|
am respectfully and truly, your friend,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.