Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-30

GOVERNMENT To THE SoUTH-HE DENIES THAT
HE HAS AUTHORIZED ANY PETITION FOR
THE REMOVAL OF HIS DISABILITIES.
DIR. A. Y. P. Garnett while on a trip to the
south recently paid visit to Mr.. jefferson
Davis, and since his return, in conversation
with STAR reporter, he gave the following in
terestiug particulars as to what he heard and
saw while with Mr.. Davis:
II went to New Orleans to attend the meeting
of the American Medical Association" began
the doctor, land whilst there. although very
closely engaged with the business Of the meet
ing, took one day to run over to Mississippi to
pay visit to my old friend ,ex-President Davis.
found him leading life in strange contrast
with that which had distinguished four-ffths
OF his former career. From the exciting, active
ana arduous pursuits of politician. war
quiet and secluded occupation of a rus
tic philosopher. Remote from the encroachments
OF society he spends his days in his capacious
ana airy mansion, situated in a beautiful grove
OF oaks Immediately on the banks of the Gulfof
Mexico. With we'll stocked library, and sur
rounded by the society of "a devoted family he
finds but little, imagine TO disturb the serenity
and tranquility of his declining years. He
ereeted me with great cordiality, and manifest
eo sincere pleasure at again meeting me. In
ms physical condition he exhibits much less
the impress of time than had expected TO see:
with a firm step. and speaks with the same
clear. distinct and emphatic articulation which
distinguished his style in early life
Was there any ailusion made to political
topics by Mr.. Davis"' inquired the reporter
'In the course of our conversation during the
day." replied the DOCTOR "Mr Davis alluded to
the political condition OF the country by saying
that he knew nothing of the present Executive,
ana that he had not yet progressed far enough
WIN the minlstration for him to form an
opinion of ii. He seemed satisfied with the
members of the cabinet selected from the south,
but not disposed, thought, to entertain very
hopeful view of our future as he said that re-
spect, love and veneration for the constitution
when animated the citizens of the United
our people, and that tine system of government
erected by our forefathers existed only in name;
that there were elements of disntegration and
only be restrained and held in check by force:
that the underlying and fundamental princi-
pies upon Whlch our system OF government was
erected, and upon which the constitution as il
was before the war rested, are last becoming
obsolete, forgotten by the old men and never
learned by the young; that under the rule of re-
publcansm during the war and subsequent to
IL the constitution was made a rope of sand,
ana that whilst this party of so-cliied liberal
Ideas was proclaimin. universal freedom and
equality on the one hand, they Were tearing
down and blOtting out the very safeguards ana
defenses which alone under our form OF COVER.
ment could secure 1T to them"
Speaking of Commodore Bullocl's book,
which discioseS the secret history of the con-
federate agents in England during the war for
procuring ships, the doctor continued, after IA
pause, "Mr. Davis exhibited much feeling at
what he characterzed the duplicity and mean
ness of the English government in its conduct
towards the south, and whilst that government
would permit the United States TO purchase
and take away as many ships as it desired
there was always some preteXt found TO prevent
the sailing of those vessels purchased 10y any
agent or citizen of the conlederacy, although
such vessels were entirely uparmed.'
Ibid you refer TO the report that a petition
was to be presented to Congress in his behall?"
asked the reporter.
81 asked him if it was true" responded the
doctor. ''tE at he had authorized any petition to
be presented to the federal authorities To have
.x-n1 l,-,,l.-
phatically in the negative, and added that he
had written an open letter to the author OF that
petition. calling his attention to that fact. He
said that he had at all times been perfectly
willing to undergo trial, if the govern
ment thought proper TO bring on such an
issue, provided he to be tried strictly
under the provisions OF the constitution
ments of public affairs with freedom and in
dependence untrammelled by considerations
of policy. note that word policy 1t is n
synonym for duplicity, avarice and cowardice
1t particularly gratiIied me to converse once
more with a man who was perfectly honest in
what he said and forcibly recalled to my mind
the recollectiOns and association of antc-bellum
days. when We had statesmen whose uttcrances
were the inspirations OF patriotism and not the
cunning devices and selfish calculations of poll
cy. There are no statesmen of the present day.
because there are no perfectly pure patriots
Some there are who under the glamour of a
pseudo national reputation, or the guise of an
the efforts of purely selfish and prurient ann
b1tiOn, tor the dictates of disinterested and
selfabnegatlng patriotism, but to me AT least
they are transparent, and L think that l can
readily detect the frauds. Mr.. Davis certainly
does not belong to that Glass;