Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-08
and lot, and he now pays $1,000 tar on III
the interest IL 90 900 more--total, 81. 0o0."

TICHAN0E OF FkIbOsEk.s
The chapter on Exchange Of Prisoners"
Vol. H., pp. 5se-579. 10 one Of the most inn
nortant in the whole work. Mr.. Davis
pposi five asserted, and many letters, docu-
nents. and memoranda are included IN
these memoirs TO show that had the Federal
Authorities been willing 10 make proper
exchanges the suherines and deaths OF
hundreds of Union soldiers would never
have occurred. We refer the reader to the
chapter named for the statements set forth,
having space only to quote the following
passage. Vol. IL, p. 552:
The Confederate President IN mes
sage of May 2, 1854, said: ON the subject
Of prisoners l greatly regret to be unable
to give You satisfactory information. The
Government of the United States while
perssting In failure to execute the terms
OF the cartel make occasional deliveries OF
prisoners and then suspend action without
apparent cause. | confess my inability TO
comprehend their policy or purpose. The
prisoners held by us in spite OF human
care are perishing from the inevitable
effects OF Imprisonment and the home.
sickness produced by their hopelessness Oh
release from confinement. The spectacle
of their suffering augments our desire to
relieve from similar rails our own brave
men, who have spent so many weary
months in a cruel and useless imprlson-
ment, endured with heroic constancy.'"
RICHMOND FALL.
The capture of Richmond set the seal OF
final ruin upon the cause Of the Confede.
racy. and In common with those who bad
the cause at heart, deep depression fell
upon Mr.. Davis's heart. His instructions
TO mis- wife reveal his feelings at this sor-
rowful period, Vol. H., p. 577:
1.-The day before our departure MIR. Da-
Wis gave me pistol and showed me how
to load. aim, and fire 1t. He was very ap,,
prehensive of our falling into the hands OF
the disorganized bands of troops rowing
about the country. and said: You can at
least, If reduced to the last extremity,
force your assailants to kill you, but l
charge YOU solemnly TO leave when you
hear the enemy are approaching; and II
YOU cannot remain undisturbed in our
own country make for the Florida coast
and take q ship there for foreign coun-
try.p =,
paragraph may be quoted, Vol. H., p. 625:
General Lee had succumbed TO the In
evitable. Some persons, with probably a
desire to pay q weak tribute to Lees KIND
heart. or TO rob Grant of his claims TO
mapnanimity, in the matter of the surren-
der. have said that General Lee had only
surrendered to stop the effusion OF blood
This is not true. He had no weaknesses
where hIs plain duty was concerned. he
surrendered TO overwhelming force and IN
surmountable difficulties. In Grants treat
ment of his prisoners let him have all the
credit that can attach to him."
Mr.. DAvIs's CAPTURE.
OF his capture Mr.. Davis says, in an &C
count written by himself, Vol. H., p. $40:
MANY falsehoods have been uttered In
regard to my capture. which have been ex-
posed in publications bylpersons there
present-by Secretary Reagan, by the
members of my personal staff, and by the
colored coachman, Jim Jones, which must
have been convincing to all who desired to
know the truth. We we're, when prisoners
subjected to petty pillage, as described in
the publications referred to and in others,
and 10 annoyances such as military gentle
men never commit or permit
Charges of almost incredible brutality
are made against General Miles. no was
IN charge of Mr.. Davis while prisoner;
The evidences of letters and other maternal
advanced as testimony make out case
which admits of no dispute.
TOWARDS THE END.
Vol. H., p. 776:
I'm May, 1865, On indictment was pro-
cured against the ex-chleftain in the United
States District Court of Virginia, held in
Richmond. On June 18th of the same
wear. on motion of Mr.. Boutwell,, the
House of Representatives, by vote Of los
yeas to 10 nays, resolved that Mr.. Davis
should be held in custody as prisoner.
and subjected to q trial according to the
laws of the land Mr.. Davis in the mean
time was exceedingly anxious to meet the
questions arising on any indictment which
might be presented; but the Federal
Government dared not try him, and the
case was finally dismissed.
THE PRESIDENT.
The following is quoted from William
Preston Johnson's letter of January 6,
1882:
but there is no ground for argument
with any man who impugns the personal
integrity of jefferson Davis. The charge
recojlsiupon the author. For twenty years
| President Davis has breasted storm OF
obloauy and calumny from every quarter.
| Yet to-day he stands unscathed, the rei}te-
sentative man of the most glorious epoch
Of southern history"
Whatever may be the sectional feel
| ing of those who read these volumes,
there can be but one opinion as
TO their historical value, or as to the i'm
press they must make upon the literature
of the century. While 1t cannot be hoped
that the passions and prejudices OF the
struggle have wholly vanished during the
TWENTY-FIVE years which have elapsed since
the echoes of the last cannon-shot died
away. sufficient cool judgment has super
yened TO admit of this "Memoirn being
received as a most important contribution
q 80 ,.,NfN ha