The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-21
AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
why Was Jefferson Davis Never
Placed on rriaIt

Placed on rriaIs
The following communication was
addressed to the Columbus, Ca, En-
quirer Sun:
When the noble president of the
Daughters of the Confederacy made
her appeal to the veterans for the
financial assistance needed for Geor-
gia's quota to the Davis monument
one of the speakers forcibly exclaimed,
inclosing his remarks: why was JEFF
ferson Davis not put on trial?" He
left the question with his audience,
and no reply was made to the inquiry.
The writer was a visitor, not a dele
gate, while native and to the manner
born" his affiliation is with the Flor
ida division, u. G. ", therefore did not
feel he had the right to attempt to
make answer to the important ques-
ton. He had taken the liberty of
breaking into the convention, prefaced
by an apology for so doing, by stating
to the veterans the fact that Mr.. Davis
had more than a sentimental claim
upon Georgia. as the Confederate
President in his address at the CEN
tennial of the Chatham Artillery in
Savannah in 1885, claimed that his af-
fections chung close to Georgia, as his
father was a native of this state, and
one of her Revolutionary soldiers.
The writer asks the privilege of your
columns to make a reply to the inquiry
! why the federal government. after in
| dieting Jefferson Davis, never brought
him to the bar for trial. - nae ee~
1t was a grave momentous event;
and in careful inspection of the
charge the learned chief Justice, Sal
mon p. Chase, with deep earnestness.
before the full bench of the United
States Supreme Court propounded the
| question, who Is and what is a citi-
zen of the United States?''
A careful insight into the question
| convinced that august body, that no
| such thing was in existence.
There was no citizen of the United
| States, but there We're millions of citi-
zens of the several states; therefore no
charge of treason could be maintained
or supported, as Mr.. Davis was and
had been a citizen of the state Of Mis-
sissippi. This fact was so potent the
government found itself powerless to
| prosecute the case, and allowed the ia
nous prisoner bail and finally permit
| ted the case to die Of slow hamilton.
Then, to prevent a recurrence OF
such a state of affairs. the XIVth
amendment of the constitution of the
United States was prepared pushed
through Congress and ratified by the
requisite majority of the states and
finally Incorporated into the body of
that once revered and ilIustrious doc
ument. G. N Saussy,
Lieutenant Colonel and @. M. G.. Flor
ida Div. u. G.. W
j. SIT is surprising how much Of
ignorance and error there is still exist
ing regarding events of this countrys
history. Some years ago two appar-
emily well informed gentlemen. one a
doctor, one the lieutenant colonel Of
the Fifth North Carolina Cavalry, in
sisted that Gen. Grant had magnani-
mously declined to receive the sword
of Cen Lee as a token of surrender
and would not believe my denial Of
such a fiction until l produced proof
in a letter from Gen. Curtis Lee and
also one from Gen. Longstreet.
Only two weeks ago, travelling on the
train with a. colonel on Gov. Gamblers
staff, he spoke of Grants magnani-
nifty. Supposing this fallaey had
taken Judgement in his mind. / asked,
in what particular. He replied in re-
fusing TO accept Gen. Lees sword in
token of surrender. I had to enlighten
him. Almost weekly this same ro-
nance crops out in one way or an
other. I therefore ask your indulgence
for this bit of history that our people
may know why the federal govern
ment failed to press the case against
Mr.. Davis. Respectfully,
G. N. Saussy,
Lieutenant Colonel @. M. G., Florida
Division u. G. ".