The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-02-11

lie thus had Tie RICH, Of way, and
could pass through either army with
ont suspicion. Ills word wa 'open
sesame that unlocked any situation.
lie was being paid ~ both govern
mcnts. 1t wa a dangerous position,
and death lay at the end Of the rope,
if detected by either party. Each
side believed in him implicitly. His
letters to Mr.. .Scddcn ut Richmond
were found in the Confederate archives
and showed him an adept in the arts
OF Il schcmcr. His letters to the
Federal authorities showed him as
s%hrcwd, well balanced and cunning.
lie did really give valuable informa-
ton to both sides. He did not, in
fact, care anything for either side,
but was loyal to himself only. lie
played the Fcdcrals against the Con-
fedcratcs, and the Confcderatcs
against the Fcdcrals, according to
circumstances, and pockctcd the pay
from both sides with great impair
TALLY.
General Grant was just then acting
Secretary Of War, during the quarrel
between Secretary Stanton and Prcsi-
dent johnson. 1t was decided that
the documentary evidence best suited
for the trial of Jefferson Davis for
treason might be found in the Confcd-
crate archives, and orders were given
for an examination. The documents
selected to be used consisted of the
messages Of MIR. Davis to the Confcd-
crate Congress, the originals of proc
lamations issued by him as president
declaring war against the United
States, all kilograms and military or
dcrs directing the movement of troops,
all orders by him to generals of his
army, in fact, all his official acts.
These were found in abundance in tho
archives. The execution O these
documents would not be disputed by
the defendant. The question to he
settled was one Of law to be decided
by tho Court. Did these acts consti-
tutc treason under the constitution of
the United States ? There was to be
the battle ground.
1t was directed that these documents
be taken to Richmond and shown to
the grand jury, which was composed Of
white and oolored men, and called by
the sympathizers Of Mr.. Davis "a
black and tan" jury. It was my for
tune to be sent to Richmond by order
Of General Grant as a special messen-
ger Of the government to convey the
valuable documents to the grand jury,
watch over them there, and bring
them safely back and restore them to
the proper files. 1 have now the sub
poena served on mo, and regard it as a
valuable relic. 1t was issued by the
United States District Court at F. "a
mond, under the hand Of the clerk,
In the name of the United States, and
bearing the seal of the Court. 1t
commands the United States marsha!
to summon me to appear at Richmond
and testify in q certain case Gin which
the United States is plaintiff and JEFF
ferson Davis is defendant" The
documents were packed in q gripsack
and carried with me, the record evil
dencc in the way of bulky books was
packed in q small dry goods box with
my name painted on the outside. Great
excitement prevailed over the South in
regard to the expected trial, and warn
ing was quietly given in advance {,
use every precaution to avoid giving
any intimation of the contents Of box
or the gripsack. There were hot
headed people in the South who might
have been tempted in the excitemep.
of the time to try to destroy the eyi
dence. There was some danger in
being q government messenger under
these circumstances.
The messenger and documents ar
rived safely in Richmond, however, and
the latter were laid before the grand
jury for thciroinspcction. Gen. Rob.
ert 4. Lee, Of the late Confederate
army, had also been subpoenacd by
the government as a witness, and on
the witness stand was shown the docu-
ments which had been produced, and
pronounced them genuine. Some of
the cabinet officers of Mr.. Davis Of
icial family and some of the governors
of Southern States had also been sum
moned as witnesses. 1t was quite a
gathering Of Confederate notablcs.
All Of them testified to the signature
| of Mr.. Davis to the documents pro-
duced.
Angry crowds on the street corners
discussed the situation. / mingled