The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-25
Dew Book ncWS

ball were adopted, the army increased. end at every session he consistently urged upon Congress the wisdom of a pension system and law for the re-
 tirement of officers, substantially as they exist at present. But more en-
 during and farther reaching in hene- ficent results were those great public
 works originated or completed under his
 administration, prominently among
 which may be mentioned the magnih-
 cent aqueduct which still supplies
 Washington with an abundance of pure
 water; the completion of the work on
 the Capitol, which had dragged for
 years, and the founding of the Smith
 sonian Institute. of which he was. per
 haps, the most zealous advocate and
 efficient regent
 These and other enduring monuments
 he builded in our Union to his own en-
 during fame and for the good of the
 whole nation.
 Mir. Knight recites Mir Davis's earn
 est hope to save the Union. his reluct-
 ant acceptance of the Presidency of the
 Confederacy. In clear and rapid re-
 view he causes to pass before us that
 scene of the inaugural, the delays and
 blunders of the formation of our new
 nation, the meeting of our forces, the
 bombardment of Sumter, the conditions
 in the South at the time of our entrance
 Into the great struggle.
 We quote the authors views of the
 change of the Capital of the Confed- eracy.
 ''The next step of Congress was un- questionably a fatal blunder. This
 was the removal of the capital from
 Montgomery to Richmond. From the very nature of the situation, it was evi-
 dent that the chief goal of the enemy
 would be the capture of the capital and the moral effect of such result must
 prove extremely disastrous. by elating
 the North, discouraging the South and fmpafring confidence abroad. Left at
 Montgomery, it would have compelled
 the enemy to operate from a distant
 base of supplies. necessitating his keep
 ing open lines of communication 800 miles long, while it would have liber- ated to be used as occasion demanded, magnificent army which was con-
 stantly required for the defense of lRichmond."
 Then follows the story of the vic- tory of Manassas. of the always regret table quarrel of the administration with Johnston. the battle of Shiloh, of the seven days battle about Richmond. of the fall Of New Orleans. of Buffers in- famous "order 2S." of the Presidents proclamation declaring Butler an out law, placing a price upon his head and commanding that no commissioned of- ficer of the United States should be ex- changed until the culprit should meet with punishment.
 The blunders of the Army of the West pass under review. Gettysburg. General Lees surrender, the capture of MT. Davis.
 Then comes the story of that incar- ceration in Fortress Monroe, of placing manacles upon him, old, feeble, com pletely broken in health, a story which will ever be read with shame by every American. This story has been retold in several boks of the year. notable that splendid work of Ada Sterling's, "A Belle of the Fifties," the memories of
 one deeply loved, Mrs. Virginia Clay Clopton: also in that popular novel, The Clansman," wherein is incorpo- rated Dr. Craven's account of the griev- ous matter. The story of the accusa- tions of the administration declaring
 Mir. Davis to be an accessory to the as-
 sassination of Mir. Lincoln, failing to find a scintilla of evidence, he was next
 accused of being responsible for the death of all Federal prisoners who died Iaat Andersonville. Captain Wirz, com mandant of Andersonville, was court
 martialed, and. declares Dwight There is no room whatever to doubt that the condemned man was offered his life and liberty if he would swear that in the
 management of the prison he had acted under the direction of Jefferson Davis. Captain Wirz. however, was a brave and honorable man, and scorning to purchase his life with such lie, he met his fate like a soldier"
 This failing. Mir. Davis must be tried for treason. but not by courtmartiaI that the radicals clamored for, but by the law of the land.
 All the world has followed the story of the indictment ofsJefferson Davis for high treason against the United States, of Charles O'Connor's bold declaration that he could never be convicted under
 the constitution as 1t then stood. If there was ever failure" writes
 Mir. Knight, Tit was Salmon P. Chase but at the same time he was a great
 lawyer and an honest and fearless man.
 Iincoln,' ho said, wanted Jeff Davis to escape. He was right His capture
 was 0 mistake his trial will be a great
 CT one. We cannot convict him of trea-
 son. Secession is settled. Let it stay settledr Significant words truly from
 that source, and they explain the vote of the great judge who would have
 quashed the indictment against MT.
 Davis no less than the question so often
 asked, Why was Jefferson Davis never tried for treason?"
 Mir. Knight concludes his work with chapters on the quiet life of Mir. Davis at Beauyoir. where he completed his
 great book. "The Rise and Fall of the
 Confederate States of America"