Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-12-14
DAUGHTER DEFENDS
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS
Mrs. Hayes Explains Mothers
Letter to
DAUGHTERS OF coNreDERAcY

Mrs. Hayes Says that Her Mother Al
way Loved the South and Lived in
the North Because Of Her Health.
Offers No Apology.
New Orleans, La, Dec. 13.-The
much discussed Mrs. Jefferson Da-
Wis letter, which created a sensation
at the recent convention OF the Unit
ed Daughters OF the Confsderacy, Is
the subject of an explanation, writ
ten by Mrs. Margaret Howell Jefer-
son Davis Hayes, the only surviving
daughter OF the confederate president.
II is addressed to General Stephen ID.
Lee, commanding the United Con-
federate Veterans, and made public
by him.
The full text Of the Mrs Jefferson
Davis letter was suppressed from
publication. It gave Mrs. Davis
reasons for having made her home in
the north after the war and cdti-
cized Mississippi, the state OF Jeffer-
son Davis residence.
Mrs. Hayes letter says:
AS TO this letter OF my mothers,
allow me TO say that II was written
some ten years ago and was prompt
ed by desire TO justify her actions
In the eyes OF the southern people,
whom she loved with unafaillng loyal
~ and devotion. This defense Of
herself sent to a friend TO be read
after her death. she wrote, after
numberless articles condemnfng her
actions were received by her when
she was In falling health. II she
had ben consulted by those in whose
hands II was placed the letter would
never have been made public. for only
las, spring. after discussing the fact
OF its existence, my mother decided
TO recall Il, and hoped until heard
OF It's being read. that 1t had been de-
stroyed.
whatever my mother may have
been goaded 20 writing at the time
this letter was sent To- Julia KIM
brOugh. she felt safe In the love re-
Epcct and consideration OF her own peo-
pie and among whom she would glad
~ have lived and died, II her health
had permitted. but unfortunately she
could not bear the excessive heat OF
the south and was very prone TO ma
laria. Then. again. after by faith
er's death she was afraid 90 i've In
the country with my sister. there be-
ing no other member OF our family
who could stay with them"
Here Mrs. Hayes added that az her
mothers income was not large and
as the sister mentioned had literary
ambitions, Mrs. Davis could live IN
New York more reasonably than else
whore She says that Mrs. Davis
also made handsome salary from
New York newspapers By writing for
them.
Il do not oner an apology for any
action OF my mother {" the letter SAYS
~hut must feel that n Anything sac
wrote gave oHense 20 the people OF
the south. particularly Mississippi. Il
vas nisuudersiOod and far from be-
inE Intentionally hurtful
My mother decided thai Richmond.
a. The seat % the government dartng
the confcderacy, Was the proper place
for ny father and bis descendants 10
rest n Mississippi vas slow In
asking Tor my fathers remains avn
sure II vas no; through lack % loye
Also. if Govcruor i0ury wrote anf.
tAing which vouudet my uotAer a.
ths tims ! feel naro be did uut lntsna
% 40 80. hor I knos ~ saa Cas %
ms fathers most dsvotrd and LOYAL
frtenta urKsa tae clains - Mis.
raipp. a. above az ether states. IL,
10 one thiuk other tAaa tAai ny
uiothor loved and hcaoret tAe soatA
ahd ~ p5utasFu pcopls asDve every.
thiug NV tat hrT feu eus.
miss wia b. sileeSct q e1y ucn hy
thts cxrianatca
ne teilsF eones wlih az srgeal faf
rsyrgvnos aaA reapect ~ tas men.
orY % -the magaFg q tas coefetuF.