Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1906-12-13
DAUGHTER DEFENDS
MRS. JEFFERSON DAVIS
Mrs. Hayes Explains Mothers
Letter to:
DAUGHTERS OF coNFEDERAc>


way Loved the South and Lived in
the North Because of Her Health.
Offers No Apology.
New Orleans, La. 4, Dec. 12.-The
much discussed Mrs. Jefferson Da
Wis letter, which created a sensation
ed Daughters of the Confederacy, is
the subject of an explanation, writ
ten by Mrs. Margaret Howell Jeffer-
son Davis Hayes, the only surviving
daughter of the confederate president.
1t is addressed to General Stephen d.
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, 1t gave Mrs, Davis
reasons for having made her home in
the north after the war and criti-
cized Mississippi, the state of Jeffer-
son Davis residence
Mrs Hayes letter says:
LAS to this letter Of my mothers,
allow me to say that it 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 unafailing loyal
" and devotion. This defense Of
herself sent to a friend to be read
amer ner death, she wrote, after
numberless articles condemn1ng her
actions were received by her when
she was in falling health If she
had ben consulted by those in whose
hands it was placed the letter would
never have been made public, for only
las'l spring, after discussing the fact
of its existence, my mother decided
to recall it, and hoped until | heard
of it's being read. that it had been de-
strOyed.
Whatever my mother may have
been gOaded to writing at the time
this letter was sent to Julia Kim
brOugh, she felt safe in the love, re-
spect and consideration of her own peo-
pie and among whom she would glad
ly have lived and died, if 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 to live 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 as 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
where. She says that Mrs Davis
also made a handsome salary from
New York newspapers by writing for
them.
Il do not offer an apology for any
action Of my mother, . the letter says
but 1 must feel that if anything she
wrote gave offense to the people of
the south, particularly Mississippi, it
was misunderstood and far from be-
ing Intentionally hurtfuI
MY mother decided that Richmond.
as the seat Of the government during
the confederacy, was the proper place
for my father and his descendants to
rest. If Mississippi was slow in
asking for my fathers remains | am
sure it was not through lack of love.
Also, if Governor Lowry wrote any
thing which wounded my mother at
the time | feel sure he did not intend
to do SO, for | know he was one of
my fathers most devoted and loyal
friends. [ urged the claims of Mis-
sissippi as above all other states. Let
no one think other than that my
mother loved and honored the south,
and the southern people above every
thing. | hope that her few enc
mics VIII be silenced if not won by
this explanation /"
The letter comes with an appeal for
reverence and respect for the mem
ory Of "the mother of the confeder-
acy."