The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-10-16
sflOQUfNI SPEECH OF
COL. CHAS. {. HOOKER
A the Recent Davis Evening" Recep-
tIon at fhe EIks Home In
Greenwood.
Madam President, Ladies' and Gentle

Madam President, Ladies and Gentle
s-' men:
first saw Mr.. Jefferson Davis in tn
House Of Representatives as represen
tstive OF his district in that body fror
the State Of Mississippi, on my wa,
home from college. He gave me letter
Of introduction to his brother, Josepl
T. Davis, and his friends in Mississippi
II was my fortune in after life in som,
degree to be able to return these act!
Of kindness on his part. was appoint
ed one Of the counsel to defend Mr.
Davis when he was indicted in the
Federal Court at Richmond for treason
Mr.. Davis was telegraphed by hif
friends at Vicksburg that the Federal
army was about to take possession Of
bis own and his brothers estates, 15
miles below vicksburg. Mr.. Davis
then the President Of the Confederacy
replied: ."The President of the Con.
federacy cannot afford to use the army
Of the Confederacy to protect the pri.
vate property Of himself or his family"
and refused to send them. When the
war closed and he was thus indicted for
treason, he owed debt Of $30,000.0O 10
Mr.. Georgia Smith, from whom he had
purchased plantation and to which
he moved his slaves from Briarfield.
This debt fell due after the termination
Of the war, and was not subject to be
scaled as other Confederate debts were
under the law. The Geo. Smith heirs
brought suit against him for this
$40, Mr.. Davis, while in prison
at Frotress Monroe, employed me
through his friends, to defend the suit.
! did so and succeeded in negotiating
compromise with the heirs Of Smith,
took up the debt Of 100000 with notes
given therefor and sent them to Mr..
Davis with my compliments, charging
him no fee. When Jefferson Davis was
indicted for treason, Gen. Lee was en-
braced in the first indictment. 1t is
just to Gen. Grant to say that when he
heard Of it he said: "This cannot be,
for that would violate the parole which
gave to Gen. Lee and his soldiers at
Appomatox when he surrendered with
arms in his hands" The district
attorney quashed the indictment and
Mr.. Davis was indicted alone for
treason; no more guilty than you and I,
ny comrades, or any other Confederate
soldier.
Mr.. Chas. OConnor, the great Irish
awyer Of New York, was selected as
his leading counsel in Mr.. Davis de-
ense and was selected as one OF the
lawyers to defend him, Mr..
fulton Anderson and Judge Thomas
Wharton being the other attorneys
ppointed. went to Richmond and
here met Mr.. Chss. O'Connor for the
Irst time. | said to Mr.. O'Connor:
fiov: Humphreys then the governor
mississippi, "told me to say to You
hat. he has s30,oOoOO to pay you for
'our fee In the defense Of Mr.. Davis
md you can draw for it," MIR. O'Connor
eplied: II do not charge this gentle
nan one cent for my service. may
ICED a few thousand for outside dues;
o Zee will accept for myself" Mr..
Connor then said: Davis will never
Q tried. The government will never
are to put him on trial." and they
ever did. l
Mr.. Davis was peculiarly sensitive
IAN about his money matters. When he
etermined to bring suit for Briarfield,
came to Jackson to consult me and
mp oy mo as his attorney in the case.
said to him; "Mr. Davis, you got no
tle to -Briarfeld from YOUR brother,
oseph Davis, who entered the land the
'me time he entered his Hurricane
antati n. Why don't you allow Ben
'ontgomery who has bought the entire
tate for s300,0o00O to attone to you
MS landlord" He. said to me: III
70 notafctd to do that. / have been
'pointed as one Of the executors Of my
fothers viii. 1t would be unjust to
. other heirs and legatees Of my
Others estate for me to do that
piled to him: "Then, Mr.. Davis I
'nt think you can successfully sue for
y pPpeFtv." He went to vicksbarg
"a employed the Pittman Bros. to bring I
10 in the Chancery. Court Of Warren
'unty. They did ~ and the case was !
'cad-d against Mr.. Davis, and then !
!iDavis appealed II to the Supreme Z
'oft, and 1t was decided in his favor I
Judge Chalmer-, delivering the !
'lnion Of the court. L
"f. Davis resigned his place in the
'ose Of Representatives to serve with :
= Flrst Mississippi Rifles in the
ea'can Var, having been elected
',one' .N' II that regimcnt. He was
aeated At West Point and grsdasted
20 h's bosonl friend, Albert sidney
nasson. He was unpopular with his :
klment. ls'cause Of the rigid din
p''ne which he enforced. but when
: nrst battle was fought and they
Y ne knew how to handle them, he 9
Anne fhn xv,<S~ 4 l m