The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-04-19

ILL .llWLlIIo .lJlIO.ElA.LSyIlt
however, kept in confinement until tho
spring Of 1867, when lie was brought
before tho United states Court at Rich
tnofid on the charge OF treason and
admitted to bail. He was not tried.
although he Expressed a desire TO be.
nor was he among those who asked
to be pardoned.
while the question was pending the
President sent for me one day, and
said that he would like to have mo
go privately and unoiiicinlly to For
ltrcss Monroe and ascertain whether or
not the reports that had reached him
about the treatment OF Davis were
true. HE was" said tho President,
and he ought to be hung; but he
should have n fair trial. and not be
.brutally treated while prisoner" a
fewidays after the request was made
i was able to comply with It, On my
arrival at the fortress Mr.. Davis was
walking upon tho rnmparts accom-
panied by couple OF soldiers. was
glad to notice that his gait was erect,
his step elastic, and wien he came up
to where was standing. that he had
not the appearance OF ono who was
suffering in health by imprisonment,
spent an hour or two with him In
conversation. I was he said, In
tho first two or three months OF my
treated barbarously; but
now / am permitted to have daily
walk. and my present quarters. as
yon perceive, are ouch as prisoner
charged with high treason ought not
to complain of'-a cot, small pine
table and two cane-bottom chairs. The
cot and chairs were hard. and OF the
plainest and cheapest kind. but the
room was clean and well lighted.
There was not much need OF light.
for the only book In the room was an
old treatise upon military tactics-a
subject which was not especially In
teresting to the prisoner at that time
forbidden to him. My interview was
very pleasant. There have been few
men more gifted than Mr.. Davis. and
few whose opportunities for intellec-
tual culture have been better tn-
proved. had not known him per-
sonally. but knew what his stand
ing was among the able men OF the
country, and expected to meet in him
an accomplished gentleman. To those
who knew him we'll 1t Is not neces-
sary for mo to say that was not
disappointed, and that was most
favorably impressed by his manners
and conversation. was his first
visitor. and he seemed to be pleased
with my visit. and with the oppor-
tunity which 1t gave to him for u
free talk. He was indlsposed to say
much about himself. and 1t was only
by direct questions thatI learned the
facts in regard to the barbarous treat
ment to which no had referred. 7
was he said. when brought to the
fortress. not only strictly confined In
casemate. which was little better
than a dungeon. but L was heavily
ironed. AS I had been submissive
prisoner. and was In a strong fortress.
1 Thought that chains were unneces-
sary. and that ought not to be sub
jected to them. resisted being
shackled. but resistance was In vain.
was thrown violently upon the floor
and heavily fettered. This was not
all; the ,casemate in which I was con-
fined was kept constantly and bril-
liantly light, and was never relieved
| of the presence of a couple of soldiers.
My eyes were weak and sensitive; /
suffered keenly from tho light, and you
can Judge how my suffsrings We're
aggravated by my not being per-
mitted for month TO have one moment
! by myself I listened silently to this
statement. given substantially in his
own language: but felt as no did
that he had for time been barbar-
ously treated. Chains were unneces
sary. and the constant. presence OF the
guards In the casemata must have
been. to sensitive man, worse thar
solitary confinement. which is now re.
garded as being too inhuman to be
inflicted upon the greatest criminals
II happened to know some OF his
personal friends in the West. and he
had q. great deal to talk about, with
out saying much about himself. He
seemed to be neither depressed ir
spirit nor soured in temper. He could
not help saying something about the
war. but he said nothing In the way
! of justification or defense, He hae
the bearing Of a brave and high-bred
lgentleman, who. knowing that liz
would soon have been highly honore6
IL the Confederate States had achieved
their independence. would not an6
could not demean himself as crimi.
nal. because they had not. The only
ANXIETY he expressed was In regard
A to his trial-not as to the result. but
the time. He thought the delay un
necessary and unjust. He was KEEP
In prison two years before he was ar
4 ratEned, and released on ball; and
strangely enough. Horace Greeley an,
Gerrit Smith, the distinguished abo
litionists, were among the signers O
j his bond"
Let me add here. parenthetically
that those who have not read Mr.. Nc
Il Culloch's book have rare treat |,
store. It Is crowded with well-gar
i nered treasure-troves Of most ,usefu
4. Information, and It's style Is a model
and his observations are not onl!
i those OF a broad-minded statesman
but OF deep philosopher.
. So far from being an act Of mag
4 nanim!ty on the part Of the Unite,
I States government not to try Presi
i dent Davis, Gen, Robert e.. Lee, an,
4 other leaders for treason..it was al
act Of injustice and cowardice. for |
was thought and believed in Wash
! Iington that their own Supreme Cour
J. would agree with Chief Justice Chas
and say to President Davis In effect
what Agrippn said about Paul, "Thi
man has done no wrong."t
!, Hearing. as did. from the lips 0
a Mrs Jefferson Davis such atrociou