Year: 1866

An APPEAL BEHALF OF JET


FERSON DAVIS.


The following beautifully written paper
was handed us for publication. 1t is from
the eloquent pen of Mrs. Downing, of
Virginia, written at the request of friends
during brief visit to this city. The pc
tition has already been extensively eircu-
lated, and we learn has. many signatures !:


PETITION.
TO has ErcctIencg, 4udreso johnson, Pres


ideist Of Tie United States


We, the undersigned, acting on the
part Of the women of your Excellency's S
native city, and actuated by the spirit
which animates the women of the South,
most respectfully beg leave to present to
your Excellency our petition.


This is in behalf of Jefferson Davis,
lately invested with all the prerogatives
OF position similar to the one in which
your Excelleney, by the direct interposi-
tIon of the hand of God, has been placed,
new captive languishing in prison.
Whether that prison be the just doom OF
him who is suffering from its effects is
not a question not to be argued by us. Il
it be conceded that the man who is the
representative Of the people must suffer
the consequences of such representation
then the decree which consigned Mr.. Da
Wis to imprisonment in land which has
hitherto been the worlds synonym fol
freedom was the most proper one, and he
is undergoing only a fitting expiation fol
the offended majesty of the jaw. Bu
has he. not suffered it sufficiently long
Is it impossible for justice to be temper
ed with mercy2 VIII not the resource:
of your Excellency's mind devise some
means by which their antagonism may b.
removed


Is not America sufficiently glorious
Has she not proved sufficiently great tt
allow her to rise superior to the petty
conventional codes of smaller nations, anc
exhibit to the world at once her power
and her magnanimity, by extending fret
pardon to one who, though he may have
erred grievously against her; is still hel
child and still loves her Will not youl
Excellency be Americas agent in thi'
matter Will you not as the embodi
ment of her strength and greatness, un
loose the bonds of the patient sufferer
who has so meekly and uncomplainingly
seen the spring blossom into summer anc
summer fade into autumn it through
prison bars? Fra


Will you not release him before tht
dreary winter comes, bringing with it 81
much of material discomfort to his frai
and delicate body, and what is far worse
than the most acute physical suffering
the wintry chill of hope deferred to hi
soul which pines for freedom Give hin
back, we implore you, to the women 0
the South. He is ours and we love him


We bound up our hearts and souls il
him and the cause which he once repre-
sented. God has seen fit to permit tha
cause to be lost forever, and we bow t
his decree. In all the broad South ther
is no one SO mad as to cherish hope tha
Mr.. Davis may, IN any way, be connected
with future, consonant with what ou
wishes were when he was invested with
dignity which has proved SO fatal to him
No such thought has an existence h,
has no future, and all our hopes in hin
were connected wholly with the past ant
are dead forever.


But we would be less than women i
we forsook him with whom the caus
which we loved and lost was identified
and woman-like, we cling to him all thu
more closely because he is suffering ant
stands in need of our sympathy. a


The sweetest and hottest season Of th
year is approaching, bringing to human
remembrance Him who opened the pris
on-doors of the enchained universe ant
gave freedom to ransomed world.


VIII not your Excellency mark tn
Christmas of 1865, year which has wit
messed the reunion of a glorious countr,
and made you Chief Magistrate, by Civ
ing as Christmas-gift, to the women o
the South, the freedom. of Jefferson
Davis?


Listen, we implore your Excellency, t
our pleadings; give us the boon we ask
not SO much because you may conside
the gift right in itself, but because ther
is no wrong in it, and because we want
so much, and beg for it SO earnestly
Give back Mr.. Davis to his own littl
children; give him back to US, who one
stood in that relation toward him, d
not, we beg you, permit death to antici
pate and give to his sorely tried spiritth
freedom which it is now in the power c
your Excelleney to bestow; and by his re
lease make for yourself home in ever
Southern woman's heart; cause your nam
i to rinr with nraienS IN avarv Sonthpr
woman's mouth, and go up to God ever
might and morning, with every Souther
woman's prayers, loaded with blessing
land shielded by petitions for your Ion
life and felicity.


Give US back Jefferson Davis, and by s
giving in your own right, do what, a
your Excellency is very well aware, ha
4 never yet been done, conquer the wome
lof the South


All Of which is most respectfully sui
mitted. ee