Year: 1879

HE DECLARES THE WAR WOULD HAVE GONE ON


WITHOUT HIM AS IT DID WITH HIM-NoT


RESPONSIBLE FOR THE sTRUGaLE--THE ADO


LITIoN OF SLAVERY GREAT BENEFIT.


BOSTON. March 20. 1870.


The Herald of tomorrow morning will contain
interview with jefferson Davis. After speaking of
his experiences In Pierce's Cabinet AMI the
Mexican war Mr. Davis led to express him.
self upon tho late rebellion. saying:-'It is
generally believed in the North that 1 am chiefly
responsible for that great calamity. was but one
OF vast body OF the South. and more responsible
than thousands OF others. The war would have
taken place without me inevitably
it did with me. 1t was Of those
things which was to in the
progress Of events and in solving great
problems of government upon this continent"
He conceded expressly that tho abolition of
slavery would prove an ultimate good to the
country; that it was n manifest advantage
to the white race for it would lead the devclope-
ment of the south, and multiply her manufacturing
and mechanical industries. From advantages
of climate alone, the future of tho South
is more promising than that Of any other section Of
the country, but the condi ion of the present
tion of the black is all the worse by reason OF
the abolition of slavery. -


THE NEGROES


Mr.. Davis doubts very much the wisdom of an at





in giving him the ballot 1t was his opinion that
wherever the negro race WAS found 1t must be
rum would give way to the superior race under any
and all circumstances. Mr.. Davis acknowledged.
however. that he had changed his mind en-
great staples of the South-cotton and sugar
could be produced with greater economy and
in greater abundance by paid labor than by the labor
of slaves. This has already been demonstrated and
that alone goes far to the advantage which
the abolition Of slavery has been to the
whites Referring to the political status of the
gro, Mr.. Davis said the freedmen had natu-
rally been mised by politicians. thinking that
but OF late years they seemed to have
reached the opposite conclusion and in the long run
it would be found that the negro, having but little
real self-dcpcndcncc would vote III accordance with
the wishes and the sentiments OF those who employed


For this reason tho negro vote would bc
less important factor In tho politics OF the
future than Northern men supposed. Referring to
the reiterated charges OF coercion and buiidozing
of negro voters he said that he had no doubt there
Individual instances OF cruelty and coercion on
the part OF awess men in some sections. but he
believed the prevailing sentiment among southern
mon of greatest kindness and good will to-
ward their former slaves Speaking OF national affairs
he said he accepted the situation a. decided by
nrbitrament of the sword. and that he was very
hopeful Of the future OF the country. He
aid not believe there was any existing
cause for sectional cstrangement or that
Results of the VI Sar already apparent ~as that tho
South was less dependent upon the North
than heretofore; for. while she could sup,
had begun to produce greater variety
of crops for their own use than ever before. aud
they would eventually compete with other
sections in manufactures and mechanical arts.
In this connection he remarked that
while tho south was destitute of money
and tho value of real estate greatly depressed.
In very short time the price OF landed property
would advance because of its intrinsic value in the
production of staple articles of commerce. He
remarked that the only disturbing elements to be
disccrncd now were the efforts of extremists upon
both sides to keep alive animositics and hatrcds
Of the past. II Congress would pursue
moderate course and attend to its lcgi-
tilnate duties of general legislation Tor
the good OF the whole country, and the great social
and industrial questions which now a source OF
| 40 much contention would settle themselves, and
| the country would be at peace.


In conclusion he said :"You may assure your peo-
| pe that I have no kindness in my heart to them
| or any OF the people OF the North. l am not
| the devil they have painted me. have neither
| horns nor hoofs, and IL they knew they would
| nnd am very much like one of themselves.