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THE 'WILMINGTON JOURNAL. WILMINGTON, N. C, JUNE 21, 1S6G. The Convention Again. Tho proceedings of the Convention published to-day will be found quite interesting and impor tant. It will be seen that the amendment to the Con stitution fixing the basis of representation hereaf ter upon the number of white population for the House of Commons and property or taxation for the Senate, has been passed and requires only the ratification of the people in August next to make it permanent. It seems that this amendment was a compromise between tho East and West. To change the basis of representation has long been the object of the West, and most of tho leading men from that section contended for that basis for both Houses, but the compromise has been agreed upon. Should this amendment be incor porated in our State Constitution, as it doubtless -mil, the Senate will remain about as it is, but most of the Eastern counties which now send two and three members to tho House of Commons, will lose one, which will very materially increase tho strength of the West in that body. It is not thought New Hanover will bo affected in either House by the amendment. We understand the appointment is to bo made by tho next Legislature, should the people ratify this ordinance, and that for tho next election, an amendment was added to the election ordinance by Mr. Phillips of Orange, making a special ap portionment for tho next Legislature, by which tho Senate- will remain about as it is, and tho East lose flomo ten or fifteen members winch is not thought to be as great a loss as will result from tho permanent apportionment. An ordinance has also been adopted, as we pre dicted in our last, postponing tho election for State ofiicers until tho third Thursday in October. The election on the first Thursday in August will be devoted entirely to the amended Constitution. This will leave the State without a Legislature from the first Thursday in August until the third Thursday in October, but we hope no injury will result to tho State from it, as we think two ses sions of tho Convention and two of the Legisla ture is enough for one poor State "so called," in twelve mon.hs. Tho Stay Law was still under consideration at our latest dates, with every prospect of its pas sage Wo have been led into error by our Ralaigh co- temporaries in supposing that the office of Lieu tenant Governor had been created. It now ap pears that it had only passed its second reading, and judging from the proceedings of Saturday, it would seem as if there exists some doubt in regard "to its final passage. There is nothing the Convention has done since it met that will give so much gratification to the people of tho State, as the adoption of the resolu tion to adjourn sine die, on the 2th inst. (next Monday.) As it requires but a majority of the body to rescind the resolution, we are much afraid that it will be don!. Many of the members are already leaving and barely a quorum will be left to transact business this week. Wo hope that fill of these gentlemen will have a speedy and safe journey home and that most of them will find it not only profitable, but necessary for them to re main there. Prison Life of Ex-Pi-silciit Davis. We surrender much of our space to-day, and will do so in our next week's issue, to copious ex tracts from Dr. Craven's book on the prison life of Mr. Davis. Wo deem no apology necessary in so doing, as they will bo found to be of thrilling in terest. Tho book from which these extracts are taken, is from the pen of Brevet Lieutenant Colo nel John J. Craven, M. D., who was physician to the distinguished prisoner from May 25 to Decem ber 25, 1SC5. Dr. Craven's political sentiments and military position will relievo him of any sus picion of being favorable to the unfortunate ex President, whoso physician he was for the im-t seven months of his imprisonment. But despite his political prejudices, Dr. Craven has told the truth, and in doing so has recorded the most hid eous and cruel chapter in American history, for with this diary of Dr. Craven, and the report of Dr. Cooper, his successor, tho tale of the prison life of President Davis is complete, and for heart less cruelty it surpasses tho tortures inflicted upon Napoleon in his terrible imprisonment on tho bar ren shores of St. Helena. While the whole world will read these revelations with just indignation, the Southern people will feel a natural and commendable pride that he who represented his people with so much ability and christian fortitude in days of prosperity, and who exercised the extraordinary and necessary power vested in him with so much dignity and clemen cy, that now, in the defeat of his peoplo and tho overthrow of their cause, tho noble victim bears, in his sufferings and imprisonment the honor of the ono and the righteousness of the other, with a meekness and dignity that tells more of the good ness of his heart and the greatness of his intellect than all his achievements on tho field, in the fo rum or in the cabinet. Tho Richmond Whig, in speaking of Dr. Cra ven's book, says that it will go all over the world and will descend to posterity embalming in per petual infamy the memories of tho men wh o have committed or permitted the cruelties hero deduct ed. Better for Halleck, Miles, Stanton, and oth ers, that they had never been born, or that mill stones had been hung around their necks and they cast into tho sea, than that their names should be associated with these transactions. Imagine for a moment what only one generation hence will be thought of Jefferson Davis, and what of his jailors ! Dr. Craven has rendered a great service to jus tice, humanity and truth, now and hereafter, by his disclosure of the dreadful secrets of Mr. Davis' prison-house. War in Europe. This seems truly to bo an age of wars. One continent is yet laboring under tho terrible effects of the grandest revolution that has ever been re corded, and the other is marshaling her forces for a conflict, which, if we judge of the resources and strength of the contending powers, will be con ducted on yet a grander scale; The news by the steamer City of Paris, which wo have given, de stroys almost every hope of peace. The Peace Congress, which had been inaugurated under tho auspices of the French Emperor, has been aban doned. Tho conduct and position of Austria is made tho convenient pretext for this abandonment.' This failing, others, as seemly, would have pre sented themselves, so determined appears, not only this power, but Prussia and Italy, also, to maintain their position, and to rectify their Yery incon venient boundaries. It could hardly have been expected of Austria to have entered into the Con ference in so hopeless a minority, unless with the stipulations, being agreed upon before baud, which she demanded. Her cession of the Elbe Duchies to the Germanic Diet, which probably is the mov ing cause of the war, at least secures that Diet ft? a friendly, and most probably as an aiding power in the conflict' The interest as well as the pride of Austria will impel her to protect her narrow pathway to the' sea witliall her strength and enthu siasm. So far as matters have progressed, we should judge that Austria will be attacked on the North by Prussia and on the South by Italy. Her ar mies are nearly equal in strength to those of both these powers combined, and the struggle must ne cessarily be desperate and uncertain. The Lon don Times, in its speculations, supposes that in her operations against Prussia, Austria will deliver her blow upon Sileria, a province forming the South eastern portion of Prussia, conquered from Aus tria by Frederick the Great, in 1742. This pro vince is traversed by what on the Continent is called a large river, the Oder, but is only navigable for small barges to Breslau, the capital city of Sile sia. The conflict, should it come to the last resort, will be of immense magnitude. At the outset, three great Powers, with several small States are involved, and the yet more powerful governments of France and Russia will be almost necessarily drawn into it. The result will undoubtedly be a great change of boundaries of the contending powers, greater possibly than that resulting from any former European wars. Result as it may, the astute and scheming Napoleon, who now stands with selfish neutrality, watching the brewing quar rel between tho German powers, will reap the benefit. In the meantime, tho first effect of these -foreign difiicultics is to run up gold in this country to a figure higher than it has been in a twelve month, because it is supposed Europe will need all tho gold she can command, which will send back upon us large numbers of American securi ties now held abroad. We believe a contrary ef fect will be the final result ; that the unsettled state of Europe will cause heavy investments in tho bonds of our goi'crnment, if our own political troubles do not awe the shrewd financiers of the old world. Tho fear of conscription must soon send many thousand able-bodied emigrants to our shores, and next to England, who stands upon the very threshold of the struggle, it would seem that the United States must be bsnefited by this war. Major Gee. We are glad to publish elsewhere, the letter of our Raleigh correspondent, giving us the highly gratifying rumor of the acquittal of Major John H. Gee, who has been under trial for the last three months. In addition to our letter, we see by the Raleigh papers that the opinion that the Com mission had unanimously agreed upon a verdict of not guilty, was freely given and believed in Raleigh. So great was the prejudice against all keepers of Confederate prisons and so universal was the demand for their blood by the. Northern people, wo knew that the Commission must natu rally partake of those feelings to some extent. And, too, we are aware how easy it was for men to be found who are prepared to swear to anything in order to convict the keeper of "the Salisbury prison pen." Laboring under all these disadvan tages, we were prepared for the Government to make a strong case against Major Gee. But as the evidence for the defence, step by step, swept away the thin veil of suspicion the prosecu tion had been able to throw over the prisoner, and tho proofs of his great kindness and care was shown by the corroborative testimony of half an hundred of witnesses, many of them being Federal prisoners, we feel that not only justice to the pris oner, but tho truth and intelligence of the Court and the reputation of the Government demand his immediate acquittal. Having been a careful reader of the entire case, we do not hesitate to say, that in our opinion, not ono charge has been sustained, and we are pre pared to believe that tho finding, which probably has already been approved by Gen. Ruger and forwarded to Washington City, is an honorable and unanimous acquittal. Should our opinion prove correct, the whole country will rejoice that an innocent and good man has found his vindica tion at tho hands of those who breasted the storm of battle themselves are too brave to harbor mal ice and too honorable to prostrate their duty and their oaths to bloody fanaticism. An Historic Bridge. ggTherc is a fact which we gather from the Char lotte correspondent of the Augusta Sentinel and Chronicle not generally known in regard to the Bridge recently built over the Catawba river, on the Charlotte and Columbia Railroad, which will ever lend an interest to that structure. At the time of the evacution of Richmond the Confederate States Armory was burned. This Armory was the repository of all damaged and imperfect arms, cf all sorts and sizes, gathered from the various battle fields in Northern and Eastern Virginia. The wood belonging to the Armory having been consumed, the iron was sold as scraps, Messrs. Anderson & Co., of the Trede gar Iron Works, becoming the purchasers. Capt. Smith, the Engineer in charge of the rebuilding of the bridge, gave an order on the Tredegar Works for the necessary iron for its completion. The muskets, rifles and bayonets were used to fill the order, and were converted into chains and other iron work necessary to give the bridge the very high grade of strength required. Thus were the weapons of the gallant dead (Con federate and Federal alike) gathered from the now historical battle fields m Old Virginia, from the Wilderness to retersbiu-g, converted into the uses of peace and the restoration of harmony and good will. We sincerely trust as the arms of their dead comrades are thus welded into the blessed weapons of peace and prosperity, so those of the living will be stacked together in brotherly love and cordial reunion. Con gress. On Thursday last, Mr. Whaley, of West Virgi nia, presented the credentials of Hon. Lewis Hanes, elected to Congress from the Fifth . Congressional District of this State, which was referred to the Committee on Reconstruction. Mr. Eldridge offered objection that the com mittee had made its final report, and, consequent ly was discharged. The Speaker overruled the objection, stating that the Committee had not been discharged ; that various matters had been referred to it, which it had not reported back, and that, at all events, the House had the right to re fer a matter to it. The bill to establish certain assay offices and discontinue certain branch mints was taken up and finally passed. The branch mint at Char lotte, in this State, was among those discontinued under the provisions of this bill. . ,i . The Crops. A business letter received by us from Mt. Airy, says, speaking of the crops : " In all this section of country both of North Carolina and Virginia, the prospect for a Wheat crop is gloomy in the ex treme. Tho Corn is very small. PhysiGalJy and politically, the future is unpromising." Collecttonoi Taxes. It will be seen by; reference to the proceedings of the Convention that an ordinance haspased its second) 'reaing extending the time lor' the Sheriffs to make theirl returns of taxes, until the first of January, nexC. As the ordinance met with feeble opposition, after a thorough discussion, there seems to be little or no doubt of its final passage. Disguise TUro-vrtkjMC, T(i'lf V The proceedings of the first session of the jAnti-. Slavery UodSl'STew- ork7uertbe Presidency of Wendell Phillips;-, manifest the real purpose, without any attempt at disguise, of the Radical party. Wendell Phillips said, amid much applause, thathe hated the word Constitution, and called upon Congress to " continue in session for ever," and at whatever cost, " or "by the exer cise of whatever despotism," to secure the safety of the nation meaning the Radical party. He confessed that his languge was " revolutionary," but said that td talk otherwise was to surrender the results of the war. We append two of the nu merous resolutions adopted : Resolved, That the rebellion has not ceased ; it has only changed its weapons. Once it fought, now it in trigues; once it followed Lee in arms, now It follow Presi dent Johnson in guile and chicanery; once it had its head quarters in Richmond, now it encamps in the White House. " Resolved, That the President has betrayed the loyal North ; is bent on giving it over, bound hand and foot, into the hands of its once conquered foe ; that he should long ago have been impeached for gross usurpation in his manifest use of his high powers to aid rebellion, and for the treasonable purpose of defeating the secure and peace ful settlement of the nation." Those of our readers who are familiar with the antecedents of the Chief Justice of the United States, may be disgusted but cannot be surprised, when they learn that he sent to this revolutionary society a letter approving its objects. As the mat ter stands, the Chief Justice of the United States is placed before the country as the advocate of revolution and of the impeachment of the Presi dent, over which it is his constitutional duty to preside, tho Senate sitting as the court Cotton Machine We were shown yesterday, by Mr. Haas, of tiie firm of Shackelford, Haas & Co., a machine for spinning and weaving Cotton. It ia of English manufacture, having been made in Manchester, England, by Preston & Co., and ia said to be of tho most improved style and patent. This machine, or rather the disjointed parts of it, are now being thoroughly overhauled and cleaned, having been somewhat rusted with a long sea voyage. There were originally two different Betis of shaftings and running apparatus attached to the machine, but it is not probable that more than one complete sett can be placed in order. To describe the different portions of this, to us, compli cated arrangement, would be a task far beyond our most vivid imagination, there being a thousand diminutive cog wheels, and more email connecting links and pieces than could be counted in a short space of time. It is tho intention of the owner of the machine to place it in operation at a point convenient to the city, provided sufficient encouragement is given him to justify the inau guration of the enterprise. In this connection we can but add, encourage home manufactures. The advantages to be derived from the erection of a manufactory, like the one alluded to, in our midst, are innumerable. Many poor females who now ply their needle as a means of support, would obtain perma nent employment if this manufactory was once estab lished. Through this factory a great deal of cotton would be re tained fur home consumption, and tho cloth required for domestic use could be purchased at home, whereby the money expended would be retained in circulation here among us, and the additional cost of transportation on the goods would be saved. Our people cannot fail to perceive the advantages and benefits to be derived from the existence of such an es tablishment in our own vicinity, and we can see no plausi ble reason why the gentleman who has set the enter prise on foot, should not receive the encouragement due his efforts. Of this, however, we have no doubt, and we will venture to add, that if notice was given that sub scriptions for stock in the proposed factory would be re ceived, we have no fears but that the whole amount of stock would be taken in a very short time. Any one wishing to take a look at the machinery, can be accommodated on application to Mr. Haas. For the Journal. The Case of MaJ. Ge. Raleigh, N. 0., June 18, 1866. Messrs. Editors I have the honor to report tho trial of Maj. John H. Gee at an end. The counsel for the defence, D. P. Holland, of Florida, and John Wilder, of Massachusetts, have succeeded in proving his innocence, leaving no stain on his character, on the contrary proving him (Gee) to be everything that was humane and kind, that his conduct toward the prisoners of war was that of a friend instead of an enemy. They (the counsel) deserve great credit for tho skill with which they conducted the case, and their untiring energy is worthy of emmulation. The decision has not been published, though all believe he was acquitted triumphantly. With respect, O. S. For the Journal. Post Office Matters. .VhiMinqton, N. C, Juno 19, 1866. Messrs. Editors : It being peoessary to establish npw offices on the Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford Rail Road, perhaps a few suggestions as to the proper means of procedure may not be amiss. A petition should be made to the First Ass't Postmaster General to establish an office. In this application the distance and direction of the pro posed office from the four nearest offices, one in each direction, as they existed before the war, shoukTbe correctly stated. Parp should be taken in selecting a name, to have it dissimilar from any other office in the State. If an old office is to be opened, and it is desi rable to change the name, the reasons for the change should be stated. The application should be accompanied by a petition for the appointment of a Postmaster, and the name of some person forwarded who is com petent under the laws, which require that the Postmaster should take the oath (test oath), should bo twenty-one years of age, and, if a woman, un married. , Every Postmaster must attend to his Office in person or by an assistant, also sworn, according to law. The assistant mast be over sixteen years of age. , - , Where a Postmaster cannot receive his mail from the Agent in person, or by his sworn assis tant, he must have a sworn messenger to convey it to and from the Post Office. This messenger must be over 16 years of age. Colored persons are eligible for carriers. Very Respectfully, B. B. VASSALL, Special Agent P. O. D. For tho Journal. The Lmte Hon. Geo. S. Badger. A meeting of the Bar pf Wilmington was paljed at tye Co urt Boom, on the ICth inst., fer the purpose of com memorating thoir profound sense of the loss which they in common with the profession throughout the State have suffered in the death of the late Hon. Georgo E. Badger. On motion, Hon. R. 8. French was called to the Chair, and F. D. Poisson and D. J. Devane, Esqs., were appoint ed Secretaries. The Chairman announced the cause of the meeting, and paid a short but glowing tribute to the pre-eminent abil ities and lofty integrity of the deceased. A committee consisting of Messrs. A. M. Waddell, M. London and A. Empie, Eaqrs., were appointed by the Chair, who, in a short time offered through A. SI. Wad dell, Esq., the following resolutions : :- Your committee teel their inability to discharcra the datv assigned theia in language worthy of the ilmatriona man. wh08S ton V deplore, or which may faithfully reflect our own feelings In the presence of this great jmd sad , ped f orwardjonlocking the padlock and prepar event : yet it ia itfe not only to him, but to ourtelfes, to j m the fetter! to db their'omceJfteM fetters were express, however worta- -Bememberinff 'thevast and epaxjrfve power TDf hi intellect, the energy and iirresiaUble cogency of hie logic, the attractive and manly fairness to his adversary (often stating his propositions more clearly and Strongly than thai adversary himself could do it) the inezhausta ble resources both of "argument and illustration, the de monstrative power of his analogies, from every depart ment of the law, and the clear stream of his eloquence, flowing over the richest gems of thought and bearing the delighted hearer on to his inevitable conclusion, we hesi tate not to say that no man has better deserved to bear the palm of pre-eminence designed him by his brethren, or has ever worn it with more modesty, dignity and 8fAnd while the committee feel that it is of Mr." Badger as a . lawyer, that they are ; more properly f required to speak, it will not be improper in r them to recall to your minds, that able and unprecedent fact in his political ca reer which furnished the highest evidence alike of his statesmanship and social virtues, viz : that when he re tired from the U. S. Senate, that body unanimously adopt ed a resolution regretting his loss. . 1 11 To refrain from alluding to his sense of religious obli gations would be to ignore the crowning excellence of his character. , . . . That subject throughout life engaged his profound thoughts and most diligent inquiry, and it is gratifying to record that the first jurist and statesman of our times was also one' of the humblest members of the Church. . Your committee recommend the adoption of the follow incr resolutions : 1$L Resolved, That we owe it to the memory of this great and good man to mark our sense of his loss, by some more lasting memorial than this hasty tribute. 2d. Resolved. That the Chairman appoint a committee of five members of this Bar. wno shall select some mem ber to deliver an oration on the life and public services of the late lion, (ieorjee is. uadger, at tne next term or tne Superior Court of New Hanover County. - i 3d. Resolvedt That we will wear the usual badge of mourn incr for 30 days. , ith. Resolved, That a copy of these proceedings be transmitted by the Chairman, with the sincere condolence of this Bar. to the family of the deceased. : A. M. WADDELL, A. EMPIE, M. LONDON. The Chairman appointed on the committee to select an orator, John L. Holmes, William S. Devane, B. Tv. Moore, Robert Strange and Hon. s J. Person. Upon motion, it was ordered that the city papers be re quested to publish the proceedings of this meeting. , The meeting then adjourned. B. S FRENCH, Chairman. F. D. Poisson: I b.,i..:. . ! D. J. Devane, Secretaries. , JEFFERSON DAVIS IN PRISON. ; Scenes and Incidents of tlie Life of the Ex-Con federate President In the Casemate at Fortress Monroe Extract from the Diary of the Post Surgeon The Torture of the-Prlaoner Opinions of the Confederate Leader in Social and Politi cal Affairs Inside History of the Confederacy Comments on the Military Policy of the North tiff h Smith XVrli n wr thi Rnt Rnrnli? From the New York World of Saturday 16th. The story of the imprisonment of Jefferson Davis, written by the Surgeon of the post, who for the hrst seven months of that imprisonment profes sionally attended the fallen President of the Con federate States, and dedicated to the Secretary of the Treasury, appeals in no ordinary fashion to the attention of all Americans. Without attempting to-day, to review tne work critically, and content ing ourselves with this simple statement of its au thorship and of the circumstances under which it appears a statement which carries with it am pie demonstration to every capable and candid person of its authenticity and impartiality we proceed to lay before our readers such copious ex tracts from the pages as will enable them to judge of its grave interest and value. THE PRISON I,rpr. OF JEFFERSON DAVIS BEGINS May 21, 1865. The procession into the fort was under the immediate inspection of Major-General Halleck and Charles A. Dana, then Assistant Sec retary of War; Colonel Pritchard of the Michigan cavalry, who immediately effected the capture, be ing the officer in command of the guard from the vessel to the fort. First came Major-General Miles holding the arm of Mr. Davis, who was dressed in a suit of plain Confederate gray, with a gray slouched hat always thin, and now looking much wasted and verv hacrerard. Immediatelv after these came Colonel Pritchard, accompanying Mr. Clay, with a guard of soldiers in their rear. Thus they passed through files of men in blue from the En gineer's Landing to the Water Battery Postem; and on arriving at the casemate which had been fitted up into cells for their incarceration, Mr. Davis was shown into casement No. two and Clav into No. four, guards of soldiers being stationed in the cells numbered one, three and five, upon each side of them. They entered; the heavy doors clanged behind them, and in that clang was rung the final knell of the terrible but now extinct re bellion. Being ushered into his inner cell by General Miles, and the two doors leading thereinto from the guard-room being fastened, Mr. Davis, af ter surveying the premises for some moments, and looking out through the embrasure with such thoughts passing over his lined and expressive face as may be imagined, suddenly seated himself in a chair, placing both hands on his knees, and asked one of the soldiers pacing up and down within his cell this significant question: "Which way does the embrasure face? " The soldier was silent. Mr. Davis, raising his voice a little, repeated the inquiry. But again dead silence, or only the measured foot-falls of the two pacing sentries within, and the fainter echoes of the four without. Addressing the other soldier, as if the first had been deaf and had not heard him, the prisoner again repeated his inquiry. But the second soldier remained silent as the first, a slight twitching of his eyes only intimating that he had heard the question, but was forbidden to speak. " Well," said Mr. Davis, throwing his hands up and breaking into a bitter laugh, 44 1 wish my men could have been taught your discipline ! " and then, rising from his chair, he commenced pacing back and forth before the embrasure, now looking at the silent sentry across the moat, and anon at tho two silently pacing soldiers who were his com panions in the casement. His sole reading matter, a Bible and prayer book, his only companions those two silent guards, his only food the ordinary rations of bread and beef served ont to the soldiers of the garrison thus passed the first day and night of the ex-President's confinement, SEWAjm AJJP KTANTOSf DISGRAOE AJJLEIUCA AN INVA LID IN IBONS. ; On the morning of the 23d of May, a yet bitter er trial was in store for the proud spirit a trial severer, probably, than has ever in modern times been inflicted upon anyone who had enjoyed such eminence. 17iis morning Jefferson Davis was Shackeled. ; It was while all the swarming camps of the arm ies of the Potomac, the Tennessee and Georgia oyer two hundred thousand bronzed and laurelled veterans were preparing for the Grand Review of the next morning, in which, passing in endless succession before the mansion of the President, the conquering 'military power of the nation was to lay down its arms at the feet of the Civil Au thority, that the fallowing scene was enacted at Fort Monroe. : . . Captain Jerome E. Titlow of the Third Penn sylvania Artillery, entered the prisoner's cell, fol lowed by the blacksmith of the fort and his assis tant, the latter carrying in his hands some heavy and harshly-rattling shackles. ' ! ' As they entered, Mr. Davis was reclining on his bed, feverish and weary after a sleepless night, the food placed near to him the preceding day still lying untouched on its tin plate near his bedside. " Well! " said Mr, Davis, as they entered, slight ly raising his head. 1 "I have an unpleasant duty to perform, sir," said Captain TjUow i and as he spoke the senior blacksmith, took the shackles from, his assistant. Davis leaped, instantly from his recumbent atti tude, a flush passing over his face for a moment, and then his countenance growing livid and rigid as death , -,.!; . , , . He gasped for breath, clutching his throat with the thin fingers of his right hand, and then re covering himself slp.wly. while his wasted figure towered: up to its full Weight-now appearing to swell with indignation and then to shrink with terror, as he glanced from the captain's! face to the shackles he said slowlv and milt a l)wmn chest : . ; j. . - ... My God ! You cannot have been me?"- ..: :.i t Such are my orders, flir. renliAd ' th r,flw beckoning the blacksmith: to approach, w!iq; step. . '- J A valoA of heavy tronirooaoiy jwe-eiynut w anwicn inimcK n&sindponTiectedtdgmer by avftaffiqtflike weight. l ioeneve they are now m.uie pyt.aion oi xuajor Geherat Miles, and will form an 'Interesting relic. 5 This is too monstrous;" groaned the prisoner, glarring hurriedly round the room, as if for some weapon, or means of self-destruction. "I demand, Captain, that you let me see the commanding of ficer. Can he pretend that such shackles are re quired to secure the safe custody of a weak old man, so guarded and in such a fort as this ?" "It could serve no purpose," replied Captain Titlow ; his - orders are - from - Washington, as mine are from him, " 44 But he can telegraph," interposed Mr. Davis, eagerly ; " there must be some mistake. No such outrage as you threaten me with is on record in the history of nations Beg him to telegraph, and delay until he answers" "My orders are peremptory, said the officer, " and admit of no delay. For your own sake, let me advise you to submit with patience. As a sol dier, Mr. Davis, you know I must execute orders." " These are not orders for a soldier, shouted ted the prisoner, losing all control of himself. " They are orders for a jailer for a hangman, which no soldier wearing a sword should accept ! I tell you the world will ring with this disgrace. The war is over, the South is conquered ; I have no longer any country but America, and it is for the honor of America, as for my own honor and life, that I plead against this degradation. Kill me ! kill me !" he cried, passionately throwing his arms wide open and exposing his-breast, "rather than inflict on me, and on my people through me, this insult worse than death." ' " Do your duty, blacksmith," said the officer, walking towards the embrasure as if not caring to witness the performance. . 4 4 It only gives increased pain on all sides to protract this interview." At these words the blacksmith advanced;, with the shackles, and seeing that the prisoner had one foot upon the chair near his bedside, his right hand resting on the back of it, the brawny me chanic made an attempt to slip one of the shack les over the ankle so raised ; but, as if with the vehemence and strength which frenzy can impart, even to the weekest invalid, Mr. Davis suddenly seized his assailant and hurled him half-way across the room. On this Captain Titlow turned, and seeing that Davis had backed against the wall for further re sistance, began to remonstrate, pointing out in brief, clear language, that this course was mad ness, and that orders must be enforced at any cost. " Why compel me, he said, "to add the further indignity of personal violence to the ne cessity of your being ironed ?" "I am a prisoner of war," fiercely retorted Da vis ica, and know how to die. Only kill me, and my last breath shall be a blessing on your head. But while I have life and strength to resist, for myself and for my people, this thing shall not be done. Hereupon Captain Titlow called in a sergeant arid file of soldiers from the next room, and the sergeant advanced to seize the prisoner. Imme diately Mr. Davis flew on him, seized his musket and attempted to wrench it from his grasp, Of course such a scene could have but one issue. mere was a snort, passionate scuffle, in a mo ment Davis was flung upon his bed, and before his four powerful assailants removed their hands from him, the blacksmith and his assistant had done their work one securing the rivet on the right ankle, while the other turned the key on the padlock on the left. This done, Mr. Davis lay for a moment as if in a stupor. Then slowly raising himself and turn ing round, he dropped his shackled feet to the floor. The harsh clank of the striking chain seems first to have recalled him to his situation, and dropping his face into his hands, he burst in to a . passionate flood of sobbing, rocking to and fro, and mutterinc: at bief intervals : 44 Oh, the shame, the shame !" It may here be stated, though out of its due or der that we may get rid in haste of an unpleas ant subject that Mr. Davis some two months later, when frequent visits had made him more free of converse, gave me a curious explanation of the last feature of this incident. He had been speaking of suicide, and denoun cing it as the worst form of cowardice and folly. " .Life is not like a commission that we can resign when disgusted with the service. Taking it by your own hand is a confession of judgment to all that your worst enemies can allege. It has often flashed across me as a tempting remedy for neural gic torture ; but thank God ! I never sought my own death but once, and then when completely frenzied and not master of my actions. When they came to iron me that day, as a last resource of desperation, I seized a soldier's musket and attempted to wench it from his grasp, hoping hat in the scuffle and surprise, some of his com rades would shoot or bayonet me." On the momma; of May 24th, I was sent for about half-past 8 A. M., by Major General Miles ; was told that State-prisoner Davis complained of being ill, and that I had been assigned as his med ical attendant. Calling upon the prisoner the first time I had ever seen him closely he presented a very misera ble and afflicting aspect. Stretched upon his pal- et and very much emaciated. Mr. Davis appeared a mere fascine of raw and tremulous nerves his eye restless and fevered, his head continually shif ting from side to side for a cool spot on the pillow. and his case clearly one in which intense cerebral excitement was the first thine: neediner attention. He was extremely despondent, his pulse full and at ninety, tongue thickly coated, extremities cold, and his nead troubled with a loner established neu ralgic disorder. Complained of his thin camp mattress and pillow stuffed with hair, adding, that qg&inst the slats ; and, as these complaints were well founded, I ordered an additional hospital mattress and softer pillow, for which he thanked me courteously. 44 But I fear, he said, as, having prescribed, I was about taking my leave, accompanied by Cap tain Evans, Third Pennsylvania Artillery, who was officer of the day ; 44 1 fear, Doctor, you will have a troublesome and unsatisfactory patient. One whose case can reflect on you littlo credit. There are circumstancea at work outside your art to counteract your art ; and I suppose there must be a conflict between your feelings as a soldier of the Union and your duties as a healer of the sick." This last was said with a faint smile, and I tried to cheer him, assuring him, if he would only keep quiet and endeaver to get some rest and sleep, which my prescription was mainly addrersed to obtain, that he would be well in a few days. For the rest, of course a physician could have no feel ings nor recognize any duties but towards his pa tient Mr. Davis turned to the officer of the day, and demanded whether he had been shackled by spe cial order of the Secretary of War, or whether Gen eral Miles had considered this violent course essen tial to his safe-keeping ? The Captain replied that he knew nothing of the matter ; and so our first interview ended. On quitting Mr. Davis, I at once wrote to Ma jor Church, Assistant Adjutant General, advising that the prisoner be allowed tobacco to the want of which, after a life-time of use, he had referred as one of the probable partial causes of his illness though notcomplainingly, nor with any request that it be given. This recommendation was ap proved m the course of the day ; and on calling in the evening brought tobacco with me, and Mr. Dayi3 filled his pipe, which was the sole article he had earned with him from the Clydo, except tho clothes he then wore. "This is a noble medicine," he said, with some thing fts near a smile as was possible for his hag gardand shrunken features. 44 1 hardly expected it ; did not ask for it, though the deprivation has been severe. During my confinement here I shall ask for nothing." He was now much calmer, feverish symptoms steadily decreasing, pulse already down to seventy flve, bis brain less excitable, and his mind becom ing more resigned to his condition, nnmnkin that the foot-falls of the two snfrina u?;ti;n v,-o chamber imade it difficult for him bmiw. w thoughts ;bnt added cheerfully that, with this touching luapipe he hoped to become tranquil. This pipe, by the way, was a large and hand some one, made of meerschuam, with an amber mouth-piece, showing by its color that it had seen active service" for some time as indeed was tho cftse, baying been his companion during tho stor- rjaiest-yeai5rohislate' tirnlar Presidencyr--It is id him by Mr. Davis,' and its acceptance insisted upon as the only thing he had left to offer. " THE 'TOKTUBIT OF THE rBISONER. Happening to notice that his coffee stood cold and apparently untasted beside his bed in its tin cup, I remarked that here was a contradiction of the assertion implied in the old army question, 4 Who ever saw cold coffee in a tin cup ?" referring to the: eagerness with which soldiers of all classes, when campaigning, seek for and use this beverage. 4, I cannot drink it," he remarked.-1 though fond I of coffee all mylife. It is the poorest article of mo oufi, x uave ever tosiea; ana n your government pays for such stuff as coffee, the purchasing quarter master must be getting rich; It surprises me, too, for I thought your soldiers must have the best .many of my Generals complaining of the difficul ties they encountered in seeking to prevent our people from making volunteer truces with your soldiers whenever the lines rah near each other, for the purpose of exchanging the tobacco we had in abundance against your coffee and fingar." Told him to spend as little time in bed as ho could ; that exercise was the best medicine for dys peptic patients. To tfiis he answered by uncoreriny the blankets from his feet and showing me his shack eled ankles. ,-7'V ' 44 It is impossible for me, Doctor ; I cannot even stand erect. These shackles are very heavy; I know not, with the chain,, how many pounds. If I try to move they trip met and have already abra ded broad patches of - skin from the parts they touch. Can you devise no means to pad or cush ion them, so that when I try to drag them along they may not chafe me so intolerably ? My limbs have so little flesh on: them, and that so weak as to bo easily lacerated." At sight of this I turned away, promising to seo what could bo done, as exercise was the chief med ical necessity in his case ; and at this moment tho first thrill of sympathy for my patient was experi enced. That afternoon, at an interview sought with Ma jor General Miles, my opinion was given that tho physical condition of State-prisoner Davis required the removal of his shackles, until such time as his health should be established on some firmer basis. Exercise he absolutely needed, and also some alle viation of his abnormal nervous excitement. No drugs could aid a digestion naturally weak and so impaired, without exercise; nor could anything in the pharmacopoeia quiet nerves so overicrought and shattered, while the continual irritation of the fetters was counterpoising whatever medicines might be given. 44 You believe it, then, a medical necessity V" queried General Miles. 44 1 do most earnestly." 44 Then I will givo the matter attention ;" ami at this point for the present the affair ended. May 2GA. Called with the officer of the day Captain James B. King, at 1 P. M. Found Mr. Davis in bed, complaining of intense debility, but could not point to any particular complaint. Tho pain in his head had left him last night, but had been brought back this afternoon and aggravated by the noise of mechanics employed in taking down the wooden doors between his cell and the exterior guard-room and replacing these with iron grati?igs, so that he could at all times be seen by tfa-; sentries in the outside room as well as by two 44 silent friends," who were the unspeaking companions of hia solitude. Noticed that the prisoner's dinner lay untouched on its tin plate near his bedsido, his meals being brought in by a silent soldier, who placed food on its table and then withdrew. Had remarked bo fore that ho scarcely touched the food served to him, his appetite being feeble at best, and his di gestion out of order. Quitting him, called on General Miles, and re commended that I be allowod to place tho prison er on a diet corresponding with his condition, which required light and nutritious food. Con sent was immediately given, and I had prepared and sent over from my quarters some tea and toast for his evening's meal. Calling about 7 P. M., found Mr. Davis greatly improved, the tea and toast having given him, ho said, new life. Though he had not complained of the fare, he was very thankful for tho change. He then commenced talking, -and let me hero say that I encouraged him in this, believiner con versation and some human sympathy tho best medicines that could be given to one in his state- on the subject of tho weather. How has tho weather been rouerh or fair ? In this huge casement, and unable to crawl to tho embrasure, he could not tell whether tho weather was rough or smooth, nor how the wind was blow ing. 44A11 my family are at sea, you aro aware, on their way to Savannah ; and I know tho dangers of going down tho coast at this season of tho year too well to bo without intense alarm. My wife and four children, with other relatives, aro on board tho Clyde, and theso propellers roll dreml fuly and are poor sea-boats in rough weather." He then explained with ereat clearness of detail. and evidently having studied the subject, why the dangers of going down tho coast in rough weather were so much greater than coming North. Going down, ships had to hug the shore often running dangerously near the treacherous horrors of Capo iiatteras ; while in running North thoy stood out from land to catch the favoring gulf stream, to avoid which they had to run in shore as close as they could when steering South. Ho appeared intensely anxious on tho subject, recurring to it frequently and speculatiner on thr probable position of tho Clydo at this time 4 Should she be lost," he remarked. 44 it will b 4 all my pretty chickens and their dam at ono fell swoop,' it will be the obliteration of my namo and house." 44 Mrs. Davis, too," he continued, 4hasmncli to contend with. Her sister has been verv ill. ami her two nurses left her while here, and sho could procure no others. My only consolation is, that some of my paroled people are on board, and sol diers make excellent nurses. Soldiers aro fond of children. Perhaps the roughness of their camn- life makes the contrasted playfulness of infancy so pleasant. Charles of Sweden, Frederick the Great , and Napoleon, were illustrations of this peculiari ty. The Duke of Wellington is the only eminent commander of whom no trait of the sort is record ed." Talking of propellers, and how badlv thev roll ed in rough sea, I spoke of ono called the Burn side, formerly stationed at Port Royal, of which tho common remark was. that in everv threo rollx she went clean round. 44 Once," I added. 44 when her cat) tain was asked what was her draught of water, he replied that lie did not know to an inch the height of her smoke stack, but it was from tho top of that to her keel." for some quarter of an hour : and whatever could give his mind a moment's repose was in the line vl his cure. Asl Was leavinc. ho oakpil bnrl T Vnn nltlo tnl(f nothing to pad or cushion his shackles. He could take no exercise, or but tho feeblest, and with great pain, while they were on. To this gave an evasive answer, not knowing what might be the action of General Miles, and icariug 10 excite iaise nopes. JNo such hall-way measures as naddine' wnnld wifflw moM tlm ne cessity of his case; while their adoption, or sug gcanuu, luigm, aeier tne oroader remedy that wa nefidprl. On 1 us ingto notehowthe wind blew, and the prospects of the weather, before paying him my visit. Until he heard of his family's arrival in Savannah If wuxu. jiuuw no peace. May 27. Cttllfid in 1 cer of the day, Captain Titlow. Found Mr. Davi in bed, very weak and desponding. He had not slept. He had been kept awake by the heavy sia- , lue winu tnrough tho big trees on u"' Other sido of t.hn mnot A nnnn.n,l mnnli relieved when I told him the breeze wasnothing likea storm, XT. 1. i.i ...... . . ii. mougu ii oiew north-easterly, which was favoraw to the ship containing his family. He exnressfid if ft RllOllld hear through newspapers of tho scene in his cell wTlATl 1lQ urns W7 11 It. 1. ill'd I think ? And on my remaining silent for 1 knew it had been sent to the newspapers on tli afternoon of its transpiring ho interlaced hia lin gers across his eyes, and ejaculated : "Oh, niy nnnr urifo mv rwvi rnrtr ril I tlnm flift llOAl't' rending narrative will afflict her !" Ho remained silent for some moments as I beside his bed. and then oonfimipd. nxtending band that I might feel hia pulse : 'x wisn sne coum ji&yo been sparea ww
Wilmington Journal [1844-1895] (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 21, 1866, edition 1
2
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