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THE WASHINGTON GAZETTE. JAS. A. WRIGHT, AGENT. THE WASHINGTON GAZETTE. Terms— Three Dollars a year, in advance. JEFFERSON DAVIS IN PRISON. * Mr. Craven has done the cause of hu manity a service, and afforded the world a satisfaction in his narrative of President Davis’ prison life. We make a few ex tracts from this hook—relating more to the sayings of Mr. Davis than his suffer ings—for the entertainment of our readers. They will be found deeply interesting and replete with practical good sense, philan thropy and wisdom. First, we lay before our reader: SIR. DAVIS* REMARKS ABOUT EICHKOKD —; HIS SENTIMENTS TOWARDS CITIZENS. September 11.—Called on Mr. Davis. Told him, as ho was well, I was about starting that day for Richmond, to be gone about a week, and would he happy to car ry any social messages he might wish to send any friends in that pity* Mr. Davis asked me to cal! upon bii formei* pastor, the Rev. Dr. Minnigerode, rector of St. | Paul’s; also, upon other friends, giving me their names, who would be glad to recoive roe. He requested me to make his afflic tions in prison appear as light as possible, for they had sufficient troubles of their own without borrowing more from his misfor tunes. He also said Richmond had been a very beautiful city in the Jays gone by, hut what with years of military operations and the fire, he feared its appearance must he greatly altered. “Oh, the anxious mo meuts I have speut iu that city 1" exclaim ed Mr. Davis. “Cares that none can un derstand who have not been called to fill the first positions of responsibility in revo lutionary times. What hopes nod fears, tried by enemies without and murmurers or mutineers within, though of the latter there were comparatively few. Taking all they suffered in view, my dear people . oticn and. qpaniraity for which into ueY 'er be too grateful. God bless them, one and all, and grant them the sustaining in fluence of His grace.” *" Mr. Davis spoke the’last sentence with great fervor, his thip hands clasped and tears brimming up jn his eyes, though not allowed to run over. It was in such moments that his face, though not hand some, judged by any artistic standard, became very striking and noble in the dftdisate expression of its intellectual power and fervor. September 22.—Called on Mr. Davis fur the first time since returning from Richmond. Mr. Davis inquired about friends in Richmond, asking, with a smile, wa3 be still remembered there or whether it had been found convenient to erase bis name from the tablets of memory? Assured him that his friends appeared most Bolici tous for his welfare, especially the ladies, who had overwhelmed my wife with atten tion during our brief visit, as the only means of expressing their gratitude for any alleviation of bis situation which my duly as his medical attendant had imposed. Told him the destruction from the fire had been great, but in less than two years the oity would Have retrieved a prosperity not only equalling, but surpassing any it had yet known. Overlooking Richmond from the top of Gamble’s Hill, the clamor of trowels »twl hammers everywhere resoun ded beneath me, aud it seomed like an enormous bee-hive, so incessant was the industry. Mentioned that General- Terry, my old commander, bad kindly placed the carriage of Mr. Davis at my disposal du ring the visit, and that I had visited, with tnnch interest, and not without sympathy, the beautiful ground of Hollywood Ceme tery, where General J. E. B. Stuart and so many other distinguished officers of the Southern army now lie in graves, not nameless indeed, but as yet with no indur ing monuments. Mr. Davis laughed about hia carriage, and said that since some “Yankee” had to ride in it, he would prefer ray doing so to another. During the war they had no time to buiid monuments to tbe illus trious dead—scarcely time enough or means enough to take care for the woun d'd living. If their cause had been suc cessful, the gratitude of anew nation WASHINGTON, WILKES COUNTV, GA., FRIDAY MORNING, JULY 20,1866. would have built splendid mausoleums and trollies to those who had lost their lives in founding it; but with the failure of the cause this duty of piety and gratitnde must now devolve on private associations of pa triotic gratitude. Gen. Jackson (“Stone wall”) appeared to hsvesome lively presen timent of death shortly before its occur rence, and had asked that his only monu ment might be a battle-flag hoisted over his grave until such limes as the cause for whioh he fought was crowned with victory and secure from aggression. Speaking of a message of condolence and cheer the Rev. Dr. Minnigerode had sent him, Mr. Davis spoke in warm torms of the learning, zeal, eloquence, fidelity nnd Christian courage of that gentleman. General Dee had occupied a pew in the same church, and, unless when absent una voidably in tbe public servico, was one of tbe most regular and devout attendants. General Lee was undoubtedly ono of tiro greatest soldiers of the age, if not tbe ve ry greatest of this or any other country ; but had he drawn his sword on Iho Feder al side- «ntf?t have beon remitted to ob scurity uuder their sj'steni, in the first six months of the war. however, shook the confidence of military moil com petent to form a jnst opinion in his supe rior qualifications for high command, nnd his career bad nobly vindicated the calm estimate of professional judgment. September 23.—Recurring to my Rich mond visit, Mr. Davis made many minute inquiries relative to former friends; the ap parent condition of the IraJes-peoplo in re gard to prosperity ; the social relations, if any wore allowed, between tbe occupying army and tbe inhabitants. He said his peoplo, having done all their duty iu tbe war had now the two duties of forgetting the past and preparing to accept the future- One of their groat troubles in agricultural £3 been so- nearly swept away by the war. With nothing to report in tbe past but its failure its consequences should be ac cepted in good faith and without a murmur. Tho future is always under tbe control of resolute men; and with influx of North ern and European capital—which must soon be tempted by the pre-abundant na tural resources in the South—there could be no reason why natural .prosperity should not be fully ro-eatablisbed within half a doz en years; that is, if the Federal Govern ment pursued a wise aud generous course, allaying irritation and diverting the minds of the people from their unsuccessful sacri fices, by pointing out and encouraging tho spleodid rewards of industry. 7’he following extract is alike remarkable for its truth aud beauty : FEMALE LECTURERS —AND THE TRUfc MIS SION OF WOMAN. Mr. Davis referred to some remark of Miss Anna Dickinson, hostile himself, which he had seen in the papers; also re calling what he had heard of the lady’s honoring Fortres Munroe with her presence some six weeks before—he supposed to de rive her inspiration from an actual view of his casemate, or possibly to Caleb a secret view of him though the admiring favor of Gen. Miles, or some smitten officer. He had noticed that Miss Dickinson had fig ured largely upon the lecturing stage, and had undeniable talent, but the talent rather of a Maenad or Pythoness than most of the mild virgins who worshiped Vesta and kept the fires of faith and charily forever burning on her pure altars. YVoman’s ap pearance in the political arena was a de parture from the golden path which nature had marked out for her. The male ani mal was endowed with more than sufficient belligerency (or all purposes of healthy agitation ; and woman’s part in tbe social economy as she has been made beautiful and gentle, should be to soothe asperilios rather than deepen and make more rough the cross tracks ploughed in tbe road of life by the diverging passions and opinions of men. It was a revolutionary age; transportations and novelties were the fan cies of the day, and woman on the political ro&trum was only an outcropping of the disorganized and disorganizing ideas now in control of the popular mind. The clam or of certain classes of woman for admis ■ion to the professions and employments heretofore engrossod by men was another phase of the same malady. Yhey deman ded to be made self supporting, forgetful that their most tender charm and safest ar mor lay in helplessness. Woman's office embraced the sweetest and holiest duties of suffering humanity. Her true nllar is the happy fireside, not the forum with its foul breath and distractitfg calmors. Physi cally unable to defend themselves from in jury or insult, their weakness is a claim which the man must be utterly base who disregards. The highest test of civiliza tion is tho deference paid to wi men. They are like the beautiful vinos c tho South, winding aronudtho rugged forest nnd clothing them With beauty; ‘but let thorn attempt living apart from this support, nnd they will soon trail along tlm ground in muddy and trampled impurity. While woman depends on man for everything, man’s lovo accepts, and his generosity can never do enough to discharge-the delicious nnd sacrod obligations; but hit woman en ter into tho ruder employments of lifo ns man’s rival, and sho pusses herself as a slave under those inexorable laws of trade which are without sex or sentiment. Per haps in one branch of medicine there might apponr a fitness in her claim to matricula tion ; but oven in that branch circumstan ces of sudden difficulty and danger wero of every day occurrence, requiring the steadier nervos, cooler judgment, and quicker ac tion of a medical man to deal with. If asked for his soblimeal ideal ol what wo men should be in time of wa r , he would point to the dear women of h i people as he bad seen ibem daring tbe reees.S «lrog ; gle. Toe Spartan mother festh her boy, bidding bra retain witfe e»ab*r carrying hb shield or os it. Tbe treat: | of tbe South teat forth theta... eons, Jiiwct ing them to return with vieto-’r ; to return with wounds disabling them from further service, or never to return still. Alt they m sk •> gracvpAssfon, ornamenpAlho eioßirsHl frivolities so deal' to the sex were oast aside; their songs, if they had any to sing, were patriotic; tlioir trinkets wore flung into the public crucible ; tbe carpet from thoir floors wero portioned out as blankets to the suffering soldiers of their cause; women bred to every refinement of luxury wore homespuns made by tbeir hands; when materials for an army balloon wero wauted, their chost silk dresses wero sent in, and tbero was only competition to seonre tbeir acceptance. As nurses of tbe sick, as en comagors and providers for the combatants, as angels of charity and mercy adoptiug as their own all children made orphans in defence of thoir homes, as patient and beautiful household deities, accepting eve ry sacrifice with unconcern, and lightening the burdens of war by every art, blandish ment, and labor to their sphere, tho dear women of his people deserved la) take rank with the highest horoines of tbe gran dest days of the greatest countries. Talk ing further upon woman, Mr. Davis stated his belief that when women proved un faithful to their marriage vows it will in almost every instance be found the hus band's fault. Men throw their wives, or allow them to be thrown, into tbe compan ionship of male associates whom they know to be dissolute; neglect them while the illicit lover pays every attention, and then grow angry at the result of their own criminal folly. It is either this, or that tbe man has chosen, without sufficient inquiry, a woman whose unfitness for the relations of wife might have been readily ascertain ed. No woman will err if treated proper ly by a husband worthy of the name; but she is the weaker vessel, and must be protected. TDE POLICY OF CONCILIATION. In tho better days of the Roman em pire, when its possessions increased, and conquered countries came in a few years to be integral and even zealous members of the imperial system, it was the policy of conciliation, following that of military conquest, which achieved the desirsd re sults. Certain laws and restrictions of the Imperial Government were imposed—so much annual tribute, so many legions to our military levies, aod obedience to all such laws of the central government as may be issued for your control. But within these linesj an! with these points conceded, the empire strove in all minor and domestic matters to conform in so far as might bo possible to the former habits, customs, aud laws of the people absorbed, and the independent governments super seded. Even their peculiarities of morals, mauners, and religious views were studied and respected when not conflicting with the necessities of tho empire; their leading men wero justly treated, and no efforts wore spared to make the new ordor of things Bit lightly at first, and even pleasant ly in a few years, on the necks of tho sub jugated provinces. Generosity is tho true policy, both of nations aud individuals. “There is that muketb himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is, that makoth him self poor, yet hath groat riches.” While my people are held as conquered subjects, they must bo to you a coutinued source of expense and danger—a country ponnod to gether with bayonets. Let tbo past be ex punged, if you please; wo have nothing to blush for in it, nnd nothing to regret but failure. The necessities of the North ern Treasury and public dobt, Mr. Davis thought, "would before long, compel us to do justico to this section.” MB. DAVIS ON FENIAN ISM—ntOIILY IMPOR TANT —IIIS VIEWS OF RECONSTRUC TION. The present Fenian movements for Ire land was n farce to make angels weep. The last attempt was ia 1828. when the popula tion of Ire’an 1 was more than a million larger—the movement originating at home, and all Europe in a convulsive and volcan ic condition. History gave no example of an oppressed raee that bad accepted exile reior...ng wild, success to liberate their na lire land. Tbe aristocratic refugees of the French Revolution indeed got back to their oeoutrv, but only under the swords of a combination in which England, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and tbe Gorman States were etdisfed. with their whole military re or of designing demagoguos in its cis-At lantic aspoet; nor could ho soo that in Ro land there was an organization of oven a vigorous purpose to accomplish tho object proposed. England’s control of the seas was absolute, at least so near Lome, against any less combination than the navies of France and America. To land men iu auy sufficient quantity in Ireland would require some desperate sea-fights by navy with na vy, and a transport fleet, costing for vessels and thoir equipments not less than some hundread millions. Tho men engaged in this must be either fools or rogues. lie had ao special cause to love England, nor dislike; but such impracticable and pigmy throatenings of her empire would be ludi« crous if not too sad. Against the rocks of her coast tbe storm clouds of a thousand fold the Fenian power had dashed with clamor of waves and mist of spray, but next morning the sun shone bright again, the air was calm, and only in a shore strewn with wrecks could evidenoe be found of any past commotion. Asking Mr. Davis wbat were bis views in regard to tbo reconstruction of the Union, be spoke pretty nearly verbatim as follows; this report not being condensed as with other conversations, but taken down in full from memory, immediately ou re turn to my quarters; “We could not otherwise define recon struction than as a renewal to and by all the States, of all tbe rights, privileges, duties, immunities, and obligations pre scribed and recognized by tbo Constitu tion or original compact of Union, There were several possible alternatives to this plan of reconstruction: “Ist. Consolidation—tbe swallowing up of all State government by the General Government, making tho whole country one State, only divided into provinces for easier administration, but connected as one entity of policy and power. “2d. Territorialism —the control of the Southern States by a Congress aud Execu tive representing only tbe Northern States —that is, colonial vassalage and govern ment by authority of greater force. “3d. By open subversion and usurpation to establish a a despotism over North and South, while yet preserving a certain re publican form. “In replying to one who served through tbe war for no other purpose, as you avow than to defend and maintain tbe Union as defined by the Constitution,” continued Mr. Davis, “there ca n be no necessity for VOL. 1.-NO. 13. considering any other policy than that of of tbe relations of all the States and tbeir citizens to eaeh other and* the United Stales Government. “Every man’s experience must teach him that quarrels between friends are best healed whem they are healed meat prompt v. Tbe alienation which was at first » Ipain becomes by time habitual, and tho mantle of charity being withdrawn, tho faults of each become more and more dis tinct to tbe other, and thus the bitteiest hates naturally spring from tbe ashes of the closest friendship. “It is therefore probably to be regretted that so much delay lias occurred in the work of reconstruction, because of the en hancement thereby of the difficulties in the way of speedy and cordial reconciliation. This opinion is qualified ns “probable,'’ be cause of my waut of recent intercourse with the people. A short time before the close of the war the idea was infused into my people, as you are well aware, that if they would cease resistance the Union would be restored, and all their rights es person and property respected, save the property held in slaves, which would be a question for the courts. I have do doubt that a majority—a very large majority— of tho Southern people nccepted this pro posed settlement with singleness of pur pose, and would, if confidingly and gener* ously treated, have been now industriously ongaged in reparing their wrecked fortunes without any thought of again resisting or obstructing tbe General Goverdment in its ordinary functions. “How far tbe public wealth wound by this course havo been increased, tbe public expenditures lessened, may be measured by many hundred millions of dollars. If it be true that much has been lost, moral ly and materially, by delay, it would seem that trne policy indicate# the promptest ac tion in what is termed reconetuction. Tbe North says we have done evil, and when bidding us “cease to do evil” ehould not preven us “learning to do well.” This oan only be done by removing all impedimenta to the execiae of States functions and tbe re-enjoyment of such oivil and political rights as are left us in the Union, “Each house of Congress it judge of the election aud qualification of its own mem ber#. Tbe Constitution has settled the c Hlasa cy may lose its rights for a time by selecing ineligible persons to be its representatives; but the right of representation is not im paired thereby, and the mistake or abuse may be remedied by anew election. Test oaths are evil continually, aud only evil. They restrain those honorable men who re quire do fetters, while men of a different class will either take them perjurously or with a ‘mental reservation.’ All history has proved them ineffectual and something worse. “Our forefathers emigrated to a wilder ness, and waged the war of the Revolution to have and to hold a government founded on the consent of tbe governed. They consulted and compromised with each oth er to establish a voluntary Union. If that idea is to be followed, confidence, generos ity, fraternity, and not test oaths, disabili ties, and armieß quartered in the interior, must be relied upon to restore tbe Union and make it re-effective for the end# for which it was formed. “Reconstruction,” continued Mr. Davis,, “cannot properly involve or be made to depend on those social problems whiob have arisen from the sudden disruptions of the relations existing between tbe white and black races in the Southern States. These problems belong to the several States, and must have treatment according to the different circumstances of each. No general rule can properly be made applica ble to all, and it will prove unfortunate if the subject is controlled by distant and but poorly-informed, if not prejudiced, author ity. The self-interest of individuals and communities, together with the demand for labor so far exceeding the supply, may safelv be left to protect the laborer. “The public actions of the Southern State conventions furnish conclusive evi dence of the Southern people to resume their position in the Union ; and it must strike all observers with surprise that while those who strove so desperately to leave the Union are now so earnestly endeavor ing to resume their places in it, it is the very men who sent fire and sword to des troy them, or compel them to return, who now bar the door and deny them re-admis sion to that very condition to which it was throughout the war proclaimed to be their first and last duty to return. Solitary re flection,” concluded Mr. Davis, ‘has given me uo key to the mysterious origin of tbia change in Northern opinion, which I find evidenced in every newspaper that reaches me; and perhaps my own sad state has tinged with its gloom the vista of the fu ture. if' thus alienated, disjointed, and adrift, the country should be visited with such trials of foreign war, either with Frauce or England, or both, as are now so often suggested in tbe pnblic journals of America, and their extracts from the Euro pean pres#,”