Jefferson Davis to Robert J. Walker,* August 24, 1846

(From New York Historical Society Collections.)

Mouth of Rio Grande 24th Aug. 1846

Honble R. J. Walker

Dear Sir,

A part of our Regt. has started to Camargo, I embark in a few hours with another detachment making a total of five Companies We have met delay and detention at every turn, the quartermasters at New Orleans have behaved either most incompetently or maliciously, and I am now but two days in possession of the Rifles ordered forward before I left Washington. But don't give the quartermaster's Dept. credit for that, my acknowledgements for having them now are due to your naval Militia—Maj. Roach despairing of the Q.M. Dept. applied to Capt. Webster of the revenue service who placed the arms on the cutters "Ewing" and "Legare" and brought them to the Brazos Santiago. The ammunition and accoutrements sent from Baton Rouge to be forwarded by the quarter Master have not arrived and the ordnance stores on the frontier above have a very insufficient supply of Rifle ammunition. All this arises from having a bundle of papers and prejudices against Volunteers charged with the duties of quarter Master at New Orleans—viz. Lt. Col. & Asst. Qr. Master Hunt of the U. S. Army.

I must acknowledge the debt due from the Missi. Volunteers for service timely and courteously rendered by Capts. Webster and Moore Comdg. the Cutter "Ewing" and the Captain Comdg. the "Legare." If you can notice their conduct, I hope we may so use the rifles as to show the service was not to us alone.

Maj. Roach informs me that the surveyor of the port of New Orleans Mr. Hayden gave him kind assistance and feeling that it was done as a favor to your friends causes me to regret that I heard the statements in New Orleans which were communicated to you.

The mouth of this River has but little to invite one seeking the Land of promise to enter it the banks are low and without trees, but the current meets the sea with such force as to keep the entrance generally smooth, and it has been to me a matter of surprise that goods bound up the river were not brought ashore here, instead of being carried over the breakers at the Brazos in lighters & then brought in other lighters here. The anchorage is said to be equally good and the entrance habitually more quiet, though somewhat more shallow. I have not received the letter you intended to send me but hope always a brave and cheering us onward leads to the expect a letter from at Army Head Qrs. (Letter torn in this sentence).

"Claiborne" went off on the Louisiana Volunteers, (as I understand it a mere pretext) for the fact is they were sick of the job, and but very (few) of all I have seen wished to remain longer in this country. Our Regt. have suffered much from disease, had transportation been furnished promptly we would (have) gone with a full Regt. and what is more important with men full of zeal, and vigor, into the Campaign

Though we pick the mill stone we can't see through it, if ever I find a hole it will give me pleasure to communicate to you the wonders found within.

Present me to Mrs. Walker in the kindest terms and give my remembrances to my young friends your Children

With great regard I am

Yrs &c

Jeffn, Davis

_______________

* Walker, Robert James (1801-1869), an American political leader and financier, was born in Northumberland, Penn., July 23, 1801; was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1819 and began the practice of law in Pittsburg in 1822. He removed to Mississippi in 1826; became prominent as a lawyer and land speculator; was a member of the U. S. Senate from March 4, 1835 to March 5, 1845; Secretary of the Treasury 1845-1849; Governor of Kansas from April to December 1857. He died in Washington, D. C., November 11, 1869. Walker was firm against the nullification doctrine of 1832-1833; was the author of the tariff bill of 1846, a revenue and not a protectionist measure; negotiated a loan in Europe for the United States 1863-1864; impaired the European financial credit of the Confederacy, and came to the rescue of the Alaska purchase treaty. Consult W. E. Dodd, Robert J. Walker, Imperialist, 40 pp., Chicago, 1914.

SOURCE: Dunbar Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters, Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, p. 58-60

A Distinguished Witness, published April 21, 1859

It is impossible to give a weekly newspaper the whole of the proceedings in the trial of Mr. Sickles, and, indeed, we have no disposition to fill our columns with such matter. But some of the evidence is quite interesting; and our readers will be pleased to read the testimony of so distinguished a witness as Governor R. J. Walker. He was examined on Tuesday of last week.

TESTIMONY OF R. J. WALKER.

Robert J. Walker examined. I have resided in this District many years; I was in the city on Sunday the 27^th of February; I had known Mr. Sickles several years, but had not seen him for six or eight months prior to that date; it was either three or twenty minutes after three  o’clock I saw him in his own house on the afternoon of that day, in the back room of the first story; as he came in, his manner appears excited; there was something strange and unusual about it; his voice was somewhat different from the manner in which I had usually heard him speak; he advanced and took me by the hand; I think he then said a thousand thanks for coming to see me under these circumstances; had had scarcely repeated these words, when I saw a great change in his appearance; he became very much convulsed indeed; he threw himself upon the sofa, and covered his face with his hands; he then broke into an agony of unnatural and unearthly sounds, the must remarkable I ever heard—something like a scream interrupted by violent sobbing. From his convulsed appearance, he was in the act of writhing His condition appeared to me very frightful, appalling me so much that I thought that if it lasted much longer he must become insane. He was indulging in exclamations about dishonor having been brought on his house, his wife, and child. He seemed particularly to dwell on the disgrace brought upon his child. Should think this continued ten minutes; endeavored to pacify him. I turned from him to go for a physician myself, but he seemed to stop a little these violent exclamations, and finally they broke down. The spasms became more violent till they ceased. I think I must have been there something over half an hour. I accompanied him from there to jail. Mayor Berret, Capt. Goddard, and perhaps Mr. Butterworth, were there. I was still alarmed at his condition, not knowing when the convulsions would recur. I believe I drove with him in Dr. Gwin’s carriage, with whom I came to Mr. Sickles’s.

CROSS-EXAMINATION.

At first, I do not think any person was present but Mr. Butterworth; I was very much excited myself, but I will not be certain; I think Mr. Butterworth and Goddard came in; when these terrible convulsions occurred, I think no one was present but Butterworth besides myself.; I remained talking with Butterworth for of five minutes, when Sickles came alone and stayed with us some little time; I was, from a variety of causes, much excited; I never was more so than on that occasion; when the convulsions came on. I thought I would go for a physician.

THE PRISONER’S EMOTION.

A[t] this point, Mr. Stanton, who was near the prisoner, asked that the cross-examination be discontinued for the present, in order that the accused might retire for a few moments. Mr. Sickles, during the statement of this witness, was violently affected, breaking out into sobs and profusely shedding tears. E. B. Hart and Isaac Bell, one on each side, and Mr. Sickles senior, together with others, accompanied him from the court.

The witness particularly, and many of the spectators, were moved to tears. The scene was one of deep interest[.] In some few minutes Mr. Sickles was brought back into court, his countenance still indicating extreme mental suffering, and the desolateness of his whole appearance awakening strong sympathy in the breasts of all who saw him. His father was much affected by his condition.

CROSS EXAMINATION RESUMED.

The cross-examination of Mr. Walker was resumed by the District Attorney. I do not know who sent for Goddard, the Chief of Police; my impression was that it was Sickles, or some of his friends; after a time, Sickles became calmer but did not resume his satural appearance; he quitted sobbing and crying for some time.

To Mr. Carlisle. Could compare Sickles’s condition to nothing but an agony of despair; it was the most terrible thing I ever saw in my life; he was in a state of frenzy at the time, and I feared if it continued he would become permanently insane; his screams were of the most frightful character, there were unearthly and appalling, and were interrupted by something between a sob and a moan; sometimes he would start and scream in a very high key; he appeared in a state of perfect frenzy.

Ques. What do you mean by that? Do you mean a passion of grief?

Ans. It was much stronger than grief; it exhibited more alarming symptoms than any grief I had ever witnessed before; I had seen a man a long time ago, under similar circumstances, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, but his grief was not so strong as this. Mr. Sickles’s exclamations of grief were more about his child than anything else. I remained there for a bout half an hour; had moved to the door to go for a physician, but there was some cessation in these paroxysms, and I did not go; he gradually grew calmer. My impression is, that it was Mr. Butterworth who went for the magistrate.

Ques. Do you recollect that Sickles grew calm, and said he was ready to go with the magistrate?

Ans. I do; when I say calm, I mean comparatively calm. I went with him to the jail, because I feared a recurrence of his paroxysms of grief and despair; I remained at the jail from one to two hours; no physicians saw him during that time, to my knowledge; there were few persons at the jail; none but the magistrate, Mr. Goddard, Mr. Butterworth, and one or two others; it could not have been more than four or five minutes between those paroxysms and the coming in of the magistrate; the first part of the scene was witnessed only by Butterworth and myself.

DIRECT TESTIMONY OF WALKER, CONTINUED.

The first part of this scene was witnessed only by Mr. Butterworth and myself. I never was so much excited as I was on that occasion. Should think that about ten minutes transpired, during which Butterworth, Sickles and myself, were in the room together. I first went into the front room, and afterwards into the back room. There were several persons in the front room, but could not name one of them. The rooms communicated by folding doors, and I think they were closed. I went through these doors into the back room. The persons in the front room could not witness this scene, as the doors were closed, at least during part of the time. My impression is, that the next person I saw in the back room was Mr. Berrett, the Mayor.

Ques. Where is Mr. Butterworth now?

Ans. I do not know.

Ques. When did you see him last?

Ans. Some day towards the close of last week.

Ques. In this city?

Ans. Yes.

SOURCE: The National Era, Washington, D. C., Thursday, April 21, 1859, p. 2

The Sickles Trial, published April 21, 1859

We brought our brief synopsis of this important trial down to Wednesday last. On that day the court ruled that the confession of Mrs. Sickles was inadmissible. Miss. O. M. Ridgely, who resides in Washington with her mother, was an intimate friend of Mrs. Sickles, and spent much of her time at the house, before and after the killing of Key. Her testimony, like that of Governor Walker, which we elsewhere publish in full, goes to show the extreme anguish of mind of Mr. Sickles. Bridget Duffy who lived in Mr. Sickles’s house as nurse and lady’s maid, testified, as did Miss Ridgely, that Mr. Sickles spent the Saturday night before the homicide in extreme anguish, weeping and sobbing aloud. The witness also testified that she saw Key twirling his handkerchief in a peculiar manner opposite the house of the day of his death.

William W. Mann of Buffalo, New York, met Key in Lafayette square, near the Jackson statue, the same morning—spoke to him—observed him twirl his handkerchief. A gentleman with him called his attention to it.

George B. Wooldridge was an assistant to the Clerk of the House [of] representatives. Saw Mr. Sickles at the Capitol ion Saturday, in great agony of mind. On Sunday, the day of the homicide, was at Mr. Sickles’s house. The testimony of this witness is interesting:

Ques. Did you see Mr. Key that Sunday.

Ans. I did; twice.

Ques. Where and when?

Ans. First between ten and eleven o’clock, going out of the gate of Lafayette square, on the corner of Seventeenth street and Pennsylvania avenue, near the War Office, on the street Mr. Sickles’s house was in.

Ques. In what direction did he go?

Ans. He crossed the street and went up the avenue, I presume; I did not observe in what direction he turned his glance; the second time I saw him was about a quarter to two o’clock, directly in front of the library window in Mr. Sickles’s house; there was a lady and gentleman with him then; he was on the side toward the curbstone; the lady was next the railing; and the three were in a direct line; Mr. Sickles was upstairs at the time; he had left the library and gone up stairs.

Ques. Did you observe Mr. Key do anything while passing?

Ans. I saw him tike his handkerchief out of his pocket and wave it three times; while doing so, his eyes where toward the upper window of Mr. Sickles house; he kept his eyes from the gentleman, as if he did not which him to see what he was doing; he parted with the lady and gentleman at the corner, entered the park, and proceeded in the direction of Madison Place; some five minutes before that Mr. Sickles had gone up stairs; saw him enter the library door two minutes after; heard some one coming down the stairs very rapidly, and come into the library; he said, “The villain has just passed my house.”

District Attorney. Do not state what he said.

Mr. Brady. What did he do?

Witness. He was very excited; he talked for a moment with Mr. Butterworth, who endeavored to calm him; he appeared to resist these attempts to calm him, and threw Mr. Butterworth off, and turned into the hall; he had not his hat on at the time.

This is the last I saw of him till he came into the house with the officers.

S. S. Parker sworn. I have seen Mr. Key in the vicinity of Mr. Sickles’s house; the last time was on the Sunday he was killed, near half past ten o’clock; He passed me near Fifteenth street and Pennsylvania avenue, above Willards; I slowly passed up Fifteenth street; he walked very rapidly; when near Nairn’s drug store, he was entering the middle gate of Lafayette square; I saw him the Sunday before the shooting; I saw Mrs. Sickles on the platform of her residence, he had over the shoulder of a little girl, apparently trying to keep her from falling from the steps; directly after, I saw Mr. Key at the southwest gate of Lafayette square; when he came out in full view, he took out his handkerchief, with his hat in hand; but his hat on his head, bowing to Mrs. S. and twice waived his handkerchief.

Thomas K. Brown, examined by Mr. Brady. I reside in the city of New York; in pursuance to instructions from you, (Mr. Brady,) I obtained a certain lock.

Mr. Brady hands the witness a sealed package, breaks the seal, opens the package, and produced a common door lock.

Mr. Carlisle did not see the point of examination.

Mr. Brady simply wanted to identify an article which he would offer in evidence hereafter.

The witness identified the lock, and says he procured it from Mr. Wagner, Pennsylvania avenue, opposite the Treasury Department, who took it from the door No. 383 Fifteenth street.

Not cross-examined.

Jacob Wagner, examined by Mr. Brady. I reside in Washington; I am a locksmith; I delivered this lock to Mr. Brown, the last witness; I took it off the house in Fifteenth street, No. 383; John Gray, the colored man’s house; there were three or four gentlemen there when I took it off; Mr. Pendleton was on of them; I saw him in the court yesterday; I believe he was a member of Congress; the colored boy came for me; this was about a week after Mr. Key’s death; have seen some of the gentlemen in court who were present; the colored man paid me for taking it off.

Question. What was said on that occasion?

Objected to.

Mr. Stanton proposed to show that  the lock was taken off for the purpose of destroying evidence.

Mr. Ould. If that was the view, I have not the slightest objection to have the question put.

Mr. Stanton wanted to know whether it was the persons engaged in the prosecution who tried to destroy the evidence. There were two prosecutors here, a public prosecutor and a private prosecutor.

Mr. Carlisle wanted to know whether Mr. Stanton meant to be understood as intimating that he (Mr. Carlisle) had any knowledge of this attempt to destroy evidence.

Mr. Stanton. None in the world. God forbid that I should believe you would do it.

John Cuyler was sworn. Knew the late Mr. Key for three or four years; knew where Mr. Sickles resided; saw Mr. Key in the vicinity of the house a week before his death.

As I entered the corner gate of Lafayette square, I saw Mr. Key enter the corner gate; proceeding to the front of the Jackson statue, he took a seat on an iron bench, rested his head on his left hand, then pulled out his pocket handkerchief and waved it; I went behind the Statue and watched him; he waved his handkerchief this way, [illustrating,] and then looked at the house of Mr. Sickles. [Laughter.] There was no dog about at the time; this was between 12 and 1 o’clock; I left him in the square as I went out of the northeast gate to go home; I left him sitting there; when I returned that way, he was gone; I have often seen him loitering back and forth in the square; for two months, he had been attracting my attention; I never saw him waving his handkerchief but on one occasion.

By Mr. Stanton. Was that the hour when Members of Congress are at the Capitol?

Witness. Yes.

Mr. Carlisle. That is an argumentative question.

Mr. Stanton. That is all.

Cross-examined by Mr. Ould. I saw Mr. Key waving his handkerchief, while I was going home to dinner; I work first one place an then another; I was then working on Seventeenth street, below the War Department; had been working there three or four days; I never took count of how many times I met Mr. Key in the square as I went through it; I have seen him in the square on the avenue, near the Club House; I cannot state the day; it must have been about the middle of the week, about a week before the killing.

To witness. What was said about the lock at this time, and who said it?

Ans. The colored man said it.

Ques. Were the other persons present at the time?

Ans. No, sir.

Ques. What time was it?

Ans. About 11 o’clock.

Ques. While you were taking off the lock?

Ans. Yes.

Mr. Carlisle. Were these other persons present at the time?

Ans. Not that I know of. I think they were upstairs.

Mr. Ould. I Understand that it was proposed to show that certain persons connected with the deceased had given orders that this lock should be secured and kept out of the way. I have no objection that that fact, if true, should be given in evidence; but the evidence must tend to that.

Judge. It must come through a regular channel.

Mr. Stanton to witness. I want to know whether these persons were in the house at the time?

Ans. There were.

Ques. How long were you engaged in taking it off?

Ans. Ten minutes.

Ques. What door was it taken off.

Ans. The front door.

Ques. Was there another lock put on that door?

Ans. There was.

It now being three o’clock, the court adjourned.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15.

Jacob Wagner was recalled. He wished to correct his testimony given yesterday; while taking off the lock, as he testified yesterday, no one spoke to witness that he remembered, but the colored man. Mr. Pendleton’s name was called; saw another man there, who is now in court. [Col. Jones.]

Cross-examined by Mr. Ould. These persons were there when witness went to the house; the front door was locked; entered the house by the back way, which was unlocked; the lock taken off was on the front door of the house; tried to unlock the back door, and found it was already unlocked; the lock was not broken; this was about a week after Key’s death; three other gentlemen were up stairs at the time; did not come down while witness was there; saw them in the yard, and saw them go up stairs; have witness no directions about the matter; witness did not go up stairs at all.

By Mr. Brady. Put a different lock on the door afterwards.

By Mr. Carlisle. The colored boy who came to witness was not the proprietor of the house; knows John Gray; he was there, and asked witness to take off the lock; witness saw Mr. Pendleton and Col. Jones examine the lower part of the house, and afterwards go up stairs.

John Seeley called and examined. Resides in Washington; is a painter; lives in L street, about thirty yards below the corner of Fifteenth street, not far from the house of John Gray, in Fifteenth street; was present when the lock was taken off; thinks it was between the 5^th and the 8^th of March; was there by mere accident, and heard the order given to take off the lock; saw Mr. Charles Jones there, and was informed that the other was Mr. Pendleton; one of these gentleman gave the order for the lock to be taken off; don’t know which one; was present a part of the time when the lock was taken off; Mr. Poole was there also when the locksmith went to work; they went up stairs; heard nothing said about the character of the new lock to be put on.

Cross-examined by Mr. Ould. The time was between the 5^th and 8^th of March; that was the only time witness was there after the death of Key; this might have been Tuesday; am not sure as to the day of the week; the locksmith came through the adjoining lot, occupied by a yellow woman; do not know whether any one else had been to that house previously, since Key’s death; these gentlemen were standing in the yard when the witness reached the spot, and went into the house just before witness reached the spot, and went into the house just before witness; one of them said it would be better to take off that lock and put on a new one; they were in the house some time, in the passage and parlor, perhaps twenty or twenty-five minutes; thinks the lock was not entirely off when they went up stairs; heard no order given as to the disposition to be made of the lock; the remark was, the lock had better be taken off, and replaced with another.

Lewis Poole called. Boards with Mr. Seeley, who has just testified; knows the house No. 383 Fifteenth street, owned by John Gary; have noticed it freque3ntlyu; was there when the lock was taken off; thinks it was on Monday or Tuesday, a week after Key’s death; Mr. Pendleton, Mr. Jones, Seeley and witness, and Gray were present; Mr. Pendleton ordered the lock to be taken off, and another one put on; saw the lock taken off; did not see the other one put on.

Cross-examined by Mr. Ould. We all went into the house together; after giving the order, Mr. Pendletons and Mr. Jones immediately went up stairs to examine the upper portion of the house; thinks it was a command and not a suggestion to the locksmith, for he went to work and did it; can’t give Mr. Pendleton’s exact language; these gentleman staid up stairs teen or fifteen minutes; while the lock was being removed, these gentlemen were up states the whole time; had never been in the house previously, since Key’s death; does not know that anybody else did; I know that Mr. Hey went there. [Laughter.]

Rev. C. H. A. Buckley called. Resides in Westminster, Conn.; have known Sickles since 1838; was associated with him in New York University, and was in one class with him; since then, have had a casual acquaintance with him.

Mr. Brady asked whether witness had an opportunity in former years to know whether Sickles had an excitable temperament.

Witness. Yes, sir.

Mr. Brady proposed to prove that Mr. Sickles once, under the loss of a friend, became positively insane, so as to have to be placed under restraint.

Mr. Ould said, if previous insanity could be proved they would withdraw the objection.

[The witness testified that on the occasion of the death of Professor Da Ponte, in 1840, in New York, who was the patron of Mr. Sickles, immediately after his body was lowered into the ground, Sickles broke out into frantic and passionate grief, shrieking and yelling; it was impossible for his friends to pacify him, and they were obliged to use friendly force to remove him from the spot; witness thinks he did tear his clothes and his hair, but was not sure. This testimony is voluntary on witness’s part, and wholly unsought by the prisoner, or by this counsel. He had offered it, as he thought it might be of service to him.]

Cross-examined by Mr. Ould. Do not know how old Sickles was then, because I do not know his age now; was about the same age as witness, apparently; witness is forty years of age; this manifestation of violent grief lasted ten minutes perhaps, or five minutes at any rate; saw no traces of it on the following day; did not see him every day at that  time; saw him two or three days afterwards, but saw nothing singular in his appearance; he appeared to be rather more light-hearted than could be expected under the circumstances, forming an unnatural contrast to his previous conduct; it was a casual manifestation ; the first demonstration was the most remarkable witness ever saw in his life; do not remember the circumstances in his life; do not remember the circumstances of the second interview, or who was present; it was somewhere about the University; was then a student of the Theological Seminary.

Major Hopkins called. Is a coachman for Col. Freeman; have been such for five or six years; lives on H street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth; saw Mr. Key. On the Sunday he was shot, about half past one o’clock; he was about the middle of the square, walking up and down; he was doing nothing in particular; saw him either on Monday or Wednesday, the week previous; he went into the square and waved his handkerchief; Mrs. Sickles came out and joined him, and they walked away together; about an hour after, saw them go up Fifteenth street; lost sight of them on the steps of John Gray’s house.

Cross-examined by Mr. Carlisle. Is Major your name or your title? [Laughter.]

Witness. It is my name, Sir.

Mr. Carlisle. Then you don’t belong to either or the regular army or the militia? [Laughter.]

Witness. No, sir.

[This witness was rigidly cross-examined, and seemed to get very much puzzled in giving his answers. When he saw Mrs. Sickles on Fifteenth street, her back was turned towards him, but he judged it was her by her dress, which he had observed when she first joined Mr. Key.]

But one witness was examined on Saturday. His evidence was not important. On Monday, Mrs. Brown, a witness formerly examined, testified that she had seen Key and Mrs. Sickles enter the house several times. John M. Seeley and his wife, who reside in the immediate vicinity of the house on Fifteenth street, also testified to seeing the parties enter the house frequently. Their testimony was minute and clear.

Tuesday, Mr. Thompson sworn. Was formerly Mr. Sickles’s coachman. Mrs. Sickles was in the habit of driving out during the hours when Congress in session, and generally met Key. He usually got into the carriage, by never rode home with her except once, when Mr. Sickles was in New York. During the absence of Sickles, Key was in the habit of visiting Mrs. Sickles nearly every night, and remained late with her alone in the library—one night until one o’clock. They also were in the habit of visiting the cemetery at Georgetown, and, alighting at the gate, walking down the hill out of his sight.

John Cooney, the coachman of Mr. Sickles at the time of Key’s death, gave similar testimony.

Mr. Wooldridge was recalled and cross-examined by the prosecution.

SOURCE: The National Era, Washington, D. C., Thursday, April 21, 1859, p. 2-3

Congressman Jefferson Davis to John Jenkins, January 30, 1846

Washington, 30th January, 1846.

Jno. Jenkins, Esq:

Dear Sir—I have recently been informed by a letter from Jackson, that a rumor prevails to the effect that I have endorsed the statements made by your correspondent "Veritas," in letters written from this place in December last.

To those who know me, I hope it is unnecessary to say, that I would not adopt such a mode to attack any man, or thus circuitously proceed to guard our State against "intrigue" and "insult.' Had there been no other consideration than my own position, it would have been left to time to correct any false impressions which this unfounded rumor may have created; but the so-called "facts" contained in these letters are of a character to excite prejudices in Mississippi which may prove injurious to our common interests; and therefore, without taking upon myself the part of advocate or apologist of any one, I wish to disabuse the public mind by a simple correction of the most prominent mis-statements in the letters referred to.

In the letter of the Dec. 20th, 1845, it is stated that Wm. M. Gwin received a draft for $7,972.24, drawn against an amount of interest decided to be due to the Chickasaw Indians on monies deposited in the Agricultural Bank of Mississippi.

The writer says: "This amount Gwin received while here a few weeks ago. He got the Secretary of the Treasury to allow the claim had it passed through the several accounting departments; and the Doctor pocketed the snug sum, and hastened forthwith to Mississippi, to attend to Mr. Walker's orders in the Senatorial campaign."

Here is an act asserted to have been performed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and a corrupt motive insinuated for the performance of that act; constituting a charge which might well arouse suspicions, and create fears for the safety of the public funds under the present administration. What are the facts in this case? By the books of the 1st Comptroller, it appears that on the 21st January, 1845, the claim of Wm. M. Gwin, agent for the Chickasaws, was allowed for the sum of $7,992.24, and that sum paid on the same day, by draft on the Bank of Louisiana; the transaction being closed a month and a half before the present administration came into power.

I have learned from the Treasury Department, that shortly after Mr. Walker became Secretary, large claims were presented by Dr. Gwin, agent of the Chickasaws, for allowance and payments; and that under the provisions of the Act of 3d March 1845, they were all rejected, and that no money has been so allowed or paid to Dr. Gwin by the present Secretary of the Treasury.

With regard to the charge of interference in our Senatorial election, made elsewhere more distinctly, and with violent appeal to resent the insult, and resist the attempt at official dictation; I have made inquiries, and been distinctly answered, that Mr. Walker did not write a single letter, or otherwise interfere in the late canvass for a Mississippi Senator.

In the letter dated Dec. 19th, 1845, it is asked, where does the Secretary of the Treasury deposit the public funds in this District? and the writer answers: "Why, he selects the firm of Corcoran & Riggs (brokers and money dealers in this city) as the depositories of the public moneys." The writer does not stop to inform you whether a better selection could have been made, but goes on to tell how "the story runs" that these Bankers "give fine dinners; they dine and wine the Secretary of the Treasury," and that "they also build a fine house for Mr. Walker to dwell in.”

Now, sir, this second "fact," this second insinuation of a corrupt motive, is of the same baseless character as the first.

The Bankers were not selected as depositories by the present Secretary of the Treasury, (Mr. Walker.) The security they deposited has been found ample, and they have been continued. If an "Independent Treasury" law should be re-enacted, for which no one has shown greater solicitation than the present Secretary of the Treasury, all future connexion with these Bankers would be precluded. As to the house suffice it to say, Mr. Walker resides in the house he has occupied for years past, and I have been informed that Corcoran & Riggs are not building, nor ever have built a dwelling house in this city.

From these samples you will be able to put a proper estimate upon the many other points which are contained in those letters, and to see the propriety of this move to arrest at once the

impression that I was connected with, or responsible for, the veracity of "Veritas."

I will, before closing, notice one other point in the correspondence treated of. In the letter of December 23rd, 1845, your correspondent, ("Veritas,') referring to the circumstances connected with the "Lost Commission," says of the Secretary of the Treasury, "if it does not cost him his seat in Mr. Polk's cabinet, it will at least paralyze his efforts, his aims and desires for all practical and useful purposes."

Like yourself, I have from the beginning contended that the public had a right to know all that their agents had done in relation to a transaction so important as the appointment of an U. S. Senator. Before this reaches you I hope the correspondence thereon will have been published, and that like many other secrets, its importance will have been lost in the act of disclosure.

In the mean time, sir, I would say that it would be with the greatest reluctance, and the deepest regret, that I would entertain the idea that the efforts of the Secretary of the Treasury are to be paralyzed at the moment when all his energies are directed to the accomplishment of those great objects, "the divorce of Bank and State," and "the repeal of the protective Tariff of 1842."

Am I deceived when I expect Mississippi to nerve the arm engaged in such a contest, rather than to strip it of its power? It is her cause, and her prayers belong to him who enters the lists to sustain it.

The political aspirations of individuals are only important as they are connected with the public good. This is, I think, the case in the present instance. Mississippi has now for the first time in her history, a representative in the Executive Cabinet. We have believed that our interests were unjustly neglected by the Federal Government; we find the Secretary of the Treasury, with his acknowledged ability, laboring for us. Shall he not receive the cheer necessary to sustain the laborer? Shall vague rumors shaped by private spleen—shall dark suspicions anonymously thrown into circulation, be permitted to rob your public servants of the only reward the honest politician seeks, the approbation of those to whom his time and toil have been given?

Please publish this, that it may follow the misrepresentations it is designed to correct.

Very truly yours,

JEFF. DAVIS.

SOURCES: Dunbar Rowland, Editor, Jefferson Davis, Constitutionalist: His Letters, Papers and Speeches, Volume 1, p. 26-8

John M. Forbes & William H. Aspinwall to Salmon P. Chase, April 25, 1863

London, 25 April, 1863.

. . . We have now to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 30 March, handed to us by the Hon. Robert J. Walker, and to say that this gentleman has also repeated to us the verbal explanations which you made to him before his departure. We have carefully considered both, and we find that the main object of his visit to Europe is to acquaint European capitalists with the actual circumstances and resources of our country.¹ We think it will render great service in helping to stem the current of ignorance and misapprehension so generally prevalent in Europe, and in compliance with your suggestions we shall confer freely with him on all occasions, when we think he can, by his advice or his knowledge of facts, or by his political position, aid us in carrying out the objects of our mission; but we do not consider ourselves called on, either by your letters or by our own judgment of what is expedient, to show him our instructions, although he has exhibited to us his own; nor do we feel justified, under our understanding with Messrs. Baring Bros. & Co., to mention to him, or any one else here, the particulars of our temporary loan.

. . . We have not been negligent on the last suggestion of your letter, and are prepared to resort to it whenever other means fail; but the institution of criminal prosecution against Laird and other builders by us, or any American or official party, would be liable to raise up such an excitement as would frustrate the object in view. The English government must be moved to take these proceedings, or, failing to do this effectually, we can count on a local English association for action; and either of these must command a support we could not rely on, and both must be exhausted before we take the last chance. . . .

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¹ Mr. Walker had been Secretary of the Treasury under President Polk, 1845 to 1849. —  Ed.

SOURCE: Sarah Forbes Hughes, Letters and Recollections of John Murray Forbes, Volume 2, p. 43-4

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: June 27, 1863

An officer of the Signal Corps reported, yesterday, the force of Gen. Keyes, on the Peninsula, at 6000. To-day we learn that the enemy is in possession of Hanover Junction, cutting off communication with both Fredericksburg and Gordonsville. A train was coming down the Central Road with another installment of the Winchester prisoners (some 4000 having already arrived, now confined on Belle Island, opposite the city), but was stopped in time, and sent back.

Gen. Elzey had just ordered away a brigade from Hanover Junction to Gordonsville, upon which it was alleged another raid was projected. What admirable manoeuvring for the benefit of the enemy!

Gen. D. H. Hill wrote, yesterday, that we had no troops on the Blackwater except cavalry. I hope he will come here and take command.

Gen. Whiting has arrested the Yankee crew of the Arabian, at Wilmington. It appears that she is owned by New Yorkers, sailed from New York, and has a Yankee cargo!

Capt. Maury writes from London that R. J. Walker, once a fire-and-fury Mississippi Senator (but Yankee-born), is in Europe trying to borrow £50,000,000 for the United States. Capt. Maury says the British Government will not willingly let us have another “Alabama;” but that it is also offended at the United States for the atrocities of Wilkes, and this may lead to war. The war, however, would not be intended as a diversion in our behalf.

Nothing is heard to-day from Lee, except what appears in Northern papers several days old, when our troops were occupying Hagerstown, Cumberland, etc., in Maryland, and foraging pretty extensively in Pennsylvania.

Nothing from Vicksburg.

Just as I apprehended! The brigade ordered away from Hanover to Gordonsville, upon a wild-goose chase, had not been gone many hours before some 1200 of the enemy's cavalry appeared there, and burnt the bridges which the brigade had been guarding! This is sottishness, rather than generalship, in our local commanders.

A regiment was sent up when firing was heard (the annihilation of our weak guard left at the bridges) and arrived just two hours too late. The enemy rode back, with a hundred mules they had captured, getting under cover of their gun-boats.

To-day, it is said, Gen. Elzey is relieved, and Gen. Ransom, of North Carolina, put in command; also, that Custis Lee (son of Gen. R. E. Lee) has superseded Gen. Winder. I hope this has been done. Young Lee has certainly been commissioned a brigadier-general. His brother, Brig.-Gen. W. H. F. Lee, wounded in a late cavalry fight, was taken yesterday by the enemy at Hanover Court House.

Gen. Whiting's letter about the “Arabian” came back from the President, to-day, indorsed that, as Congress did not prohibit private blockade-running, he wouldn't interfere. So, this is to be the settled policy of the government.

This morning the President sent a letter to the Secretary of War, requesting him to direct all mounted officers — some fifty A. A. G.'s and A. D.'s — to report to him for duty around the city. Good! These gentlemen ought to be in the saddle instead of being sheltered from danger in the bureaus.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 360-1

James H. Holmes to John Brown, August 16, 1857

Lawrence, K. T., Aug. 16, 1857.

My Dear Friend, — I received your letter of the 8th inst. yesterday. I am glad to hear that you are so near. Messrs. Realf, Phillips, and Wattles also received letters from you yesterday. I have a word of caution to say in regard to Mr. Wattles. He is a friend whom I most highly esteem; yet he is so connected in politics that I think it unsafe for you to communicate to him any plans you would not like to communicate directly to Governor Walker. For this reason: Mr. Wattles is under George W. Brown; and both believe in submitting in good faith, under Governor Walker, to the Territorial anthorities. Governor Walker comes to town frequently, and stops at the “Herald of Freedom” office, in secret conclave with G. W. Brown. When you come here (if you should), you can judge for yourself.

Messrs. Phillips, Wattles, and Realf I have seen; they will write to you themselves, and I will merely give you my own mind on the subject. I do not know what you would have me infer by “business.” I presume, though, by the word being emphasized, that you refer to the business for which I learn you have a stock of material with you. If you mean this, I think quite strongly of a good(?) opening for this business about the first Monday in October¹ next. If you wish other employments, I presume you will find just as profitable ones. I am sorry that you have not been here in the Territory before. I think that the sooner you come the better, so that the people and the Territorial authorities may become familiarized with your presence. This is also the opinion of all other friends with whom I have conversed on this subject. You could thus exert more influence. Several times we have needed you very much. I have much to communicate to you, which I cannot do throngh this medinm; therefore you must try to let me know of your approach or arrival as soon as possible, through Mr. Phillips, or through the Lawrence postoffice. I presume Mr. Phillips wrote to you in regard to teams and means, which, as Mr. Whitman is now East, will be, I fear, scarce.

Most sincerely your friend,

James H. Holmes.

_______________

¹ Election Day.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 395-6

Augustus Wattles to John Brown, August 21, 1857

Lawrence, K. T., Aug. 21, 1857.

Dear Sir — Your favor of August 8 came duly to hand, as did yours to Dr. Prentice. The business you speak of was put into the hands of Mr. Realf. Mr. Whitman and Mr. Edmonds¹ are both gone East. In regard to other inquiries, I can hardly tell you satisfactorily. I think Dr. Robinson's failure to meet the legislature last winter disheartened the people so that they lost confidence in him and in the movement. Although in the Convention we invited him to withdraw his resignation (which he did), yet the masses could never be vitalized again into that enthusiasm and confidence which they had before. Another mistake which he made, equally fatal, was his attack upon George W. Brown and the Herald of Freedom; “thus leading off his friends into a party by themselves, and leaving all who doubted and hated him in another party. This war between the leaders settled the question of resistance to outside authority at once. Those who had entertained the idea of resistance have entirely abandoned it. Dr. Robinson was not alone in his blunders. Colonel Lane, Mr. Phillips, and ‘The Republican’” made equally fatal ones. Colonel Lane boasted in his public speeches that the Constitutional Convention would be driven into the Kaw River, etc., by violence. Mr. Phillips boasted this, and much more, in the “New York Tribune.” “The Republican” boasted that old Captain Brown would be down on Governor Walker and Co. like an avenging god, etc. This excited Walker and others to that degree they at once took refuge under the United States troops. Whatever might have been intended, much more was threatened and boasted of than could possibly have been performed, unless there was an extensive conspiracy. This, I believe, Governor Walker says was the case.

I saw Conway to-day. He says he thinks all will go off quietly at the election. Phillips, you will see by the “Tribune,” has come out in favor of voting in October. They intend to cheat us; but we expect to beat them. Walker is as fair as be can be, under the circumstances.

Yours truly,

A. Wattles.²

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¹ Two names for the same man.

² Indorsed by John Brown: “A. Wattles, No. 6.” The rest of these letters are not in my hands. The election mentioned was to occur in October, and was carried by the Free-State men. “Walker” was the new Governor, — R. J, Walker, of Pennsylvania.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 394-5