The Daily Clarion

An Eloquent Appeal in Behalf of Jefferson Davis and Cha. Clark.

The following eloquent memorial, addressed to the President of the United States, in behalf of Jefferson Davis and Charles Clark, by the members of the convention, acting in their individual capacity, will be read with great interest by our people. It is signed, we believe, by every member of that body. We confidently hope that it will have the desired effect. It may not be improper to say that it is from the pen of Gen. Wm. T. Martin, of Natchez, Miss., August 22, 1865.

To the President of the United States:

The members of the Convention of the State of Mississippi, assembled for the purpose of amending the State Constitution, so as to restore our relations with the Federal Government, as Mississippians, and individuals, respectfully present the following petition:

Charles Clark, late Acting Governor of this State, by authority of the United States government, at Fort Pulaski. He is old, worn, shattered in constitution, and wrecked in fortune. He has long been known as a gentleman of high social position, of great worth, integrity and intelligence.

Jefferson Davis, lately the President of the States in rebellion against the Federal Government, is said to be in strict confinement, and debarred the privilege of corresponding or conversing with his family or friends. He is said to be suffering in health and to be threatened with the loss of sight. His family is reduced to poverty.

Here, resistance to the authority of the United States is at an end. There is no longer among our people any intention or wish to resist the Government, but an honest determination to return to their peaceful occupations, and to restore the prosperity that once blessed our State. The action of the Convention, now in session, leaves no doubt of the truth of this assertion. We believe that what is said of our own State is true of all the States lately in rebellion.

Few of us coincide with Messrs. Davis and Clark in their political opinions. Most of us voted against secession, and for years opposed the State Rights party, yet none of us doubted that Mr. Davis acted upon an honest and sincere conviction that the theory of our Government, which he adopted, was right-a theory once advocated by some of the best men our country produced. He was loth to resort to a disruption of the Union, as a mode of remedying what he thought to be wrong in the past, and guarding against other and more grievous wrongs which he believed to be impending. After the Convention assembled in this State, had passed an ordinance of secession, he left the Senate of the United States reluctantly and with sorrow, believing, we are assured, that he was required to do so by his duty to the State, a due regard for consistency and the political principles he had so long adhered to-the solemn, earnest and pathetic appeals contained in his latest addresses to the Senate justify us in these opinions. It was well known to our people that he was not among the most ardent of his political associates. In other times, leading Mississippians to victory, he gallantly fought enabled for the Union, and reflected honor and renown upon our State as well as the whole country. We cannot be indifferent to his fate now, however much we differ from him in his political opinions, and we can but sympathize with him in his misfortunes.

When a war of sections began, inaugurated not so much by the action or appeals of individuals, as by the general uprising and enthusiasm of the masses, he was chosen with extraordinary unanimity, because he was known to be honest, sincere and prudent, to preside over the States in revolt. He was the representative of the sentiments of the people of the States. His acts were those of the great body of the people. We respectfully and earnestly ask that our sins, the sins of the millions for whom, and with whom he acted, may not be visited upon his head.

Now, that our people are returning heartily and cheerfully to their allegiance, we are confident the pardon of the gentlemen we have mentioned, will go very far to produce a more kindly feeling between people of the North and the South, and rid us of much of that asperity which has arisen from the recent conflict. We believe, too, that the pardon of Mr. Davis would be an act of grateful magnanimity, becoming a powerful government, whose military strength and resources have astonished the world, and whose claims to respect would rest not more upon its power than upon its acts of mercy in the hour of triumph. We submit that this act would elicit the applause and excite the admiration of all good men at home, and all good men and governments abroad.

We think the disasters that war has brought upon us will prevent the recurrence of rebellion. These disasters may well stand in the place of further punishment. They have reached us all. We recognize them in the desolation of our fields-in the ruin of our homesteads-the destruction of untold wealth-the terrible loss of life, and the sweeping away of almost all that makes a people great, prosperous or happy. We therefore appeal, earnestly and respectfully, to the President to extend to these gentlemen, in whose fate Mississippians especially feel so deep an interest, the same clemency which he has generously extended to so many of our people.