tion has only served through the years to emphasize the facts which a passion-swayed Congress sought to obliterate. The unsightly mutilation itself has borne witness during that time to the infinite littleness of the men who stooped to a display so childish of vindictiveness and sectional hate.
The amends now ordered by Mr. Roosevelt should have been made years ago, in justice to Mr. Davis and in charity to the Congress moved by unreasoning fury to an act unworthy. It is an episode best forgotten. The people of the South have already testified their appreciation of Mr. Roosevelt's action, and we believe it will be, for the reasons above suggested, as heartily approved by their countrymen of the North.
[Explanatory.—Full text of the replies from Virginia officials received in January and February, 1909, will be found further on, under date, June 1, 1909, as part of Mrs. Robinson's report, entitled "Virginia's Part in the Resolution of," &c.—Editor's note.]
COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH CO.
Printing Department.
Dear Mrs. Behan:
Many thanks for your letter. From the enclosed cutting from the Washington Star you will see how the whole effort in which you and your associates were engaged, in 1907, was headed off by Major Cosby, who twisted things to suit his purpose, and the tenor of whose report was clearly hostile to the restoration of Mr. Davis' name. This report seems to have been sufficient to satisfy Secretary Taft that there was no use of doing anything. But Secretary Wright seems to have had an inspiration to take matters up with the President, as a result of which in about fifty years from the date of the outrage, tardy justice will be done to one of the greatest of Americans, whatever the differing judgment of North and South may be as to his construction of the Constitution as to States' Rights.
Yours very truly,
