Jefferson Davis to A. Dudley Mann

Waterloo 4th Nov 1868

My Dear Friend,

I have the pleasure to relieve the apprehensions expressed in your's of the 24th Ulto. by announcing that my Counsel informs me that my presence will not be required before the 5th of March "69; and that some day /for the trial/ will be named at the Nov. term of the U.S. Dist. Court for Va. of which I will be duly notified.

The election of yesterday has decided who is to be President for the next four years. I have little hope of the election of Seymour, and so far as I am individually concerned have nothing to fear from the election of Grant; but as in the case of the impeachment of Presdt Johnson, who has been next to his Secretary of state, I believe, my most malignant persecutor I have earnestly desired a result which did not promise to be beneficial to me personally.

I think the election of Grant will be immediately detrimental to the South, and so I thought of the succession of Wade would be; and therefore desired the election of Seymour though his timidity would have prevented him from taking any responsibility in my case; as I wished for the acquittal of Johnson of whose vindictive hostility and selfish purpose to have me convicted I had no doubt.

Let us hope that the South will be able to bear four years more of Radical rule and that a permanent good will be gained through a temporary evil.

We have not yet been able to go to Leamington but expect soon to do so, and when I can fix the day for my arrival at Paris you shall be notified of my coming.

I have recently heard of the return of Mr. Slidell to Paris and intend to write to him soon. I have not done so before from many [little?] causes leading to procrastination, but certainly no disposition to neglect him.

Your Son kindly looked me up, and gave me great pleasure in his full account of you, and in his cordial consideration of myself and family.

Your letters are always a source of sincere gratification to Mrs Davis as well as myself. One must feel reverses to know the full value of true friendship. Mrs. Davis charges me to present to you her kindest remembrances and I am as ever with highest esteem truly your friend

Jeffn,, Davis

From The Papers of Jefferson Davis, Volume 12, pp 325. Transcribed from Raab Autographs, September 2001.