New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-24
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, JUNE "a.

bawked about and sold to the highest bidder,
by men who don't pretend to any religious
or moral character whatever, and who would
only be laughed at if they did. The cham
pions of Slavery habitually boast Of the
great proportion Of Slaves who are church
members, but we never heard them brag Of
the piety of their slaye-traders. On the con-
trary, it is their frequent boast that these
are a Iosthed and shupned class, even by
their customers. What madness, therefore,
to assert in 1850 that Slavery is founded on
moral inferiority or pays any respect to it
MATHEW L. DAvIs.-The Oldest politician Of
our city died on Saturday, at the ripe age Of 81
Ee had been for some two or three years enfeebled
and for the le.t year CT 90 confined to his ROOM but
he retained bis mental faculties and his physical
mowers until after bis eghtieth year, owing in
great measure to the temperance OF bis habits, his
fondness for exercise, and his elastic, hopeful tenn
permanent
Mr. Davis has been prominently a politician
throughe, and aided TO organize and give triumph
to the Republican party so called more than hall
century ago. when the Federal or Washingtonsn
party was Frustrated not by its own insane fol-
lies than by the rare ability and admirable tact Of
its leading adversaries Halfthe good management
ard efficient activity that barely served to elect
Jefferson would have amply sufHced TO defeat him
And no where was the battle Of Democracy fought
with greater address or against more formidable
odds thar in this State and City under the consum'
mate eeDeralship of Aaron Burr, OF whom Davis
WINS the untripg lieutenant and confidential friend,
remaining bis friend 10 the last, when he be-
came bis biogrspher.
Mr. Davis, though so long and so deeply miners
ed in Politics. possessing decided talents and
thorough knowledge Of public affairs, never held
any prominent cfice. He did not seem to be an
ambitious mar. He was once wealthy, and be.
came poor, but he never seemed elated by pros
petty nor bUnbled by adversely. He was not a
iortu1at politician, and he seemed to love the
smoke of the battle more than the plunder OF the
field. He was quite often on the unlucky side
for Crawford in 24-ior Adams in '2s-for Clay in
'3a, and so on. But his side was taken from i'm.
pulse and personal liking, not from selfish calcula
ton. He had known almost every man who figures
in the history Of oue county since the Revolution
sry era ard, bile his faculties remained, bis con-
versation IVES remarkably instructive and enter
tanning. He leaves many to regret his decease.
Ia early life Mr. Davis was engaged in trade, and
was moderately successful, but he gave up bust
ness to devote himself more entirely to politics
He re6ntered commercial life before the last gar
with Englend, and his house Davis Strongl was
fortunate in South American specuations, OF the
profits of which he himself received some $4,000,
which, however, was soon lost. For half a centu
~ he was an industrious writer-always forciblc
and perspicuous, and frequently witty and piquant
He produced several very clever pamphlets upon
men and affairs and was for many years known as
"Tbe Spy in Washington" for the Courier and
Enquirer, and a. The Genevese Traveller" for the
London Times. Burr bequeathed to him all his
papers and from these and his memoranda and re-
collections he prepared and published, in 1898
Memoirs Of Aaron Burr, with Miscellaneous Sc
lec,ions from his Correspondence" in vols $40
AID The Private Journal Of Aaron Burr during
his Residence of -Four Years in Europe, with Sc
lectons from his Correspondence" . vols Svo