Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-06-12
The Reeen. Threa.ensd DueI between sen
ators Davis and Benjnnin,
p ANp 81 ..sroa OF 20 20 rEN.
lrrnm IN. phIlndelphIa Prels d Thurlaay.l

The alteration Of Tuesday, between TWO ~
the ablest men Of the United States Senate lroll
the Southern States, will sufficiently attrael
public attention to make short sketch Of eaSh
acceptable and opportune. There are PIopA?y
M two characters so widely dissimilar; nor IN
deed, in the quality Of personal courage-ioT "a
the education OF the Southern statesman the
code Of honor is always made pronilnentTDpse
in nnpearanee in history, and in the order oil
their inteilects General Davis IS the enooay-
ment of the military idea His bearing Is hlil,
tary: his language, his manner Of speahine' NJ ~
tastes, all partake of the martial school he
WINS A splendid Secretary of War; he was an ac-
eomplished and daring soldier-haVing Won
reDntation enough at the lannon's NOUN NJ
Bnena Vista TO make dozen heroes Mr.. BEN
iamin on the contrary, was taught IN a oiaere''s
experience He Is a thorough, well trained
lawyer; scholar, and an orator exee.hhg :" -,
the graces of public speaking. We 90 not
know his history so Familiarity rs that OF MS
present adversary; but to watch his movements,
and TO hear him speak, any one would take MIN
rather for gay man of the world than lor
grave and reverend Senator. Short Of stature.
a countenance remarkably handsome, eASeIe,.
teeth black flashing eyes, curling hair, slighuy
tinged with gray, voice of singular melody, ne
is manly grace and rhetoric persomhea. Mi.
BENJAMIN has been in the Senate some six years.
having been in many campaigns leading man MAJ,
in the Wing party Of Louisiana AssociaIeu
with Sergeant S. Prentiss, Barrow. and otseIs'
he was for a long time thorn in the side OF the
Democratic party. In 1856 he was one OF tue
varmest advocates o, the nomination and cleo
ton of Mr. Buchanan, having visited Cineinnau
TO assist his friend; aud he is at this day on me
most intimate relations with the President. we
do not know whether he has ever indnlgeu III
the luxury of an affair of honor, but we have no
doubt that blood and breeding would aiike
prompt him against anything like acqniescenee
in nm offence. We should take Mr.. Beuiamln
TO be about forty.eight years Of age, though ne
does not look to be more than thlrty-eieht OF
forty. ..;..
different character. His education has been al
most entirety military. Trained in the severe
ordeal of West Point, he served on the North-
ern frontier in 1888, fought throughout tue
Black Hawk war in the Northwest, with sigha'
valor, and from 1888 to 1888 (when ne reslsu
cdr was engaged in expeditions IN the North.
west against the Indians. In 1913 he t0ok part
in politics, was elected to the House OF repre-
sentatives in 1916, remaining there TIL 1870
when having been, on his absence at maSnmS'
ton, unanimously elected Colonel OF the hrss
regiment Of Mississippi volunteers, ne resigne9
his seat Joined his men at New Orleans, hurried
on to Monterey aud Buena Vista, and under nus
former father-ln law, General Taylor, won I'M
perishabIe renown. He was appointed bIlga
der General by President Polk, which PosluVh
he declined, and returned TO bis home IN MlssIs-
sippi, suffering severely from the Wouhus ne
mad received which still continue to waste
his health and vex his spirits. In lS4I ne
was appointed Senator In Congress 70 ny!
vacancy and At the next session OF the AlsSls-
sippi Legislature was unanimously elected 10
the same post for six years. In 1891 ne resign
cd his seat in the Senate TO go nome anu
the principles contained in the compromise
Measures; but, with all his deserved popularity
was defeated as a candidate for Governor, oy
small majority. He remained at his plantation
of BriarfieId in Mississippi, till General Fierce
was chosen President, when he was at once cal
led into the Cabinet as Secretary Of War, where
he remained fouryear having been again elected
to the Senate from Mississippi before ms term
rs Secretary of War had closed. Gen. DAVIS
is a highly educated gentleman, having been a
close student all his life. Stern and exacung
in the discharge of his public duties and iona,
to excess, of the art of war and the habits OF
the camp, he is yet as gentle as woman IN nus
domestic relations, and genial as any man
can be with his friends. He is an uncompro-
missing man so lar as principles are concerheo'
and cares little for office, unless ne can hGse as
0,en qeaU. Incorruptible and pure himself, ne
hates corruption and impurIty IN others. ms
iron will is the great trait of his character.
Tho event Of a challenge passing between
such men rs Davis and Benjamin IS serious
matter Southern men make all sueh events
serious and in doing this they often comPIo-
mise themselves hopelessly. 1t IS 50 much the
in that quarter, that when challenge IS sent
and accepted, reconciliation becomes rather DIM
cult There is another reason for this Inc
so.called fsreeater accustoms himself to say, and
believe, that no Northern man will tight; that
there is no pluck on the wintry side OF Mason
and Dixon; that man in the free States VIII
take insult without resentilg it The conse-
ouence is that in order to make good their own
boast, challenge, passing between Solthern
gentlemen. cannot very readily be Withdrawn,
and when it is, the Withdrawal damages a good
many theories rs to the relative courage OF NoTtn
and South. The most odious character IS 01tty,
whether the bully Of the ring or the bully OF Coz,
gress. The one ihtimidates by hisclenched hand
and brawny limbs; the other by his noisy read
mess to resort to the field of honor. We have
had some eminenty disgraceinl specimens Of
the latter since the present Congress has assem-,
blcd. It is full time that the practice should
AN into disrepute.. Il is unworthy of gentle
men. The idea that Northern man VIII nor
and that a Southern man will light, IS perni-
cious in thesextreme, and must breed the most
fearful consequences in the future, II It IS per
sisted in. There is doubles, good deal m the
education of the two sections, and IN that pup
lie opinion which condemns in the North what
Il commends in the South. But to place any
other construction upon this fact, and 10 oase