New-York daily tribune., 1861-09-04
JEFFERSON DAVIS.

SEFPEBsON DAVIS.
The rumored death of the official head of the
great PrO-Savery rebellion, though premature,
has doubtless this fOundation-that HE health is
well known to be feeble and critical so that if he
be still living the weighty cares and anxietes of his
position may at any time snap the frail thread Of
bis mortal existence. He was only chosen pro.
visonal President, on election for full term be.
ing appointed for this Autumn. 1t is not prob.
able that Mr. Dayis's ply sical powers will justify
his reelection 30 that We may speak Of his Off
cial il not Of his mortal career as closing if not
closed. And We shall treat that career without
prejudice or passion.
Mr.. Davis is an original and ardent disciple of
John G.. Cahoun-nOt the National and gener-
GUS Calhoun of 1Sl2-l6-24, but the baffed,
sOured, disappointed Calhoun of 1880 and the
following twenty years-an intense aspirant hope
lessly foed, yet stil hardly "less than archan.
gel ruined" Mr.. Davis was devoted disci-
pic, but no lacked the force Of understanding and
breadth of view which rendered his masters
gravest errors respectable. Like that masters
his private life has been irreproachable and his
bearing in debate that of one who could not for.
get that he was gentleman. His unbesitatiDg,
persistent support of MissisSippis shameful repu-
diation of her State Debt is the only recorded
stain on his personal honor; and for that his in.
tense absorbing ambtion-mOre intense, if posi-
bic, than that Of the great South CarOlinian-
must be his insufficient apology. AS member
of her Legislature, Colonel of her regiment of
volunteers in the Mexican War, and as her rep.
resentatiye in either branch of Congress, Mr..
Davis has long been, next to Gen. Quitman the
iayorte OF the Mississippi OIgarchy, and since
Gen. Q.s death in 1851, he has been its chief
spokesman, though Jacob Thompson wss chosen
for seat in Mr.. Buchanan's Cabinet, the fact
that Mr.. d. had held seat throughout the pre-.
ceding (Pierce'I term precluding his continuance
under the Sage Of Wheatand
Mr.. Davis has been at least consistent. He
was among the most inveterate Southern adver
saries Of the Clay Douglas Compromise $50 caled)
of 1850 By which California was admitted New
Mexico and Utah organized, and the boundaries
of Texas defined. Failing to defeat that arrange
ment he took an appeal to the people of his State,
running for Governor against Henry S. FoOte, his
Compromise colleague in the Senate, by whom he
was beaten after a spirited canvass by about
about LOCO majority. This threw him out Of
public life until Mr. Pierce called him into his
Cabinet in March, 1853. We judge from his
public record that there has been no time during
the last twenty years in which be has not hoped
and striven for the dissolution of the Union.
Mr.. Dayiss death or retirement can hardly be
regarded as more than an incident of cur great
strugRle-nOt an event. His talents arc respect
able, his personal character unquestiOned, his
industry fair, and his devotion to the insurgent
cause most intense. These recommendations for
his perious eminence are Offset by mountain
ous self.conceit and consuming ambition. In
ability he is surpassed by several Of his fellow
conspirators, and eminently by Vice-PresideDt
Stephens, who, being less strongly fortified in his
own good opinion is better calculated to win
adhereDts to dubious and perlous enterprise.
But Mr.. Stepbenss frailty of constitution and
critical health dsqualify him for succeeding to the
/" burning throne " of the head-conspirator.
VIII the successor of Davis be like him, al
original, instructive hater Of the Unionl or viii
recent renegade be chosen to fill his place Pos
sbly Toombs, who, though formerly Wing has
been DisuniOnist since le49, will be deemed
Trustworthy; but we are confident that neither
John Bell, nor any other supporter of Fillmore
In 1856. will be 60 hOnOred. The rebels who
mean it might just as well take the Hon. Thomas
A.. L. Nelson of once. Ambition and terror
combined have driven such men as William G.
Rives, A. II. II. Stuart, George L. Badger,
John NJ. Morehead and Charles N. Conrad. into
the counsels Of treason; but they do not really
belong there, and they ought not to command
the confidence Of those who have been DisunioR-
lists from early boyboOd. Nor will any such
blathering nladcap a. Henry A. Wise-thoush as
full Of treason as On egg il Of meat--be chosen
8r. Dag,ss SUCCESSOR. Our impression Is that
Robert n. Z Hunter, ex-senator from Virginia,
is most likely 70 9c5is79 .tot distinction. re i'