Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-09-18
Confederate Senasars.


OF Wayne to the Senate of the Csnfederate States
Tor six years from and after the 18th OF February
next ~ 8:
MI: Davis was formerly member Of the defunct
Wing party. He was what was called Union
Henry Clay Wing. In 1866 be was supported by
his friends for Governor, in the Greensborough Con-
vention, which nominated Mr.. Gilmer The first
political Office which he ever hsld, We believe was
that Of Peace Commissioner to Washington, with
Thomas Ruth, ST., John NJ. Morehead, David S.
Reid and Daniel M. Barringer, to which he was
called BY the present Legislature at its regular ses
sion, which commenced in November last The
Convention Of the people of this State which assem-
bled in May last elected Mr.. Davis as one Of the
delegates to represent the State at large in the Con-
ventton at Richmond. The main objection urped
by the conservatives and friends of the Confederate
government to the election of Mr.. Davis to the
Senate was, that it was thought he went to Wash
lngton As Peace Commissioner most anxious to
settle the grave questions of difference between the
two sections on safe and honorable basis but that
soon after he arrived there he despared of the Re-
public, and acted with those who preferred its de-
struction. Tha. there was force in this objection
none will deny. If Mr.. Davis had waited for the
proclamation Of Lincoln, which united the people of
this State as one man against Che tyrant, and had
labored meanwhile to preserve, and not to destroy,
he would no doubt have been the choice Of many of
the best friends of the Confederate government in the
Legislature and his election would have been entire
y acceptable to large majority of the people Of the
State. We make no imputation of bad faith en- Mr..
Davis as Peace Commissioner. We refer to the
facts only as portion Of political history and
| to explain the reluctance with which Mr.. Davis
election was favored by conservative members. His
election. under the circumstances, coupled with the
defeat of his colleague for the State at large, Mr.
Avery, is compliment which is no doubt fully ap-
preciated by Mr. Davis and his friends
Mr. Davis is in the prime of life, and in the full
possession Of his physical and mental powers His
manners refined, but unaffected, and his elocu-
ton is alike Impressive and captivating. The fact
that he remained at home during the contest, and
abstained from pressing on members his own claims
to the high place to which he has been called, de-
serves honorable mention.
Mr.. Dortch. the other Senator elect was formerly
a.me.:ber of the defunct Democratic party The
only political Office which he has ever held, we he
leve, is that Of Commone- from the County of
Wayne, to which he has been several times chosen
and at the commencement of the regular session of
the present Legislature, he was elected Speaker of
| the House of Commons, the duties of which he has
impartially and ably discharged. lie has oeen emf
nently successful as lawyer and farmer. He
might now, if he had so chosen, have been upon the
BENCH for to our knowledge he offered the place
Of Superior Court Judge by the late Gov. Ellis but
he preferred the bar and the farm and the uninter-
rupted enjoyment of domestic life. Mr. Dortch
commenced the world comparatively poor, ard with
a limited education; but by prudence temperance,
economy, and industry and his own ndomtable ener-
gy, he has accumulated handsome fortune and TAX
en- rank among the leading public of the State.
His eocution is not so graceful that of Mr.. Davis
but he possesses superior logical powers and speaks
with force and effect He is distinguished for his
self control, and his sound common sense Like
Mr.. Davis he is in the prime of l:fe but probably
some two or three years the Junior Of that gen.
teman.
We said just now that the Democratic party is
defunct. 1t is, as organization. We have as
good right as any one to say so, for We stood by
it to the last never having bolted Convention nor
refused to support nominee. But the Democratic
principle-that is, the right of the people to rule
can never perish. Mr.. Dortch subscribes to that
principle, and he is firm friend of the Confederate
government lie would rather preserve and per
petuate than destroy Though he acted with the
original secessonists, yet have reason to believe
that instead of encouraging, he labored to restrain
them in their headlong course. We have reason t.
believe ALSO that he in favor of early settle
ment of the ad ralorem question: and that he wa:
most anxious that the Charleston or Baltimore Con
vention should make nomination which would de
. feat Lincoln and save the Republic. He came t.
the Legislature determined to know no party in thi
great struggle for Southern independence. Thos
3 with whom he had been acting said the sam
thing, but, because he did what he said, he begal
to lose favor with them; and though he had beef
no asprant for the Senate and had INDUCED N
thought of being in the way of any one for this pc
stion, vet when he at last permitted his name to b
used by his friends, Che having been first nominate
in the Senate by Mr.. Faison, of Sampson) many q
= those with whom he had acted turned upon hin
with characteristic bitterness. After the election
Mr. Davis, the contest was narrowed down t
a Messrs. Dortch Clingman, Avery, and Person MI
n Davis was elected mainly by the combined efforts
: the friends of Messrs. Clingman and Avery, who
! placing the choice Of Senators sectional grounds
believed that the success Of an Eastern candidat
e would secure the success of Western one 1t was
. under these circumstances, with knowledge of Nj
Dortchs antecedents, and his present position, an
. from desire to select the best man of the fou
named that the great body of the conservatives an
friends of the Confederate government in the Leg:
ature, raised themselves above sectional considers
- tons and voted for Mr.. Dortch They felt that
- the election of Mr. Davis over Messrs. Person an
,. Avery was a triumph not altogether Unacceptable
to their constituents, that Of Mr.. Dortch, unde
the circumstances, would be especially gratifying
| MANY of the members il is true would have pr