Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-09-18
Confederate Senators.

OF wayne, 70 the Senate OF the Confederate States
for six years from and after the 18th Of February
next
Nj. Davis was formerly member of the defunct /
Wig party. He was what was called a Union
Henry Clay Wing. In 1866 he was supported by
his friends for Governor in the Greensborough Con-
venton, which nominated Mr.. Gmer. The first
political office which he ever held, We believe, was
that of Peace Commissioner to Washington, with
Thomas Ruffin, Sr., John NJ. Morehead David S.
Reid, and Daniel NJ Barringer, to which he was
called by the present Legislature at its regular
sion, which commenced in November last. The
Convention of the people of this State which
bled in May last elected Mr. Davis as one of the
delegates to represent the State at large in the Con-
vention at Richmond. The main objection, urged
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
ington as Peace Commissioner most anxious to
settle the grave questions of difference between the
two sections a safe and honorable basis, but that
after he arrived there he despaired 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 one man against the 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 on Mr..
Davis a Peace Commissioner. We refer to the
facts, only as portion of political history, and
to explain the reluctance with which Mr.. Davis
election 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 are 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
member of the defunct Democratic party. The
only political office which he has ever held, we be
lieve, is that of Co,nmone- from the County of
wayne, 10 WHICH nc HIS Ueeu several tunes CHOSEN;
and at the commencement of the regular session of
the present Legislature. he elected Speaker of
the House of Commons, the duties of which he has
impartially and ably discharged He has oeen cmi-
ncnty successful lawyer and farmer. He
might now, if he had chosen, have been upon the
BENCH for to our knowledge he was 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 indomitable
gy, he has accumulated handsome fortune, and TAX
en- rank among the leading public men of the State
His eocution is not so graceful as 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 life, but probably
some two or three years the junior of that gen.
tleman.
We said just that the Democratic party is
defunct. 1t is, as an organization. We have as
good right as any one to say so, fer we stood by
it to the last having bolted Convention nor
refused to support nominee. But the Democratic
principo-that is, the right Of the people to rule
can never perish. Mr.. Dortch sl;bscribes 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 secesSionsts yet have to believe
that instead Of encouraging, he labored TO restrain
them in their headlong course We have reason to
believe also, that he in favor of early settle
ment of the nd UaLorem question. and that he was
most anxious that the Charleston Baltimore Con-
venton should make nomination which would de-
feat Lincoln and save the Republic. He came to
the Legislature determined to know no party in this
great struggle for Southern independence. Those
with whom be had been acting said the same
thing, but, because he did what he said, he began
to lose favor with them; and though he had been
no aspirant for the Senate, and had INDUCED no
thought of being in the way Of any for this po
stiOn yet when he at last permitted his name to be
used by his friends, (he having been first nominated
in the Senate 5y Mr.. Faison, of Sampson,) many of
those with whom he had acted turned upon him
with characteristic bitterness. After the election Of
Mr. Davis, the contest was narrowed down to
Messrs. Dortch Clingman, Avery, and Person. Mr..
Davis was elected mainly by the combined efforts of
the friends of Messrs. Clngman and Avery, who,
placing the choice of Senators on sectional grounds
believed that the success Of Eastern candidate
would secure the success of Western one. 1t was,
under these circumstances, with knowledge of Mr..
Dortchs antecedents, and his present position, and
from desire to select the best man of the four
named, that the great body of the conservatives and
friends of the Confederate government in the Legis
lature raised themselves above sectional considera
tons and voted for Mr.. Dortch. They felt that if
the election of Mr. Davis over Messrs Person and
Avery was triumph not altogether unacceptable
to their constituents, that of Mr.. Dortch, under
the circumstances would be especially gratifying.