The Opelousas courier., 1864-05-14
PRESIDENT DAVIS.

The English papers reproduce the following
personal sketch OF Jefferson Davis. from Col.
Freemsntle's Three months in the Souh.'
MIR. Jefferson Davis struck me as looking OLD
er than expected. He is only fifty-sx, but his
face is emaciated, and much wriuIsltd. He is
nearly six feet high, but is extremely thin, and
stoops little. His features are good, especially
his eye which is very bright, and full of life and
hEmanf. L was afterwards told be had lost the
sEfsH 0f his left eye from a recent illness. He
wore q linen coat aud gray trousers. and he
looked what he evidently is, a wel.bred gentle
man. Nothing can exceed the charm OF his
annec. vhiah ssisnrla. easy, and most iascna-
ting. He eonyersed with lns-.
assa sasssa ss.a & slla1 sas 1anssss s
she recognized The souiI and he said thai. Aesl
the inevitable smash carfle--aud that separation
was an accomplished iaet--the State OF Ms4sne
would probably try to Join Csnada, as most Of
the intelligenhp people in that State have horror
OF being under the thumb Of Massachusetts, -
He added that Maine was Inhabited by a hard,
thrifty seafarng population, with different ideas
to the people in the other New England States.
When spoke to him of the wretched scenes I
had witnessed in his own State, (Mississippi,)
and of the miserable, almost desperate situation
in which l had found SO many unfortunate
women, who had been left behind by their male
relations, aud when alluded in admiration to
the quiet, calm, uncompaining manner in which
they bore their sntferings and their grief, he
said, with much feeling, that he always con
sdered silent despair the most painful description
OF misery to witness, in the same way that he
thought mute insanity was the most awful form
of madness. He spoke to me of GTentell, whu
be said. seemed to be serving the Confederacy
in tiisinterested and loyal manner lie had
heard much of his gallantry and good services,
tAsr1 An11
fsll's quarrel with tie civil power. He confirmed
the truth Of my remark, that a Confederate gen-
eral il either considered an Admiral Criehton by
the soldiers, or else abused as everything bad;
and, he added, the misfortune was, that il is all.
sDlntely necessary, III order to insure success
that a general must obtain and preserve this
popularity and influence with his men, who
were, however, generally very willing to accord
their confidence to any officer deserving OF it,
With regard to the black flag and no quarter
agitation, he said peuple would talk great deal,
and even go into action determined to give no
quarter; "but," he added, 81 have yet to hear of
Confederate soldiers putting men to death who
have thrown down their arms and held up their
hands" He told me that Earl Russell confessed
that the impartial carrying out of the neutrality
laws had pressed hard upon the South; and Mr.
Davis asserted that The pressure nigh: have been
and yet retained its inpartality il
Great Britain, instead of closing her p,Its, had
opened them to the prizes of both parties; but l
said that perhaps this might be OVERRIDING it a
little On the other side. When took my leave,
about o'clock, the President asked me TO call
upon hin again. dou't think it possible for
any one to have an interview with him without
going away most favosably impressed by his
agreeable, unassumiHg manners, and be the
charm oil bis conversation ~.
Col. Ffeenantle's 'Three months ID The
South.