The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-11-03
A Rebel Judged by a Rebel.

in Horptr's Monthty. on Jefferson Davis,
written by the rebel Gen. Jordan, chief OF
staff to Beaure gard:
Mr.. Davis must be judged at the bar
OF history by The aggregate results OF his
administration. He must be measured by
what was done or left undone--successes
and reverses--ei,her directly by himself,
or through the instruments Of his will
the men on whom he relied for the per.
formance Of the highest services of the
State. Brought to this rightful test, what
statesman Of whom history tells us will
be found more deficient than Jefferson
Davis?
Had he been equal 10 his position, he
would have known how to develop, COM
bine, WELD the splendid resources Of his
land in such manner as TO produce the
largest possible results. With his long
experience and acquaintance with public
men Of The Uuled States, lie should have
known the best men to call around him,
and should have known, too, the best way
for battling the statesmen opposing him.
Foregoing his predictions as well as his
an,ipathies-;-like Napoleon in the case OF
Moreau and Talleyrand- should have
been wise enough 70 attach to his Gov
ernment, and secure the services of men
Of talent, even though perchance not we'll
affected personally towards them. A gen.
uine leader Of men would have done so;
would have s,ifled personal passions that
alone, it would appear, have influenced
Mr.. Davis since an early day. Swayed
by these, and amorcus 10 an incredible
degree, Of the office. giving powers of his
place and the exercise Of which absorbed
by far the larger part OF his waking mo.
ments, he was blind alike to those insu.
perabie as well as to those favoring cir.
cumstances or favorable occasions which
the statesman will be quick TO recognize.
AS a natural conse quence of The pre-
dominant qualities OF the man, there i'm
mediately grew up in the South party
OF "Presidenrs Friends" from the ranks
OF which, as far as possible, were drawn
the occupants OF all civil places. Men,
for the most part, malleable to his will,
who, looking up TO him as the source OF
the highest wisdom in both civil and mil.
itary affairs. upheld his views and wishes
as The only safe rule and law for the
times. Thus in little while almost ev.
cry person OF ability, nearly every one o.
spirit, was driven from the councils of the
South, and the direction Of affairs, leav.
ing the government, 10 large degree, ir
the hands Of those from whom efficien
adm:nistr alton was not TO be expected
selected, as they were, for instrument
thought TO be best adapted 10 his purpose
: that Of absorbing in himself all the sub
stanlial functions Of the State. ..-...
/, As obstinate as James II. or Geo. III
whom he greatly resembIed in many o
IN traits OF character, as in the manage
Int of public business-wi'h the same
tendency to employ mediocrtv, and tht
same dislike for independent ability-Jef
ferson Davis, for four years, illustrated
like his monarchchical prototypes, tina
,, no two natures are SO widely unlike ant
opposite as the willlul ard wise. lmperi
, Gus, yet without genuine vigor Of char
y acter, pride and weakness were strangely
blended 10 his actions. 1t was said o
. George III. that he even scorned victory
! whose laurels had been culled by Chat
= ham. Mr.. Davis looked with q mood,
y brow and skeptical Zip when Johnston
. or 'Beauregard rendered the trophies G
: successful war. Napoleon, once urge
. . by an undistinguished general TO confe
=, upon him the Marshal's baton, exclaimed
y y ut is not ] who make marshals-it
:, ). victories!' What Napoleon would nc
;. attempt Mr.. Davis did without hesitation
Il making Major and Lieut.. Generals VIII
= previously had not been in battle, and,
10 possibly capable, had never bad oppol
>, " lunilies to show capacity for high con
J, mand; some of them, too, we may ado
y, y, whose promotion had not been juslife
y by subsequen. events.
- The longer he held power the narrow
~ '' er grew his conceptions, the more imp'
~ =; rious his will, until to differ from or cro'
L. 10 the orbit of his fancies, or even TO ru
n counter 10 the plans and wishes OF bis Il
10 vorites, became personal affront. n
man in as high and critical a position eve
less understood the value of wise, ind
pendent ministers, or was ever less alb
r. 10 give up minor personal object for Il
a sake Of a ma jor advantage. He and b
a ministerial clerks, always as sanguine
IT. Napier describes the British Cabinet
ne have been in 1910, like that Cabinet we
lis always Participating success in pr
re posterous manner"-always displayir
- little practical industry, and quite
to little judgment in preparing for cont
ic. gencies. In no instance did he and b
IT. favorites comprehend at their value Il
ly golden opportunities that more than on
ce were vouchsafed them, and by seiziI
which with resollte hand they mig
at have neutralized the superior resources