The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-07
JEFFERSON DAVIS.


The Herald's Fortress Monroe CORES
pondent writes sensational letter about
Jefferson Davis. Having nothing new
to report, and feeling it incumbent upon
him to keep the name of the state pri-
soner "before the people," he speculates
upon the decline of Mr.. Davis mental
faculties, and an increase in the irrasci-
bility and petulence of his temper. His
mind and body are both represented as
breaking up. AS the bodily comforts OF
the prisoner are well provided for, we
think the correspondent has no occasion
to NEEDLE with his mind. If Mr.. Davis
is disposed to be dyspeptic and pet
ulent, and his confinement don't agree
with him, it is not necessary that the
fact should be published. Do let hin,
rest in peace. But as the world may
desire to hear the latest diagnosis and
| prognosis of the case, we give the Her
AIDS speculations. 1t is evidently the
intention of the correspondent that Mr..
Davis shall not be forgotten by mankind
in his prison cell:
GLOW is jeff Davis?" asked an Off
Ger this morning.
DEVIL was the answer received An
explanation followed, showing that
| from the PRONUNCIATION of the leading
counts in the Indictment against him,
Jeff's temper has shown a souring turn
and a growing irrascibility very marked
and painful. Congressional inquiries
regarding him, and resolutions, and
talks, and that vote of the Kansas
Senate recommending him the hang
mans knot without judge or jury, have
| not tended to smooth his perturbed feel
| ings and mellow into mildness his vine
gary urterances and bitter arrogance of
manners. All coming in present contact
with him and having opportunities to
carefully observe and study him, corrob-
crate this growing change in disposition
and conduct. 1t is characterized as
something more than the irrascibility of
the invalid, something beyond and
deeper than that wilful and peevish
temper natural to long Imprisonment, a
bitterness of the spirit curbed in its am
bilious projects, the canker of care and
disappointment and hope deferred, cat
ing into the soul and sapping up ALI the
springs of a healthy vitality. His mien
and air, formerly lofty and dignitied,
though gentle, have become merged in
the peevishness and petty complainings
of an old woman. A present sight at
jeff. Davis, that brow each day becOm-
ing more closely lined with wrinkles,
his hair deepergray, those eyes becom-
ing more bereft of their keen lustre, that
form, once SO straight, becoming bowed,
and with this to hear his almost childish
complaints at trifies, imparts, am told,
n lesson of the vanity of earthly ambi.
tons and strivings more forcible than
all the wise utteraDees of that sage phil
osopher Solomon. Everything indicates
les buoyancy and hope regarding his
trial His attention now is chiefly given
to fault-finding and reading his Bible.
Once his chief solicitude was about him.
self and his future programme in life.
Now he talks of his family and his future
state in another world. A source of
great encouragement seems to be the
efforts being made in the South to place
his wife and children above pecuniary
want. OF his own Well-being hereafter
he has always expressed himself salts
fled. The fact | wish TO bring out is,
that he is breaking up in mind as well
as body; and, with this made clear,
leave him to his solitude and whining
and prayers, and the hope that he may
wisely improve the present, which is
his, and therein make himself stronger
for whatever fate may betide him in the
az al, da,uxy ftifura