The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-18

influence with his people, and to thwart
his plans, and it is not strange that this
enmity and disposition to prosecute the
late chief, in the heighth ofhisprosperity,
should follow him in adversely, and
under the guise of friendship, secure bis
destruction. This would indeed seem
to be the object of the Erdmiaer,-but
II we err, and that journal be actuated
by friendly motives toward Mr.. Davis
then has that unfortunate gentleman
reason to exclaim '.Save me from my
friends"
In order to prove that our reflections
upon the course of the Examiner are
we'll founded, we will dissect the head
and body of its article on this subject
to show how loose and unsustained ny
facts are its assertions, as well as the pi'-
ter and vindictive aninaus that presloss
over its columns. zone year ago, Jenee-
son Davis, second to no man living III
fame, and the Importance OF MS posi-
tion," says the Examiner, ana THIS IL an
assertion that might perhaps be true, II
It could only be proved to the satisfac'
ton of all unprejudiced minds. But the
Examiner fails to give us the evidence OF
Mr.. Davis's superhuman greatness-and
we look in vain for it in the published or
rumored record of his acts, either in the
council or the field. The conviction OF
this fact may be strong with the Erana-
iner, but it will pardon other people II
thAy fail to discover the Distinguishing
qualities Of greatness in its newly dis
covered idol. At all events, let US have
the evidence, and leave it to an impartial
world. to decide Mr.. Davis's claims to
pre-eminence among the earth's greatest
men.
HE Davis was at the head of six
millions of people struggling for nation
atty" How did these six millions lose
or endanger their nationality. 1t would
have been nearer the truth to say that he
was struggling to subvert the liberties
and overturn the nationality of the
American people.
"And at the head Of a navy whose
prowess had driven Yankee commerce
from the SEAS" The meaning OF the
word pro,vess must have undergone a
wonderful change, when it can be ap
piled to the burning of merchant yes
sels-the destruction of hundred mil
lion dollars worth of private property, -
and the studious avoidance of danger,
by keeping for three or four years out OF
the reach of those able and DESTROYS OF
testing their nroWess Few heroes would
be content with the claims to glory
founded upon such record.
"History records no more startling
revelation than twelve short months
have wrought in his and his peoples
condition. Aside from the regal char
acter given to Davis by using the phrase
his people, we object to history being re-
duced to a record of such small matters
II it records no more startling event.
the world will have no further use fol
history. 1t will hereafter he looked
upon as weary, stale, fiat and unproht-
able. But we think number of events
more startling than the change
that has taken p,aoo In tho South
during the past twelve months can d.
found recorded in history, and we would
not search long for them either. VIM
Walker, of Nicaragua, had his "strug
Cling nationality" overthrown, and wal
turned over by the British tobe executed
in Honduras, which made most start
ling change in Central America Lopez
was garroted by Spain, for endeavorint
to establish struggling nationality
in Cnba, which was a startling event
Several Fenians have been sent to tn
penal colonies by the English, for mere
Iy dreaming of struggling nationali
ty." All these were startling events
quite as much moment to the actors
and few but the immediate actors taxi
much interest in small occurrences
the slight change that has occurred il
the southern states during the las
twelve months-a change that merel!
substitutes the pen for the sword
weapon which, when welded by sucf
writer's as those of the Examiner, is ca
pable of infinitely more mischief thai
the sharp implements of war. IN
vanity of supposing the Confederaey an
its achievements the greatest events
history, is common weakness wit
the Examiner, New York News, an
other papers of the same class, and iii
excusable in them, perhaps.
1.-THE hearts Of the radicals aremad
> iubilant and those of our people al
, wrung by the assurance (of the Pre-
! sident) that the illustrious chic
whose renown filled christendom VIII
, followed the example of Washington
lacked only his success to have rivalle
his fame, is to be dragged from his prise
and hung like a common malefactt
for the crimes of treason and the inu
der of prisoners of war! Him whol
r success would have made deml-go(
failure has made felon."
This is very pathetic, very poetical,
, but that is all. Comparisons are cd
ous-and it is highly odious to compai
Mr.. Davis, mere partisan, the leadt
in revolution without an excuse or
D object,-to Washington, the immort'