The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-10-03

ascertain the spirit of their men. The only full
Generals who yet attended hin were Bragg, hls
military adviser" and Breckinridge, a'ely
Secretary OF War. There were five brigade com
manders present at the conference. To tbs
small but important audience Mr.. Davis ad
dressed him elf wth ali the overs OF his Ton-
derul and subtle intellect. The old, imDer Od9
look was yet IN his worn face; the eJe, Trans.
fixed with neuralgia pain With its deep recess
OF light, shone steady and defiant; the thin
yIsage was Illuminated by The active mlnd and
shone with the animated discourse. lie spoke
in the even, silvery tones OF his accustomed elO-
quenCe; one oil The greatest orators O modern
times, eXceliue in the powers OF stdtfmea or
narration, ingenious even to sophistry, joining
q winning and persuasive manner to words
Guile IT. m the choicest resources o. language
he now tried all hs pOWer5 IN this critical op
portUnity He declared that the country was
only suffering from violent surprises aud au eX.
apgeratCd alarm; its resolution wOul1 soon be
erect again; the present condition vas that of
panic, and patriotism would soon be aroused
when il heard the commanding and rea,suring
tones Of authority. He insisted that the war
was OF hopeless. The armies could be reas sem
bled, and tnere would be new calls for enlist
meuts and new incentives TO the COuntrY's SER
vice. He said that even the few hundred men
he yet counted around him were enough TO
prolong the war until the panic had passed
away, and they would then be a nucleus for
thousands more. He urged his officers TO accept
his views, and animate their men 10 stand to the
good cause, whose honor they had so long main
tanned, and whose last hopes they now carried
Oh their bayones.
His auditors were silent At length they
spoke, one by one, each brigade commander
stating the condition and temper OF MS men,
and declaring his view OF the situation. IL was
a plain, unanimous judgment; the war could
not succeed, and should not be prolonged; they
could not ask their men to struggle against "a
fate which was inevitable, and forfeit all hopes
OF re toration to their homes and friends; but
they would insist that their honor was involved
in securing the escape OF Mr.. Davis, and for the
ACCOMPLISHMENT OF this object they would risK
battle, and put off submission to the last mo-
ment
"No no I" exclaimed the unhappy chief in
passionate accents; II will hear OF no plan
which has for its object only my safety" Then
speaking slowly ana bitterly, with a deep and
fearful change settling on his countenance, he
see the day when all the friends OF the South
are prepared to consent to her degradation" He
| faltered and sat down in silence; every one in
| the room respected him too much to reply.
Presently, without even gesture of courteous
| retirement, without any acknowledgment of the
| company whatever, he rose to leave the room;
| and il was observed that he had lost his erect
| carriage and defiant port. A weight of years
appeared to have suddenly fallen on the stricken
| sufferer. The eyes were uneasy in the pale,
pinched face; and so uncertain and tottering
was his step that General Breckenridge moved
to his side, and, giving him his arm, supported
him from the room. Not single word was
spoken.
il is a true and delicate philosopher, who, ex.
Dloring scene OF despair, says:-"The senti-
ment that attends the sudden revelation thay all
as toSt is silently gathered up into the heart. 1t
is too deep for gestures or for words. The voice
perishes, the gestures are frozen, and the spirit
of man flies back upon its own centre ."-lSOutt-
eTn Home Journal.