Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-05-10
An Historical "Reminiscences OF jefferson
Davis the Crest state Prisoner.

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An Historical "Reminiscences OF Jefrerson
Davis. the Crest State Prisoner.
/, Thus ended the most remarkable siege
history has any account OF.
And now, my son, l cannot close this
history without few words on the charac-
ter and conduct of Mr.. Jefferson Davis, to
whose ambition this siege of our capital
was due. It has been said by several of
his friends, who have access to the news
papers, that he went into this war not only
very reluctantly, but with green spectacles
on. Willing as am to deal generously
with him, and to forgive him each and
every one of his sins, and to send him out
into the world to seek atonement for them,
/ cannot share this opinion. And for the
reason that happened to know Mr.. Davis
in the summer of 1850, when he was the
moving spirit of convention of Fire
EATERS that assembled together in Nash
vile, Tennessee. And I have slight re-
collection of a speech he made on that oc-
casion, in which separation by arms was
urged, and no love for The Union ;sdvanced.
[ remember, also, that that speech was re-
warded with Kisses, notwithstanding the
strong disunion element Of the convention.
His dislike of the Union and plan for sep
arating the nation, it is we'll known, had
been the besetting sin of his brain for
twenty years. How, then, he could have
engaged in this gigantic rebellion with
green spectacles on, [ cannot just exactly
see. It was the ignorant, unreasoning
masses of the South who were led into the
rebellion with green spectacles on-not
men like Mr.. Davis. But, my son, never
strike man when heis down f.; that is che
work of towards. Let us give Mr.. Davis
credit for such virtues as he had, and for
the manner in which he exerted them in
keeping life and strength in the govern
ment he attempted to set up. In connec
ton with the rebellion, we had to deal with
Mr.. Davis more in his character as sol
der than statesman. Mr.. Davis was I'M
doubtedly an able soldier. He was the head
and front, the very life and soul of the men
in the South. Born to those qualities of
pride, self-esteem, and self will, all of which
produce confidence in the possessor, he
grew up feeling himself superior, as he
was, to the ordinary men of his age. He
inherited at the same time great fiXedness
of purpose and determination !; and SO pro-
minent were these traits of his character,
that they impressed every one who came
in contact with him.
| These, my son, were the attributes that
gave wings to the mans ambition and
found him aspiring to one of the high
places in the temple of fame. The nation
gave him thorough military education at
West Point, and he afterwards learned the
practical duties of a soldier in the Black
Hawk war On the return of peace he re-
signed and sought distinction in political
life. He had succeeded in reaching the
House of Representatives when the war
with Mexico broke out, and he resigned
and again went to the field. And, notwith-
standing what has been said to the con-
trary, he won great distinction in this war.
Military men everywhere did him justice.
The MS 5issippi Rifles" will be remem-
bered as long as the battle of Buena Vista.
| At the close of the war he again relin-
quished the sword, and was sent to the
United States Senate, where he was made
chairman of the committee on Military AT
fairs His highest ambition was to shine as
statesman. He afterwards served four
years as Secretary of War, and then re-
turned to the Senate, where the rebellion
found him elevated to the chairman
ship of the committee on Military Affairs
His education, his services in the army,
his position as Secretary of War; and in the
Senate, enabled him to become thoroughly
acquainted with our army, with its GUS
toms, its laws, its material, its wants, and,
above all, the character of its officers He
was, perhaps, better acquainted with these
|
States. Nor was he deficient in knowledge
of the character Of leading public men at
the North and West. What he had not
studied well, however, was the character
and the patriotism of the people of those
sections of our country.
It was the ripe fruit of this knowledge,
then, that Mr. Davis applied in each de-
partment of the rebel government and it
was this that ma e him Of such incalcula-
BILE value to the rebellion. We have seen
and even admired the power with which
he welded the scanty resources of the
South And we have seen the wisdom
which he displayed from the very first in
the selection of his generals. With rare
exceptions, he put the right man i'll the
right place. He knew the Importance of
placing soldiers in command, when soldiers
| duty was to be performed. 1t would have
| been fortunate for us if we had exercised
similar wisdom. When the rebellion be-
gan there was no man in the South to have
taken the place of Mr.. Davis 1t is not too
much to say that had he remained loyal to
his country, and been elevated to the COM
mand of our armies when the war began,
he would have quickly crushed ont the re-
bellion. With his grasp Of mind, and his
iron will, he would have so welded the
great resources of the North and West, that
the rebellion would have been crushed in a
year from its birth. And this was the man
our authorities al Washington supposed
would not, OF could not, attack the capital
after it had been stripped of its proper
garrison. Let the truth be told : Davis
was not the man to let such blunder go
unnoticed.
The --latest Presidential Reconstruction
Views.
WASHINGTON, April 29.-The latest bull
letin as to Presidential reconstruction views
would place Mr.. johnson in direct HOSTILE
ty to the enemies Of reconstruction under
the Congressional programme. 1t is stated
to-day, by distinguished Senator, that
Mr.. Johnson sincerely regrets that any of
the Southern States have been SO unwise as
| to attempt to restrain the enforcement of
the reconstruction acts by injunction. Nay,
more, it is even said that SO determined is
the President to carry out the measures
| that even ShOuI1 iniuncti0ns issua from