Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-05-13
HISTORICAL "REMINISCENCES.
Jefferson Davis, the Great State
Prisoner. a.u

The Siege of Washington. by F. O. Adams.l
Thus ended the most remarkable siege
history has any account Of
And now, my son, cannot close this
history without few words on the char
acter and conduct of Mr. Jefferson Da-
Wis, to whose ambition this siege of our
capital was due. 1t has been said by
several of his friends, who have access
to the newspapers, that he went into this
war not only very reluctantly, but with
green spectacles on. Willing as i am
to deal generously with him, and to for
give him each and every one of his sins,
and to send him out into the world to
seek atonement for them, l cannot share
this opinion. And for the reason that |
happened to know Mr.. Davis ia the sum-
mer of 1850, when he was the moving
spirit of conveRtion of FIRE eaters,
that assembled together in Nashville,
Tennessee. And | have q slight recol
lection of a speech he made on that oc-
casion, in which separation by arms was
urged, and no love for the Union ad-
vaneed remember, also, that that
speech was rewarded with Kisses, notwith.
standing the strong disunlon element o.
the convention. His dislike of the Union
and plan for separating the nation, it is
we'll known had been the besetting sin
of his brain for twenty years. How, then,
be could have engaged in this gigantic
rebellion with green spectacles on,
cannot just exactly see. 1t was the ig-
norant, 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 he is down; that is the 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 con-
necton with the rebellion, we had to
deal with Mr. Davis more in his character
as soldier than statesman. Mr.. Davis
was undoubtedly 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 him
self superior, as he was, to the ordinary
men Of his age He inherited at the
same time great fxedness of purpose and
determination; and so prominent were
these traits Of his character, that they
impressed every one who came in con-
tact 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 soldier in the
Black Hawk war On the return of peace,
he resigned and sought distinction in
political life He had succeeded in reach
ing the House of Representatives when
the war with Mexico broke out and he
resigned and again went to the field
And, Notwithstanding what has been said
to the contrary, he won great distinction
in this war. Military men everywhere
did him justice. The Mississippi Rifles
will be remembered as long as the battle
Of Buena Vista
At the close Of the war he again relin-
auished the sword, and was sent to the
United States Senate, where he was made
chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs. His highest ambition was to
| shine as a statesman. He afterwards
served four years as Secretary Of War,
and then returned to the Senate, where
the rebellion found him elevated to the
chairmanship of the Committee on Mill
J tary Affairs. His education, his services
in ihe army, his position as Secretary OF
War, aud in the Senate, enabled him TO
become thoroughly acquainted with our
army, with its customs, its laws, its ma
terial. its wants, and, above all, the
character of its officers. He was, per
haps, better acquainted with these things
than any other man in the United States.
| Nor was he deficient in knowledge OF
the character OF leading public men st
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.
Il was the ripe fruit Of his knowledge,
then, that Mr. Davis applied in every
department Of the rebel Government;
and il was this that made him of such
| inealcnlable value to the rebellion. We
have seen and even admired the power
with which be welded the scant resources
of the South. And We have seen the
wisdom which he displayed from the very
irst in the selection Of bis generals.
With rare exceptions, he put the right
man in the right place. He knew the
/ importance Of placing soldiers in con-
maud. when soldiers duty vas 70 be per
formed. Il would have been fortunate
for Us II We had exercised similar Wis
dom. When the rebellion began there
] =. ~ nan IN the South 70 have taken