The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-30

that it was wrong to engross his time il
they could, while bores were convinced
that they could not engross it if they would
and their stay was generally brief, his face
yielding its only approach to smile when
he saw them depart.
have said that his relations with men,
bers Of Congress were not what they
should have been; nor were they what
they might have been. Towards them, as
towards the world generally, he wore his
personal opinions very openly. Position
and opportunity presented him every
means of cultivating the personal good
will of m 5mbers by little acts of attention,
courtesy, or Difference, which no man,
however high in his position, who has to
work by means Of his fellows, can dispense
with. Great minds can, in spite Of the
absence Of these demonstrations towards
them in leader-nay, in the face of neg
lect or apparent disrespect-go on steadily
and bravely with q single eye to the pub
lie welfare; but the number of these in
comparison to those who are more or less
governed by personal considerations in the
discharge of their public duties is small.
While he was ever frank and cordial to his
friends, and to all whom he believed
to be embarked heart and soul in the cause
of southern independence, he would not,
and we think could not, sacrifice smile,
an infection of the voice, or ademonstra-
tion Of attention to fatter the selElove Of
any man in or out of Congress who did not
stand in this relation. Acting himself for
the public welfare, regardless of self or
opinions of others, he placed too light
value upon the thousand nameless inhu-
ences by which he might have brought
others up, apparently, to his own high
moral standard. By members Of Congress,
who had to see him on business, his recep-
tion of them was frequently complained of
as ungracious. They frequently, in their
anxiety amidst public disaster, called upon
him to urge plans, suggestions, or views on
ment of peace; and often pressed matters
upon him which he had very carefully
considered, and for which he alone was re-
sponsible.
Often, in such cases, though he listened
to all they had to say, why, for example,
some man should be made brigadier,
major, or lieutenant general, or placed at
the head of an army, &C., and in return
calmly and precisely stated his reasons
against the measure, he at times failed to
satisfy or convince them, simply because
in his manner and language combined
there was Just an indiscribable something
which offended their self-esteem. Some
Of his best friends left him at times with
feelings bordering closely upon anger
from this cause, and with determine
tion, hastily formed, of calling no more
upon him; and some Of the most sensible
and patriotic men of both Houses were
from him more or less from this
cause. The counsel Of judicious friends
upon this subject, and as to more unre-
strained intercourse between him and the
members of the Senate and House, was
yainly exerted. His manly, fearless, true,
and noble nature turned from what 10 him
wore the faintest approach to seeking popu-
larity and he scorned to believe it neces-
sary to coax men to do their duty to their |
in her darkest hour Of need.