The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-11-28
0heGmtell1Qe1rrers


Douglas ana DAVIS COntrHSted.
Mr.. Frank II. Alfriend, of Richmond,
late editor of the Southern Literary Mes.
senser, and an occasional correspondent
of the INTELLIaENCER before the war,
has written life of Jefferson Davis,
and it will soon be issued from the
press blythe Caxton publishing house,
SO West Fourth street, Cincinuati." He
sends us a few extracts from the work
and among the rest the following pas
sage in regard to Stephen A. Douglas
and the subject of his biography;
-" = Stephen A. Douglas
was now in the meridian OF life, and
the full maturity of his unauestiona BILE
vigorous and in, ellectual powers. For
twenty-five years he had been promI-
neut in the arena of politics, and as "a
member OF Congress his course had
been SO eIninently polite and judicious
HIS To make him favoTiIs with
the Democracy, both North and
South. To an uneXampled de-
gree his public life illustrated the COM
bination OF those characteristics of the
demhgOgue, u fertile ingenuity, Iaeile
to circumstances, and
wonderful gifts of the Gd cdptandum
species of oratOIy, SO captivating to
the populHce, which in America pecu-
liHrly constitute the attributes of the
"rising man." Douglas was not want
Ing III noble and attractive qualities of
manhood. His courage was asiundoubt-
ed, his generosity was princely in its
mnnitiCence 10 his personal friends,
and he frequently manifested a lofty
Inugnanimity. In his early youth, de-
prived of his advantages OF fortune
and position, the discipline OF his career
was not prOpitious TO the development
of the higher qualities of statesman
scantily endowed by nature. 1t is Hs
the accomplished politician, subtle,
ready, fearless, and interchangeable, that
he must be remembered. nthis latter
ch aracter he was unrivaled.
Not less than Davis WAS Douglas u
representative man, yet no two men
were moro essentially dissimtlar, and
no two lives ever actuated by aspira-
tions and instincts more unlike.
Douglas was the representative of ex-
pediency-Dayis the exponent of priu-
ciEles. In his party associations Doug
las would tolerate the largest latitude
of individual opinlon-while Davis was
always for policy clearly defined and
unmistakuble; and upon matter OF
vital principle, like Percy, would re-
luOtunIIy surrender even the ninth
part of hair" To maintain the united
action of The Democratic party on elec-
ton day, to defeat its opponents, to
secure the rewards of success, Douglas
would allow IA thousand different
constructions of the party creed
by as many factions. Davis, on
ally did, Approve the dissolution
OF the party, when it refused an
open, manly enumeration OF It's faith.
For mere party success Douglas cared
everything, and Davis nothing, save as
il insured the triumph OF Constitution
III principles. Both loved the Union
and sought lis perpetuily, but by DIFF
IereuI methods; Douglas by meyer
ending compromise OF II quarrel, which
he should have known tnat the North
would never permit 10 be amicably
settled, by Shaving OH and ignoring is
sues which were to be solved only by
being squarely met. Davis, too, was
not unwilling to compromise, but he
wearled of perpetual concession by the
South, in the meanwhile the North
continuing its hostility, both open and
insiduous, and urging settlement OF
all differences upon basis OF simple
and exact justice to both sections.
Douglas was prominently the repre-
sentative politician of his section, and
throughout his career WAS a tavorite
with that boastful, blOnted and mon
grel element which is violently called
the "American- people," and which
is the ruling element in elections
in Northern cities. In character and
conduct he embodied many OF its ma
terialistic aud socialistic IDEAS Its false
conceptions of liberty, its pernictous
dogmas OF equality, and not little of
its TOwdyism. st
Davis was the champion OF the South,
her civilization. rights, honor, aud dig
nifty. He was the fitting and adequate
exponent of civilization which rested
upon nanintellectual and Gssthetical de-
VeIOpment, upon LOFTY and generous
sentiments of manhood, dignihed
conservatism, and the proud aSsUcia-
tiOns of ancestral distinction in The his
tory OF the Union. Always tue Sena-
Tor in the sense OF the ideal OF dignity
and courtesy which is suggested by
that title, he was also the gentleman
upon ali occasions; never cOndescend-
ing TO tlatIer or soothe the mob, or to
court popular favor, he lost none OF
that polished and distinguished man
ner, in the presence OF "ieree Demo.
crat," which made him the ornament
OF the highest school of oratory and
craftsmanship of his country.