The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-01-08


OF the public business, but that in their eager
pursuit Of it, impudence, Ignorance, and con
ceit, are but thinly disguised under protesta
ton of patriotism. A few years of such ex
| perlence ofshuman nature impress a peculiar
stamp upon aman's feelings and demeanor il
| his intercourse with his fellows and however
unsuspecting and sympathetic may have been
his nature upon the assumptions OF his officer
he leaves it with his estimate Of mankind ma.
terially changed; and he detects himself sus-
pecting a s'cloak" and peering about for the
"axe" whenever patriots approach him. 9.
Mr.. Davis's manner ofreceiving visitors at
times showed that he had much ex perience
in public Office. Few men could be more
ehillingly freeziDgly cold, Those who came
without special appointment Of business usu-
ally found him engaged with a mass Of manu-
script papers before him, telling as plainly
of his occupation as his formal and scanty
courtesy did Of the Importance of his time and
his sense Of its interruption. There was no
waste of words, no ignoring Of his pre- occu.
patton, few generalities; and, in spite Of any
amount Of self-complacency. sensible men
soon felt, they knew not exactly why, that it
was wrong to engross his time it they could.
while bores were convinced that they could
not engross it if they would aud their stay
was generally brief, his face yielding its only
approach to smile when he saw them depart
have said that his relations with mem
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 opin-
ions very openly. Position and opportunity
presented him every means Of cultivating the
personal goodwill Of members, by little acts
of attention, courtesy, or Difference, which no
man, however high in his position who has
to work by me ems Of his fellows can dispea.e
with. Great minds can, in spite of the alb
sence Of these demon STATIONS towards them
in leader nay in the face Of neglect or ap-
parent disreepect-go on steadily and bravely
with single eye to the public welfare but
the number Of these, in comparison to those
who are more or less governed by personal
considerations in the discharge of their pub
lie 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
Ia the cause of southern independence, he
would not, and we think could not, sacrifice
q smile, an infection Of the voice, Or do
monstration of attention to fatter the self.
love Of any man in or out Of Congress who
did not stand IN this relation. Acting him
self for the public welfare regardless of self
Or opinions Of others, he placed too light a
value upon the thousand nameless Influences
by which he might have brought others up,
apparently to his own high moral standard.
BY members of Congress, who had to see hiu,
on business, his reception OF them was fire.
quently complained Of as uugracious. They
frequently, in their anxiety amidst public
disaster, called upon him to urge plans, sug
gestions, or views on the conduct of the war,
or for the attainment of peace; and often
pressed matters upon him which he had very
carefully considered, and for which be alone
was responsible,
Often, in such cases, though he listened to
all they had to say, why, for example, some
man should be made a brigadier, major, or
lieutenant general, Or placed at the, head Of
an army, Sc, and in return calmly and pre-
cisely stated his reasons against the measure.
he at times failed to satisfy OF convince them,
simply because in his manner and language
combined there was just 1indiscrihpble.
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 a determination, hastily form.
Ell, of calling no more upon him and some
of the most sensible aud patriotic men of
both Houses were ahenated from him, more
or less from this. cause. The counsel Of judi
cious friends upon this subject, as to more,
unrestraiued intercourse between him and the
members Of the Senate and House, was vainly
eaertsd His manly, fearless, true, and no
BILE nature tanned from what ;. to him, wore the
faintest approach to seeking popularity and
he scorned to believe it necessary to coax
men to do their duty to their country in her
darkest hour of need sa.,g} .l9a4ra3 81