Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-02-07


M, Davis relations with tho mem.
bors of Congress from and attor the
first year OF tho war woro not what
tho interests of tho country required.
"Details upon this subject we will not
give; but in justice to him, IL is pro-
por to say that if coldness, misundcr-
standings, or misrepresentation fire.
qucntly followed his intercourse with
them, it was not because he was not
ardeutly urging the prosecution OF
Tho war with tho utmost vigor. In u
body 80 largo as that composing both
houses of Congress, there were found
OF course, some men with whom pub
lie was snbprdinalcd to private in.
tcr.st; and soiHe whose zeal for the
public welfare was mingled with SCI
fish Considerations. a w"und 70 their
scIt-ostco'n told upon tb,ir action in
public affairs, ami Mr.. Davis. sins III
this respect towards them, real or
im"ginary, were seen in their votes
and speeches.
His business Office, and tho ono in
which he assembled his Cabinet, was
q small room in tue Treasury at Rich
mord, not exceeding twenty-four by
eight en- feet in length ard breadth,
furnished with plain writing table
few chairs, and it's wall covered
with map. A messenger at the closed
door received and delivered tho cards
or messages of visitors; and immcdi-
a,ely opposite this door, and only some
six feet from it, was tho Office Of the
fonr gentlemen composing his per-
sonal staff, whose intercourse with
him was unrestricted, and one or
two of whom wero always in attcn-
dance. a portion of every morning
was given TO visitors, and many call.
ed by special appointment at other
! hours. 10 all who came upon public
business, to Increase the army, create
supplies, Or to advance tho SUCCESS of
tho war, he listened with attention
and was ever ready to receive their
views; but tho proportion OF these to
tho number who came with personal
or selfish OBJ cts, Or with "uxcs to
grinG," was mall and towards these
hie patience was frequently irrc?ress-
ib.e.
Mon of high official positions, COM
pel!ed 10 listen To I'll who may choose
TO call upon them, very soon discover
that, not only u scifinterest IS too o:sc'
The object of these who crowd t'c''
rccGi i'tlon rooms to tho delay cf Ih:
public busi.es-, but that III their ca
ger pursuits ut 1t, impnieEc,, ign o.
runcc aud csnceiL ac: b": th!nly dis
guiSel under proLo>taiIo"s oi pa
trio:ism. 4 few years of such cxpe
riences Of human nature impress
peculiar stamp upon u mans feeling
and demeanor in his Intercourse wit
J. his fellows; and, however unsuspec
ting aud 81 mpathetic may havo bee
his nature upon the assumption cf hi
} office, he leaves it with his estimate {
) mankind materially changed and h
detects himself suspcctinga u "cloa1
und peering about for tho "axo" hel
= ever "patrioss" approach him.
: Mr.. Davis Mariner Of receiving vi
i itor- al times showed that he had hu
: much experience in public otic
J. Few men could be more ch.liiagl
freczing!y cold.
II Thoso who came wi,hcnt spcci
. appointments, usually found him o
- gagged wit il amass Of manu-, script T.
J. p.rs before h;m, telling as plainly
u his occnpaiion as l:is formal und sea
"a ty courtesy did of tho Importance,
10 his time aud his sense Of its i'm erl
u Lion. There was no, waste Of wor
's ' no ignoring of his pre- occupation, f
i. genera!i.ies; and, in Epite of Il
!" amount Of self fcompiacency, sensi
y men soon cit they knew mot exae
~ why or qow, that it was wrong to
co gross his time if they could, VIII
~ bores wore cinvinced C that they col
AZ not eugross'if they would, apd th
re stay was generally brief, his +
yieldingi.s only approach to O 81
nd, when be saw them depart.
.pe " lEhavo said that his relations "
Mt. members of Congroas Were not "
OF they should have been. Toward tt
ato as toward tho she world generally
Pc wore: his personal opinions yery OF
of IT,. Position and opportunity. pre-
'lks ted him evory means of cultiva'
and personal good will Of members
an little acts of attention, courtesy
bles difference which. no man, :;hoW'
the. high his position, who has to y
'er- by meana Of his fellows; can .disp
ases WITH. Crest minds can in spite Of
,hly &.abssnes Of these dsnopstrations
tory wards them 40 q lender, nay, in
lake, face OF neglect. orapparef,t. aisss- -es,
sihgEgo On steadilye aud ;sbtavsiy, wi
man 4 single eye tolthe pnbiis welfare
snre, the number of rthese insc comparis,t
- Il n ,~S -