Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1868-02-07
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
A Portrait by One of His Cabinet, Hon
S. R. Mallory.

M0O III po'SAoAS) ~S"
miorling much with the world, read
ily acquirc.easo aud rcpose of manner,
aud a control more or less perfect,
over their emotions, and especially
over all manifestations Of surprise
and wo not unfr,qnently hear them
say ,hey arc ''surp,iscd at nothing
This important defensive armor is
habitually worn by Mr.. Davis
Where and when he acquired it,
whcthor among his Indian friends on
tho from tier, or among Christian hyp-
ocrites, wo know not, but he rarely
goes without it. AS Chief of tho Con-
t,derate States ho could listen to The
announcement OF defeat white expect
ing victory, or to "a foreign dispatch
destructive OF hopes long cherished.
or to whispers that old friends were
becoming cold aud hostile. without
exhibiting the slightest evidence be-
yond change of color, toll-tale
which he could never entirely COM
mand ) and yet his scnsitiiltics are
extremely acute.
Under such circumstances, his Ian
gua.e temperate and bland, his voice
calm and gentle, and his whole per
son at rest, he presented rather The
appearance of a man wear'ed ana
worn bv care and labor, listening TO
something thut ho know all about
than of ono rrcciving ruiGous disclo-
surcs, he fully understood and npprc'-
a,ed the evils resulting from has,y
conclusions; and, guided bp storm
conscientiousness, and schooled by
By long mental discipline, bis lrasciblc
and exciteablo nature rarely led him
into inconsidcrato action. Like an
elegant, polished, highly finished
poised and we'll charged dueling p's-
,ol, whose hair trigger responds to
the slightest touch, no could be very
readily fired, but he never went ctf
half cooked. A lock, word, nay,
his own reflections, may cauS" his col
or to change, his eyes 10 fash, auG biz
firm to s,-aiyhtcn up IiGidiy, but III:
lips remained compressed until judge
meat opens them.
lie is usually regarded as ready
nar, prouopt il rv:chi' s CONCLUSIONS
anu 10 lees prompt III actin5 upon
them-un estimate Of his charae:e'
which is probably derived from hi
administration Of the War D;part
mont under President Pierce, an'
disseminated by army people; an'
vet by all who have ever been assoc
ated with him in public affairs he
probably known to be singularly eau
tious, if not pcocras.ihating in thes
respects:
AS President of tho Southern Co!
fedsracy, his zeal, Industry and pa
tiencc, in ,wha,ercr he undertook
were conspicuous, but he Mother Is
bored with merit or cole:;ty Limac!
nor aided others to do go for hiE
Whstevcr engaged bis attention, bow
ever unimportant, was thorough
and critically examined and %hiI
from his well nnGerst,cd h:.+it, l.
opinion upon r,aitcrs he investigate
commanded great respect amoug h
fiiends, they daily saw that affairs
r-omont were d.layed, not culy tn
ho habitually UNDERTOOK moro lab
than he could accomplish, but tn
much Of his timo was given 10 detai
Military lifs, in Gil its pnasee, HI
fo- him peculiar charm; and mill
ry affairs, however minute, rare
fui!.d to cammand lis patient indu
try, whatever might be. tho claims
o.bec.matters upon it. No laboro
, the War Office were too small for
attention, ard app ,iniinents ard pr
motions Of officers, questions Of re-
military law and usages, routine, I
very often engrossed it, notwithsta
ing his entire confidence in the ex
rience and Judgement Of the Adult
General; Cooper, on all such subje
The amount Of attention which
habitually bestowed upon det
which arc usually devolved upon 9
ordinates surprised ALI who we're
miliar with ibis habits and his OK
ed sense of Justice, and his desire
only TO be right, but TO so act o
rstder itimpossible to bo wrong, '
=. as Visible in these as in matters Of
:. FIRST Importance. !.
>. Letters from afflicted mothers
.lieving their hearts By telling hi
: the virtues. Of sons just .faileu in
tie; complaints; of sfiiendless sold
=; demanding at, his hands justice
= wrongs paisted by those Is ahtho
-. amlications for pardon or comm
= sien d. sentence ispetitious from y
:. sforthe rel ease. .of conscripted hush
! 2.1orffom :iarhiars fprsihe restorati
. : q lmprsassa setoc swsrme; m in ,num'
instances reed, their m erifs care
eonsidersd5 aid sPopded To BY:
and Whan .thss applicant for j.
: mag esidenfI 6 isIdlssa, he z