Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-01

Commercial, is attributed to Hon. 5. X.
Mallory, late Confederate Secretary of the
Navy l. f
Men in commanding positions, and
mingling much with the world, readily
acquire ease and repose of manner, and
control, more or less perfect, over their
emotions, and especially over all manifes-
tations Of surprise and we not unfrequently
hear them say that they are surprised at
nothing"
This important defensive armor is
habitnally worn by Mr.. Davis Where
and when he acquired il, whether among
his Indian friends Of the frontier, or among
Christian hypocrites, we know not, but he
rarely goes without it. As chief Of the
Confederate States he could listen to the
announcement Of defeat while expecting
victory, or to a foreign dispatch destruc-
tive to hopes long cherished, or to whispers
that old friends were becoming cold or
hostile, without exhibiting the slightest
evidence of feeling beyond a change of
color, a tell-tale which he could never en-
tirely command; and vet his sensibilities
are extremely accute.
Under such circumstances, his language
temperate and bland, his voice calm and
gentle, and his whole person at rest, he
presented rather the appearance of a man
wearied and worn by care and labor, lis
tening TO something that he knew all
about. than of one receiving ruinous dis
closures. He fully understood and appre-
ciated the evils resulting from hasty con-
clusions and, guided by a stern conscien~
tiousness, and schoOled by long indfltal dis
cipline, his irascible and excitable nature
rarely led him into inconsiderate action.
Like an elegant, polished, highly finished,
well poised and well charged dueling pis-
tol, whose hair trigger responds to the
slightest touch, he could be very readily
fired, but he never went off half cooked.
A look, word, nay, his own reflections,
may cause his color TO change, his ewes to
fash, and his form to straighten up rigidly :
bat his lips remained compressed until
judgment opens them.
He is usually regarded az a ready man,
prompt in reaching conclusions and no
less prompt in acting upon them-an esti-
male Of his character which is probably
derived from his administration of the
War Department under President Pierce.
and disseminated by army people; and
yet, by all who have ever been associated
with him in public affairs, he is probably
knownto be singularly cautious, if not pro-
crastinating in theserespects.
As President of the Southern Confed-
eracy, his zeal, industry and patience in
whatever he undertook were conspicuous
bat ne neither labored with method or ce.
lerity himself, nor aided others to do SC
for him. Whatever engaged his attention
however unimportant, was thorough and
critically examined and, while from this
well understood habit, his opinions upon
matters which he had investigated com
manded great respect among his friends
they daily saw that affairs of moment were
delayed, not only because he habitually
undertook more labor than he could ac'
complish, but that much of his time was
| given TO details.
Military life, in all its phases, had fol
him a peculiar charm; and military af
| fairs, however minute, rarely failed to com
mand his patient industry, whatever nigh
be the claims of other matters upon it. n,
laboFs Of the War Office were too small 70
his attention, and appointments and pro
motions of officers, questions of rank
military law and usages, routine, etc, yer
often engrossed it notwithstanding his entir
confidence in the experience and judgmeu
of the Adjutant General, Cooper, upon a
such subjects.
The amount of attention which he habit
ally bestowed upon details which are usual
devolved upon subOrdinates, surprised a
who were familiar with his habits; and hi
exalted sense of justice, and his desire NJ
only to be right, but to 80 act as to rend'
it impossible to be wrong, were az visib
in these az in matters of the first impo
tance.
Letters from afflicted mothers, relieviI
their hearts by telling him of the virtues
sons Just fallen in battle !; complaints
friendless soldiers, demanding at his han,
Justice for wrongs inflicted by those in a
thority; applications for pardon or con
mutation of sentence; petitions of wiv
for the release OF conscripted husbands,
from farmers for the restoration of il
, pressed stock, were in numerous instanc
read, their merits carefully considered, al
responded TO by him; and when the app
cant for justice was evidently friendless,
rarely lost sight of the case, or devolved
adjustment upon Others
A vast amount of such business, whit
might well have been referred for final a
tion TO a bureau officer and promptly di
patched, encumbered his table and occ
; pied his attention. Ii seemed impossih
for him to resist appeals upon his tin
from friendless women or the wrong
, soldier and whether they found him at
r. Office, or in the midst of his family, tn
were heard patiently and answered kindl
With such habits, combined and method
cal labor with him was impractical
though he worked increasingly.
HIS Cabinet officers were in the hab
individually, Of comforting with him almo
daily, and he usually assembled them twi
i. or three times week for consultatic
: These meetings occupied frsm two TO f
A hours, longer than was required for
thorough examination and solution of
- principles and chief features of cnrrt
= public measures and business; but from
!, tendency to DEPRESSION, TO slide away FRI
a the chief points TO episodical questions, I
= amount Of business accomplished bore
little relation 10 the time consumed a
not unfrequently a Cabinet meeting wot
exhaust four or five hours without det
mining anything, while the desk of eve
g chief of department vas covered with
pers demanding his attention.
Ifto Mr.. Davis unyielding will and {
ergy, his truth and justice, his knowleC
g of men and Of public affairs, his patiel
ls and industry, his analytical mind and co
u prehensive judgment, were united.
business habits Of an active merchant
IN commercial law advocate, his ability 9
l" usefulness as the chief of great enterpr
or the head of a people, would find
parallels in history.
Whether with his peculiar mental 9
moral combination, his absorbing desire
q attain an exact fitness, consistency and {
- respondence 20 all that he attempts,
20, disposition TO analyze and exhaust,
nr only the probable, but the possible ar
20 msnts upon subjects under considerati
ne anv other training than that which he
es- ceived, could have taught him the
n value and economy of time, as an elem
n in the affairs Of this rapid age, We are
n prepared TO say; but certain 1t Is, that
=. discipline Of West Point, his transfer the
TO the Indian frontier, his plantation, 2
+, tical and Congressional life, were net OF
best training for the purpose. So well
his habit with regard 70 time underSt
in Richmond that punctuality in meet
~ it was rarely expected from his engs
w mentS
% Though apparently cold and exclus
NJ navfs 10 ,atnraltv GENIAL and sym