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

/ his family, they were heard patiently and an
swered kindly With such habits. combinee
ana methodical, labor with him was impracti
cable, though be worked increasingly.
| His Cabinet officers were in the habit, IN
diyidually, Of comforting with him almos
daily, and he usually assembled them twice
| or three times week for consultation. These
meetings occupied from two to five hours
longer than was required for the thorough
examination and solution Of the principle:
and chief features Of current publicmeasures
and business; but from his tendency to di
gression to slide away from the chief points
to episodical questions, the amount Of bust
ness accomplished bore but little relation t.
the time consumed !; and not unfrequently !
Cabinet meeting would exhaustlfour or five
hours wishout determining anything
the desk of every chief of department was
covered with papers demanding his attention
! If to MIR. Dayis's unyielding will and
energy, his truth and justice, his knowledge
Of men and Of public affairs, his patience
and industry, his analytical mind and com,
prehensiye judgment, were united the bust
| ness habits Of an, active merchant or com
mercial law advocate, his ability and useful
ness as a chief OF a great enterprise or the
head of people would find few parallels in
| history. ,s
Whether, with his peculiar mental and
moral combination. his absorbing desire to
! attain an exact fitness, consistency, and cor
respondence in all that he attempts, his dis
position to analize and exhaust not only the
probable but the possible arguments upon
subjects under consideration, any other train
ing that which he received could have taught
him the just value and economy of time as
nm element in the affairs of this rapid age
we are not prepared to say but certain it is
that the discipline of West, his transfer
thence to the Indian frontier, his plantation,
political and congressional life, were not the
best training for the purpose. So well was
his habit with regard to time understood in
Richmond that punctuality in meeting it was
rarely expected from his engagements.
Though apparently cold and exclusive, Mr..
Davis is naturally genial and sympathetic; ;
and few men prove more attractive in private
society. No man delighted more to relieve
his burthened heart and mind by pleasant
conversation upon general subjects taste
which the seclusion Of Cabinet meeting aud
the presence Of trusted friends prompted him
frequently to crafty !; aud upon such occasions.
aided by the inspiration of good cigar,
rambling pleasantly over other fields than
those OF public affairs, his conversation and
manner were extremely engaging. His ex-
tensiye reading and retentiye memory, his
accurate observation and acquaintance
.L.Ji I.
knowledge OF life, from the backwoodsmans
hut to the halls OF Senators and Cabinets,
were never at fault for striking illustrations
of every subject presented. Experiences in
the army, on the great plains, and in Mexico
life, civilized and savage, from the Indians
lodge to the salons Of fashion sympathy with
the poor and humble, and familiarity with
the rich and great, had stored his mind with
vast fund of useful knowledge, sprightly
information and amusing anecdotc, which
genial nature, q ready perception Of hu-
full of pleasant infections, 50 presented that
few could be in his society at such times
without deriving pleasure and information.
He is good judge Of men aud from indi-
cations which often escape the observations
Of others he frequently determines the gen
eral designs Of those with whom he is brought
into contact before they have had time to be-
some reserved His knowledge Of the habits
of men in different walks Of life. their modes
Of thought and expression, and popularity
Of language, are remarkable land enables
him 10 bring himself atience to the level of
those with whom he convcrses, to use their
own familiar phrases and figures, and to be
Thoroughly with them, species Of fattery
which grati6es and is apt to make men COM
municatiye. In conyersing with an intelli-
gent English gentleman upon the history,
laws literature, constitution, or public men of
Britain, the purity and elegance Of his Ian
guage, no less than the accuracy and extent
Of his information, never failed to surprise;
while the men reared in our western or south
western States, upon the frontier, or upon
the Mississippi were ever glad to talk with
him, not 5only because his, knowledge was
equal to their own upon their kavorite topics,
but because his language, his images, and
metaphors were their own
He was a tayorite with all children, whom
he never failed to interest; and his own regard
ed him Jas their plcasantest playmate 81
Mr.. Davis's, relations with the members Of
Congress from and after the first year of the
war were not what the interests Of the country
required. Details upon this subject We will
not give; but, in justice to him, it is proper
to say thatif GOODNESS, misunderstanding, Or
misrepresentation frequently followed his in
tercourse with them it was NOT because he
was not ardently urging the prosecution Of
the war with the utmost vigor In body
50 large as that composing both Houses Of
Congress there are found, Of course, some
men with whom public was, subordinated to
private interest; and some whose zeal for the
public welfare was mingled with selfish con.
siderations. A wound to their selfesteem
told upon their action in public affairs, and
Mr.. Dayiss sins in this rcpec. towards them,
real or imaginary, were seen in their votes
and speeches. 'ssal i.ss'f5ssi .si'sFi
His business Office, and The one IN which.
be assembled his Cabinet, twas a. smalla room
ia the Treasury at Richmond, not exceeding
tyenty-four byeighteen feet in length and
breadth, furnished with plain writing label
and few chairs, and its walls covered with
maps. A messenger at the closed door re-
.ceiTed anddeliyered the cards or messages
3of5iyisitors; and. Immediately opposite this
door and onlv some sly fpat fra,n, ,.,.,s