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

knowledge OF lie, from the DackNOOus~
mans hut 10 the halls of Senates 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 20 the
salons of fashion sympathy with the rich
and great, had stored his mind with vast
fund of useful knowledge, sprightiy infor-
NATION and amusing anecdote, which a
genial nature, ready perception of humor,
Fsre powers of intimation. and R voice full
of pleasant infections, so presented that
few could be in his society at such times
without deriving pleasure and information.
He is god Judge of men; and from in
dications which often escape the Observa-
tions of others, he frequently determines
the general designs of those with whom he
ia brought into contact before they have
had time 10 become reserved. His knowl-
edge Of the habits of men in different walks
of life, their modes of thought and ex-
preston and peculiarity of language, is
remarkable; and enables him to bring
himself at once to the level of those with
whom he conYerses, to use their own
familiar phrases and figures, and to be
thoroughly with them--a species of fattery
which gratifes and is apt to make men
communicative. In conversing with IN
intelligent English gentleman upon the
history, laws, literature, constitution or
public men of Great Britain, the purity, and
elegance of his language, no less than the
accuracy and extent of his information,
never failed to surprise; while the men
reared in our Western or Southwestern
States, upon the frontier or upon the
Mississippi, were ever glad to talk with
him, not only because his knowledge was
equal to their own upon their favorite
topics, but because his language, his i'm
ages and metaphors were such as they had
ever been accustomed to.
He was favorite with all the children,
whom he never failed to interest and his
own regarded him as their pleasantest
playmate.
Mr.. Davis 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, 1t is proper 10 say that, if Coldness,
misunderstanding, or Misrepresentation
frequently followed his intercourse with
them, it was not because he was not ar
IDENTIFY urging the prosecution of the war
with the utmost vigor. In body so large
as that comprising both houses of Congress,
there were found, OF course, some men with
whom public was subordinate to private in
terest; and some whose zeal for the public
welfare was mingled with selfish consid-
erations. A wound to their self esteem
told upon their action in public affairs,
and Mr.. Davis sins in this respect towards
them, real or imaginary, were seen in their
votes and speeches.
His business office, and the one in which
he assembled his Cabinet, was small
| room in the Treasury at Richmond, not
exceeding twenty-four by eighteen feet in
length and breadth, furnished with plain
writing table, a few chairs, and its walls
covered with maps. A messenger at the
closed door received and delivered the
cards or messages of visitors; and imme-
| diately opposite this door, and only some
| six feet from it, was the Office of the four
gentlemen composing his personal staff,
] whose intercourse with him was unrestrict-
ed, and one or two of whom were always
in attendance. A portion of every morp-
ing was given to visitors, and many called
by special appointment at other hours.
To all who came upon public business, to
increase the army, create supplies, or to
| advance the success of the war, he listened
with attention and was ever ready to re.
ceive their views but the proportions Of
these to the number who came with per
sonal or selfish Objects or with "axes tc
grind" was small and towards these hi:
impatience was frequently irrepressible
Men in high official positions, compelled
at times to listen to all who may choose tC
call upon them, very soon discover that
not only is self'interest too often the OBJ
iect of those who crowd their reception
rooms to the delay Of the public business
but that in their eager pursuit of it, i'm
pudence, arrogance and conceit are bu
thinly diguised under protestations o
patriotism. A few years Of such expe
/ rience of human nature impresses a pc
+ culiar stamp upon a mans feelings anC
! demeanOr in his intercourse with his fel
lows; and, however unsuspecting an,
sympathetic may have been his natur
upon the assumption Of his Office, he leave
r | it with his estimate of mankind mate
rally changed; and he detects himself sus
, pecting Cloak and peering about 70
the "axe" whenever patriots" approach
him.
: Mr.. Davis manner of receiving visit
2 ors at times showed that he had had mucl
experience in public Office. Few me
! could be more chillingly, freezingly cold
Those who came without special appoint
: ment, usually found him engaged with
= mass of manuscript papers before him, tel
e ing as plainly of his occupation as hi
e formal and scanty courtesy did of the in
I portance Of his time and his sense of il
interruption. There was no waste
' words, no ignoring of his pre>occupatiol
. few generalities and, in spite of an
: amount of selfcomplacency, sensible me
), soon felt they knew not exactly why {
how, that it was wrong to engrOss h
/. time if they could, while bores were col
i viuced that they could not engross it if the
e would, and their stay was generally brie
j. his face yielding its only approach to
e smile when he saw them depart.
e have said that his relations with men
e bers of Congress were not what they shou
It have been nor were they what they migl
Is have been. Towards them, IA towards IL
n world generally, he wore his person.
e opinions very openly Position and o.
It portunity presented him every means
d cullivating the personal goodwill of men
d bers by little acts of attention, courtesy
r Difference which no man, however high h
y position, who has 10 work by means Of b
l. fellows, can dispense with Great min
can, in spite of the ablence Of these demo
T., strations toward them in a leader, nay,
,e the face of neglect or apparent disrespeC
,e | go on steadily and bravely with a sing
4 eye to the public welfare; but the numb
,e of these in comparison to those who a
,r more or less governed by personal CO
NJ siderations in the discharge of their publ
- duties is small While be was ever fraI
W and cordial to his friends, and to all who
he believed to be embarked heart and 30
"A in the cause of Southern independence,
n would not, and, we think, could not, sac
p fee a smile, an infection of the voice, OF
ia demonstration of attention to fatter t
Of selflove Of any in or out of Congress, W
n did not stand ia this relation. Acti
N himself for the public welfare, regardless
2, self or opinions of others, he placed I
,st light a value upon the thousand nsmelS
M influences by which he might have broug
ot others up, apparently, to his own moi
ha standard. BY members of Congress, W
90 had TO see him on business, his manner
n. or reception of them were frequently co
he planned OF, and pronounced ungracious
/ NJ 2 . Il =.