Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1869-10-30

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The homage that was paid Mr.. Davis
In 1851 wasimmense. Fond y enlisted
In the cause as our entire people were;
public feeling enthused to les highest
pitch; confident Of success; prophetic
Of grand destiny for our idolized
South exaggerating In the DOT fervor
Of the hour and the tragic Importance
Of the movement everything colinee-
ted with the Rebellion; Heribing to-
Mr.. Davis every attribute of great
ness, and measuring his worth and
ability by their estimtte Of the
grandeur Of his position, all minds
bowed reverently TO his exalted rank,
and yielded ready credence to his
fitness for the magnifi-
cent station. Not a murplur at his
was heard. This unanimi-
ty of approval must itself lave elated
him; but adding to this the royal
homage he received every where and
upon every occasion, and rom every
body, he indeed had grounds of self
complacency. Yet he pass ed through
1t all, calm and unmoved, preserving
a certain stately comp ,sure and
tranquility OF demean-
or, that was very attraetiy to curl
Gus and close observer, and that was
of his fitness, for high
place, and his capacity for great Ia
bors. A small-minded or weak-spir-
tied man would have reelei under the
intoxication of no much b image, aud
betrayed unseemly vanity In such be-
wildering adulation; but Mr.. Davis
moved under IL all, free from every
exhibitiolfo of puerile p,id, ;, conscious
OF, but unbOwed by responsibility, and
rs unaffected and unas Stunning as
though he were q simple citizen,
with no disturbing incentive to self
satisfaction In the weighty honors Of
his illustrious elevation.
The writer OF these Rscollections
has watched Mr.. Davis closely and
studied his character critically. Not
very frequently thrown with him,
and then only for brief periods, yet
intimately acquainted with his most
intimate friends and bitersst enemies,
and knowing we'll also many of his
favorites, and many for whose ability
he had no respect In who,e character
no confidence, and thus being able to
test his Judgement, scru tinizing his
public acts infinitely and 'earchingly,
and endeavoring to do him Justice
without INDUCING In too great par
TALLY, we have been J,erplexed to
know Just what we do think, and to
express what we feel about him.
Hero-worship we have ever tried to
eschew. The greatest " men, at
last, are but mortals. And the CLAM
our OF rank often dazzels Us into con-
founding character witt. position
We endow the incumbent with the
lustre Of his Office. VIZ Judge the
man by his place, and not by his
worth. And the merit that should
mark a high mission 10 too frequent
ly given upon trust, In tribute to the
mere belief of capacity, and not upon
Its tested reality. And we also are
too apt to permit the rcestige Ofpow-
or to blind US to faults, end to make
US palliate inexcusable error. We
must be just, and cannot be Just with.
out being true and rank. And,
just, we mean TO try anC be.
Mr.. Davis administration was
marked by some brilliant and mas.
terly features, and some grave and
most fatal mistakes. That his heart
was right, no one in his senses, and
in the guidance ofdispassionate truth,
dare question. His honesty was un'
impcachable. Never human being
had sincerer convictions, or followed
them more firmly and inoorruptibly
| And as for lofty honor and superb
chivalry, he had no sup srior, and few
equals. He had rare and commanding
abilities--abilities dazz ingly ornate
yet, we think, deficient In practical
ty.
He failed to discern The temper O
the people he ruled /; he misjuged in
dividual character mos lamentably
In many cases, and he lacked
thoroughly one Of the subtlest secrets
of statesmanship-the ability to know
when, and the tact to know how to
temporize. Immovably fixed in hi
opinion, he could never yield, wher
concession WAS virtue, and tenacity
q fault, and In oonsequ. nee, he rushet
upon errors greater tllan those h,
honestly avoided. NJ single MAJ
can safely override to Convictions ant
feelings Of the great MISS of his PEG
pie. He must bend, and Mr.. Davi
could not bend. There IL shining vir
tue In strict adhesion b. hard princi
Pile, but no merit In tue uncompro
missing retention of mere policy
Questions Of pure expediency are nj
ways open ones, and should be deci
ded by circumstances, and a wise re
gard for interest. A II adler, no mat
ter what his integrity, or how stu
pendious his abilities, had better yiel,
lgracefully and seasona)ly to the judg
lment Of the masses, where their in
terests are involved. r. he fails, tn
worth must DO amazing, and the vir
tue almost celestial that can escap
censure and detraction, and atone &,
an error of judgment so terrible In IL
results, from the magnitude ofthe In
terests jeopardized.
We wish we could use unqualiae,
panegyric In writing OF Mr.. Davis
for our admiration OF the man In, an,
always has been, intense; and con
nected, rs he Is, with the land W
love, honored rs he wis by her pee
pie, Unidentified as he ever will b
with her history, sharing Der down
fall so grandly, and her prostration
her dauntless courags and exalto
honor, We have feelings for him
that we never entertr ined for humai
being before. He Is 4 ow the nation
nj holocaust of our .,ountry's ruin
the royal martyr for our country
cherished principle, and ther
breathes upon his uni lrtunate yet n
, gal fate, such an questionable host q
, pure and devoted wishes, 80 man
soul-felt prayers, suci, admiring an
, intense interest, such passiopates sym
, pathy, and there cluster around hI
kingly head such halo OF beautift
, martyrdom, that we would not Il
| worlds diminish the glory Of his sel
/ vices, the magnitude OF his sacrifice
or the blessed lustre Of his sad, W
brilliant doom.
Every Southen heart should b
bound To the lone ext ie, for he II III