Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-11-08

1cbs Win uO uioNuiDiu1 incentive 70
dissatisfaction in the weighty honors
of his illustrious elevation.
The writer of these R~ecollections
has watched Mr.. Davis closely and
studied his character critically. Not
very frequently thrown with him,
and then not only for brief periods,
yet intimately acquainted with his
most intimate friends aud bitterest
enemies, and knowing well also many |
for whose ability he had no respec', in
ahOSe character 10 confidence, and
thus being able TO test by his judg-
nent, sscrutiniziBg his public acts
infinitely and ~searchingly, and en-
1eayoring to do him justice without
indulging in too great Partially, we
have been perplexed to know just
what we do think, and to express
what we feel about him. Hero-wOr-
ship we have ever tried to eschew.
The greatest of men, at last, are but
mortals. And the glamour Of
rank often daZzles US into cOniOundii g
character with position. We endow
the incumbent with the lustre of his
office. We Judge the man by his
place, and not by his worth. And
che merit that should mark a high
mission is too frequently given upon
trust, i'm tribute to the mere belief of
capacity, and not upon its tested re-
| atty. And we also are too apt to per-
NIT the prestige of power to blind us
to faults, and to make Us palliate mex
cusable error. We must be just, and
cannot be just without being true and
rank. And, frank and truthful, and
therefore, just we meal TO try and be.
Mr.. Davis administration Vas
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 of dispassiOnate truth,
dare question. His honesty was I'M
~impeachable. Never human being
had sincerer convictions, or followed
them more firmly and incOrTuptibly.
And as for lofty honor and superb
chivalry, he had no superior, and few
equals. lie had rare and command
ing abilities-abilities dazzlingIy or
nate. vet, we think, deficient in prac-
ticality.
He Jailed to discern the temper of
the people he ruled; he misjudged in
dividual character most lamentably
in many cases, and he lacked thor
oughly one of the subtlest secrets
of statesmanship-the ability to know
when, and the tact to know how to
temporize. ImmOvably fixed in his
opinion, ne could never yield, when
concession was a virtue, and tenacity
Il fault, and in consequence, he rushed
upon errors greater than those he
honestly avoided. No single man
can safely override the cOnvicti0nsand
feelings of the great mass of hiS1peO-
pie. He must bend, and Mr.. Davis
could not bend. There Is shining vir-
tue in strict adhesion to hard principle,
but no merit in the uncOmpromising
retention ola mere policy. Questions
of pure eXpediency are always OpIn
ones, and should be decided by cir
cumstances, and a wise regard for in
terest. \ leader, no matter what his
integrity, or how %stupendous his abil-
tiles, bad better yield gracefully and
seasonably to the judgment of the
masses, where their interest is in
VOWED. II he fails, the worth must
be amazing, and the virtue almost ce-
lestial that can escape censure and de-
traction, and atone for an error of
Judgment so terrible in its results,
from the magnitude of the interests
jeOpardized.
Ne wish we could use unqualified
p~anegyric in writing of Mr.. Davis, for
our admiration of the man Is, and al
ways has been, intense; and con-
nected, as he is, with the land we
love, hOnOTcd a. he was by her people,
identified as he ever will be with her
downfall so grandly, and her prostra-
ton; her dauntleSs courage and eX-
allied honor, we have feelings for him,
that we never entertained Tor human
being before. lie is now the national
holocaust OF our country's ruin, the
royal martyr for oar cOuntry's cher
iShed principles; and there brcathes
upon his unfortunate yet regal fate,
such an UNREASONABLE host of pure
and devoted wishes, 50 many sOul-felt
prayers, such admiring and intense
interest, such passionate sympathy,
and there cluster around his kingly
head such a halo of beautiful martyr
dom, that we would not for worlds di-
minish the glory of his services, the
magnitude OF his sacrifices or the
blessed luster of his sad, yet brilliant
doom.
Every Southern heart should be
bbAGlbl ~ lAAN AO-it NAhANF ~ ~ - NAlN
representative symbol of our achieve
mentS, and sufitrings. He seems to
be the single grand atOnement for Il
nations awful mistake, at once the ra-
diant illustration OF herSplendid char
acter, and the noble, vicariOus victim
Of her injured destiny.
One, and not the least interesting of
our observations of Mr.. Davis, was
] a.. ...-s.-es .r-- ,,,N -,4I.-..- 49,.
ifestatiOns that he himself made to-
wards the close OF his dramatic career
as a leader, of bis cOnscientiousness OF
having committed errors. Too acute
not TO perceive, and too honest not 10
own them, conscious OF rectitude, vet
dismayed at his probably mistaken
Judgment, he evinced an unuasiness
Of mind, and Il deep concern that we
thought greatly to his credit.
We can imagine him in his cXqui-
site cOnscientiOuSneSs asking himself
poignantly the question, if he was re-
spOnsible ior the appalling disasters
his beloved people were suffering, and
his proud spirit crushed in anguish at
the bitter thought that he might have
done better. Yet stirling honesty
Ike his carries a remedy Tor its mis-
fortunes and mistakes in that very
pureness Of intention which is the
soul integrity. And aided, as we be-
licve him to be, by true Christian
philosophy, We can follow him in inn
aginatiOn still farther, and fancy him
sweetly bending his imperiOus soul TO
the merciful chaStisementS of PrOVi-
dence, reading love in the Divine
Power that smOte him and us, looking
mOurnfully back upon error that were
exec. Of zeal, and u is axes th6t wee
miSappiied but sincere devotion,
and appealing to the Scarcher
Of hearts of correctness of mo-
tives rs their |palliation, p%enitently
owning in earnest sclf-scrutiny and
| prayerful selEimmOlatiOn that he had, I
perhaps, been stitf-necked and iniudi-
cious. but that he did love his people |
with a surprising affection, that he
had honestly tried to further their in
terest in everything he did, and that
he must of right be redeemed at last
out of the fullness of his worship OF
his dear country; and also, that what
ever he did, he never stopped to con
quer, he never was mean or treacher-
Gus, and he never compromised the !
honor or lowered the dignity of the
cause Of which he was the chosen, he
role, high-spirited, and virtuous, but
Inflated leader.
The most that can be expected OF
man is to do his best. Jefferson Davis
did his best, with n eye single to
the good of his native land, and, /
honestly believe, in utter abnegation
of self. His controlling connection
with gigantic events will carry his
name to the remOtest end of time.
And the grand outlines Of his real no.
bility will become clearer with age
showing with increasing luster his
truth, his piety, his un~selfishness, his
purity, his patriotism, fortitude and
magnificent faith.