New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-29
AN INTERVIEW WITH JEFFERSON DAVIS.
IIS APPEARANCE AND CONYERSATION-TRlBUTE
TO THE HERO OF THE LOST CAUSE.
IpROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


TO THE HERO OF THE LOST CAUSE.
lYROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIA, S. c., May 25.-JetfeTsOD Davis
rryed here ON Tuesday business connected with the
lie insurance company Of which he Is President
was introduced 70 him yesterday in lawyers once,
There be was holding informal reception, and had
halfbour's conversation Mr.. Davis bears little re-
semblsnce TO the pictures with which everybody
familiar during the war and he might walk the streets
Il any Northern city without chance Of being known
10y people who have only his photographs In enter
ne the back Of the lawyers Office found seated
uspcuOusly in the midst Of about dozen persons
lquiet-looNng gentleman OF medium hight, with gray
BARS thin gray beard and mustache light blue eyes,
lightly aOuine nose rather saOw and sunken cheeks,
land high, Wriuked forehead dressed with serupulous
eatness in q suit Of somewhat worn black clothes
IThis was the guiding spirit Of the great Rebel
ion. Nothing in disappearance indicated remarkable
ability or genius. When L was presented by an
Confederate General he arose and greeted me with
pleasant cordial manner, continuing at first converse
on already begun upon cotton planting. Afterward he
spoke of the imprisonment Of THE TRIBUNEs CORE
Ispondent in Washington, saying that he remembered
L. similar instance when he in the Senate. a re-
porter named Nugent was taken into custody for reus
ng tell where he got information relating 10
doings in Executive session. and thorough search
made TO see If there not some place about the
chamber where he could have concealed HIMSELF but no
discovery made except large black cat that was
found above the ceiling. Hugent was released after
few days. Senator having acknowledged that he had
given the information andLthought there was no harm
u 1t.
Mr. Davis carefully avoided politics during the con-
versation saying that he did not desire that publicity
should be given 10 his opinions political subjects.
There talk about the present condition OF the
negroes and he expressed the opinion which appears 10
be generally entertained by thoughtful and observant
southern men, that the black in the United
.,ltf
mately disappear He said that the negroes
aid not give proper 10 their young children and to
their sick and now that the whites had interest in
airing for them they were dying rapidly He thought
hat ultimate extinction was the inevitable fate Of the
ace ! asked if he thought there was any tendency
Ong the negroes Of the more Northern Of the former
States TO emigrae to the Gulf States. He did not
believe there was A number Of negroes had been
rought into Mississippi from North Carolina and other
ates, by the agents Of argeIplaners, but the move
4ment did not originate with the blacks. Those who
would be benefited by emigration were too ignorant and
90 poor 10 move, and the intelligent were doing
veil whore they were and had no object their
homes MI Davis told Of Of his former slaves man
as black as the ten Of spades who had bought two
Plantations IN Mississippi Of Mr. Davis ana one Of
brother from which heihad sold 2OO bales Of cotton
*ast year He wrote good hand, kept accounts well,
nd had his agents in g. Louis who did not suspect they
sere dealing with black such instances OF bust
talent among the negroes Nh. Davis thought were
Lyery As rule they had shown ability to accu-
nulate property.
Mr.. Davis spoke in a deliberate way and In a low and
pleasing tone Of voice, instead of that Of selfrelant
nan who has played prominent part in history In
&ead looking into the faces OF his listeners he looked
Downward in the halfdindent way OF who has eu-
yaed habit Of seeking 10 escape observation and as
spoke be frequently spread his hands out and tapped
ends OF his fingers together. The general impression
y made that OF "a man who has experienced great
als and msfOrtunes. and has lost all ambition for the
<hture. TIE conversation nearly all upon common
tace subjects, and was constantly interrupted by the
ksrival and introduction Of and the depart
ne " men who had only remained few minutes. The
manner OF the people present toward him was one Of
eat Tesveet mingled with aaectlOnate regard Ono old