The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-12-11

a. TALK WITH ii DISTINGUISHED
sasssss tgtsKEDEEsa zsEs
JUDGE CAMPBELL, or ALABAMA. ON pAv1s, sTR-
rlfENs, HUNTER, AND MASON.
A New York Herald correspondent,
writing from Mobile, Ala, gryes report of
q conversation with Judge John A. Camp
bell, formerly prominent politician, an As
sociatc Justice Of the Supreme Court of the
Confederate States, and a member of the
Hampton Roads Peace Commission. From
the long report in The Herald we make the
following interesting extracts: IS
cAMrBELL on DAVIS. lr.9i
In the course Of the conversation J. said to
Judge Campbell that as the President Of the
Southern Confedcracy, Mr.. Davis, was still
living, should like to know whether in him
there could be found any usefulness in the
present emergency. lie said, as near Us
can recollect, this: ....s ..-...
at is out of the question to consider Mr..
Davis as Il living man. AS to his past career,
II was failure in the light of Judgment He
was placed at the head Of the southern revo-
luton by that fatal instinct which leads peo-
pie to select for their rulers men Of impul-
siye and intrepid demeanor. Administers
ton does not lie in such things, but in the
capacity to meet without fatigue the daily
occurrences Of small matters, each of which
must be attended TO, while the attention
should never tire, but all parts Of the vast
ness Of government 60 on. Such was the
war in which the South embarked.
1t did not require for its President a
hero, but disciplined mind and patient
man. Mr.. Davis is supposed in the North,
as I have heard, to have been man
of strong and sagacious decision. He
was not so. ! have seldom seen man of
the same rank who would chatter and be
tickle for so long period over the most
trifliug matter When he retired from his
papers pigeon.holed in his Office on which no
action had been taken (and many Of them
involving important questions) than IN
any other department Of the South. II be
could be made angry so that he would de-
eide points of administration on the ground
of resentment or spirit he was quick enough ;
but that is not the order of mind for CHIEF
magistrate"
CAMPBELL on STEPHENS.
I was curious to know what Justice OF
the Supreme Bench in former days might also
think of the ce-President of the Southern
Confederacv, and in the course Of the con-
Yer. alton the following ideas were expressed :
"Mr. Stephens'S course at the present
time" said Judge Campbell, "makes me AZ
nearly indignant as | can well be at time
when my political life and influence in gene
raj questions are over. He is Il dialectlclan,
and seeks to keep up the strict constructive
ness Of Mr.. Calhoun at time when Calhoun
ism is no longer ponderable. He was placed
in an important Office in the insurgent gov
eminent, aud began his career there by ma
king speech which almost at once turned
the countenance of the world against us.
The cornerstone speech, to which refer,
probably had Il vast influence in losing us all
the European alliances. For two years Mr..
Stephens hardly appeared at the Confederate
capital might say not until the possibilities
Of the struggle were over ana we were COM
PEELED to look with firm courage into period
of amending disaster. Then he did appear,
and with all the fervor Of destructive na-
tllre he stood beside Joe Brown and others,
proclaiming that the war must so on with
tremendous force, whereas all the forces in
it were already wasted. He and his colleague
upbraided the Administration with want OF
heart, whereas tie time for heart was dOncy
and the softer counscls Of craftsmanship to
save our people should have begun to pre-
vail. When we were strong and rcSolute,
making the fight with some possibilities,
perhaps, on our side. this luan was weaken
ing us in almost every way. When we at
the centre saw the inevitable shadow rising
and darlsening about US we heard the cry OF
this feeble person for more eXcrtiGn and
greater exploit when the occasion WAS gone.
And now, when there is new condition of
things, so momcntous that can scarcely look
on and understand the current OF events, /
hear of Mr. Stephens taking the extreme
Calnounism Of n different day, and seeking
to educate another generation in things nci-
Their pertinent TO their era nor consonant, by
any course Of logic, with the rising opinion
Of which we must be part"
CAMPBELL ON HUNTER.
Looking over the southern field, sought
to seek out some person in whom Judge
Campbell reposed the confidence Of his eX-
periencc, and was interested to hear him say
as to ex-senator Hunter as follows:
Mr.. Hunter had one Of the finest minds
in the South, and one of the most honest and
beautiful natures. You will recollect that he
was never famous for the violence Of lis
opinions, but sought within his opportuni-
ties to do the best for his people and give
direction to the country under its old con.
dltions, according to the trueSt civilization OF
which it was capable. have known him in
captivity, when our misfortunes pressed
equally upon lis and around us, and learned
to love him. He has time enough Oh his side
of the clock TO be of some Influence, and one
of the speeches which he made during the
last campaign was pleasing to ME because il
showed that he retained the viyor and health
of his mind"
CAMPBELL on MASON.
Soon after mentioning Mr.. Hunter the
name of the late james NJ. Mason came up,
and related the fact that, after his strong
and imperious life. he died upon little
farm near Alexandria in pastoral way
which seemed to show that he had resources
outside of public ambition. "Mason's do
nestle lile," said Judge Campbell. "was Pc
culiarly beautiful. He married the daughter
of Colonel Chew, who owned the mansion
and grounds where the battle of German
town ragged in the Revolutionary war. AZ
ter Richmond was evacuated | remained
in the city until it filled up with thu
troops OF the United States, and as
soon as l had IA little repose set forth to
inquire into the condition of my neighbors
who remained. went to the house Of Mrs
Mason. and she told me that she had de
stroyed in the glatc-lire all the letters which
her husband had written her in the thirty
years or so of their married life. In all that
time she said that Mr. Mason was never ou
of her company day but he wrote her {
letter with punctlnity; and when he was {