Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1873-09-11
MIR. Davis interviewed.

dispatched reporter to the Montgomery
White Sulphur Springs, for the purpose of
interviewing" ex President Jefferson Da-
Wis, with the result recorded below:
Reporter.-You are looking remarkably
we'll Mr.. Davis. suppose it is caused
BY your release from exhaustive public
duties
Mr.. Davis-My health is better than it
has been for years, and is no doubt at
tributable to the cause you specify.
Reporter.-How long will you tarry at
this watering place, sir =?
Mr.. Davis.-For few days only pos
sibly not more than forty-eight hours.
Reporter.-Was your visit to this place
an accident or by special invitation
Mr.. Davis.-Not by any special invita-.
ton, certainly; but it has been special
privilege. To meet with Generals Beau
regard, Early, Lee, Maury. Pickett, Pres,
ton, Admiral Semmes, Gov. Letcher and
others, was reunion I never anticipated:
To leave them, seemingly SO abruptly.
greatly regret.
Reporter. your reNarks before
the Southern Historical Association, on
yesterday. not be subjected to severe -stnc'
lures by the Northern press?
MIR. Davis-That may be. that as SEN
sationaf' in their food, and there's adearth
in this line just now: To object to my
speech per Sc will only prove the gag-law
system of the Republican party. To COM
bat what stated would be as ruitless as
resisting. the DEGREES of foreshadowed des
tiny. No Government under mere ad-
ministration influence has ever 80 far been
severed from fundamental principles IS
this of ours A third torn would cen
tralize us into Imperialism. To public
men, whose life time has been spent IN
STUDYING the science of Governments, the
present tendency of things is very dePress-
ing. l am more than ever convinced that
military men, especially fresh from the
field of victory, are not the men to admin
ister civil affairs. What does Gen. Grant
know Of those principles of constitutional
liberty in which the safety of our Repub-
lie depends? His education has been
purely military; his habits of thought and
action have led to crush opposition as the
first necessity to dictate line of policy
not to be deviated from under any circum-
stances to lay down his base Of opera
tions, and fight it out on that line" To
compel him to study International Law at
this period of his life, to practise diploma
cy, and appreciate the genius OF our instl-
tutions, would he as impossible as distaste-
full. Mental science is falsity If our
reasoning be incorrect.
Reporter.-Did not General Washington
and General Jackson make most admira-
bic Presidents ? :.
Mr.. Davis.-Neither of them were mill
tary men. Necessity made them leaders,
education did not. Patriotism threw them
into the breach, ambition did not, nor a
painting for military honors. Their minds
were more those of statesman than OF he
roes. Hence the soldier at once became
absorbed in the civilian. Neither Wash
ington nor Jackson were surrounded by
favorites from the field or partisans from
party.
Reporter.-I perceive you fear the mill
Mr.. Military and civil Law are
opposites. The one the antagonist OF the
other in spirit and nature. Caesar, Through
the military, became the Roman Emperor; !;
Napoleon, through the military, became
Dictator and Emperor Infuse a military
spirit through the people, let the press
disseminate it, and ere quadrennial we
will be virtually an Imperialism. The
failure of the South was fearful blow to
constitutional liberty. If the North does
not now possess salt enough to preserve
the country we are wreck. Putrefactlon
is already threatening.
Reporter. your Southern Historl-
cal Society accomplish any practical re-
suits 2
Mr.. Davis.-Unquestionably. The moy
ers in the matter are a sufficient guarantee
for this. General Early has been of in
valuable service already in this way He
has studiou. ly watched every article upon
the Late War which has appeared in
our periodical literature and corrected er-
rors in hgureso or facts. Making him. Pres
|ident Of this society will make hlm the
more active and vigilant. With Early
upon the land forces and Semmes upon
tie sea- we may be confident of satlsfacto-
ry results.
Reporter.-May ! ask for further light
upon that portion OF your speech of yes
terday, in which you say. Owe have
been cheated rather than conquered, and
could we have foreseen the results OF the
surrender we would have been free to-
day ?" i,
Mr.. Davis.-That is my conviction. Had
our leaders and soldiers ever dreamed OF
the evils now upon the Southern States,
as the result of Radical rule, they would
have protracted the struggle until "reb-
els" became patriots. What South Caro-
linian would not sooner have died upon
the field, than live with negro Leglsla,
ture, prostrated business and ruined State?
What Louisianian would not prefer follow
ing Lonestreet in the field to Longstreet
as a tool in New Orleans? We were cheat
ed not conquered, and / hope to see the
day when our principles will become, as
they once were, the principles OF our gov
ernment, republican not imperial, States
rights. not States usurped Constitution
al not higher law" Excuse me from
talking longer, as the few hours have to
spend here forbid protracted INTERVENE
hope to have sufficient leisure soon to
complete a work which is as dear to my
heart as its contents may be useful to
coming generations. My silence must not
oe interpreted into Indifference, nor my
retiracy into supineness.' The cause is not
lost nrincinles are eternal,