The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-04
THE CONFEDERATE CHIEFTAIN.
JeH Davis At tho New York Hotel-How
He Looks and What He Thinks OF
His Position.

JeH Davis At tho New York Hotel-HoW
He Looks and What He Thinks OF
His Position.
Before that period Of the nations life which is
now so nippantly termed "the late unpleasantness"
the New York Hotel was the hostery whittier the
hot-blooded Southerners visiting this city tended.
There used they to gather with the radical
leaders of "ye fierce democrace," and there from
those associates they got that belief in the certain
passveness OF the bone and slnew Of that party
which led to the rebellion Most of those eminent
SOutherns are now either dead or obscured from
public view in their homes. But few of them
have OF late returned TO the place Of their
thine conferences, and within the year the Duke
OF Sonora, ex-senator william M. Gwin has been
the only visitor there. Yesterday, them when
Jefferson Davis, the former President OF the Con-
federacy and the elephant of the administration
when he was prisoner in Fortress Monroe, en-
tered the office OF the New York Hotel and in
scrbed his name on the register, the past flashed
so wildly across the mind Of Mr.. Mayner that he
allotted for occupation by the eX-rebe cheftain
the rooms which he had occupied during his latest
visit to the city before the rebellion. About half
past six O'Clock last evening HERALD reporter
who had heard of Mr.. Davis presence in town,
called at the hotel and sent his card, intending II
the Confederate chieltain pleased to converse, to
gather his opinions for the benefit OF the readers or
this journal. Word was brought back that Mr..
Davis was at dinner and that the card mad been
room.
came from the dining room and approached the
Office counter He wore his hat and carried an I'M
lighted cigar IN his mouth. While one OF the pro
pretors of the hotel conversed with him the re-
porter scanned the features OF the Mississippi
fre-eater, venerable to most loyalsts only from
his age. His face did not seem long, as most por-
traits make it, but very sharp and angular. He
wears slight beard OF uncertain color, part white
and part OF a sandy hue, which, with the high
silk hat may have taken from the length OF his
countenance. His eyes were perplexlng to the re-
porter. He could not discern their color, and
while they are not what are termed "cross eyes"
they gave the reporter the problem of determining
during the subsequent snort conversation whether
time, was locking at him, or turning his orbs in
ward to attempt physical process Of lntrospec-
tion. These were the characteristics of Mr.. DAVIS
WITH himself and the world Se reporter wait
ton with Mr.. Davis stood at the desk near this
gentleman, and as their voices we're not low,
6 6sa tn sootn t Davis w dscare es
Certainly the Asatic cholera. He thinks however,
vent It, Though all classes of people have been
attacked he said, only the poor and tue negroes
naTe the M the
that the negroes are selfish and will not employ
physicians, until too late, for fear OF the charges.
Mr. Davis having ended these remarks the re-
porter introduced himself to his notice. lie was
received kindly and addressed In calm, sott voice
and with slow speech. The reporter ANNOUNCED
his desire to hear an expression or the views OF Mr.
Davis on the a1airs OF the country.
The ex-President replied quickly 1T cant DC.
] am entirely apart from politics now"
"But, the state OF the south, its commercial,
agricultural needs ~
Mr.. Davis interrupted the reporter courteously,
saying mo- sir; I can say nothing. You must
understand my position aud, therefore, compre
bend my determination TO have nothing TO say
upon any subject as every one must lead to poll
tics, from whose discussion am separated"
Seeing that perseverance In the queries would
only be dsc0urteOus and not useful, the HERALD
representative said "Well Mr.. Davis, ! under
stand you are about TO leave the country"
"What country ?" was the interr0gative reply,
"Leave what country No, sir; 1t Is a mistake. l
do not intend to 90 to Europe"
AS further conversation could not serve MS
wishes, the HERALD representative took leave oil
Mr.. Davis, who babe him farewell In the same
courteous tone he had received him,