The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-07-31
Jefferson Davis Apologies Under
ChalicnEe.

JcffeI SON Davis Apologies Undef
n ChalicnEe.
New Orleans Herald.
This gentleman, when q member OF
the United States Senate, was q great
sufferer from a painful disease which
deprived him for some time Of the use
of his eyes, and reduced him to a con-
dition OF great debility and nervous
irritability. The mental vigor and
spirit OF the man would not. however,
permit him to absent himself from bis
place in the Senate. He was, there
fore, always in his seat during the sit
ting of the Senate, to which he would
be led by his wife, but in condition
that excited the profound sympathy OF
all who observed him. In the debates
which arose in the Senate he was al
WAYS a close listener, and never failed
to take q part when the subject invited
the expression of his views and was
oae in which he took an interest. Nat
urally OF quick temper, always earn
Get and Jealous, and not disciplined by
the long practice at the bar, in which
most of the senators had graduated,
Mr.. Davis was frequently provoked in
a passionate and virulent character,
which his cooler advers aries would turn
to advantage, or make the occasion for
plac;ug him in the apparent position
OF an unprovoked aggressor. But when
restored to calmness and reflector,
Mr.. Davis quickly discovered, and
always promptly recognized his error,
and invariably volunteered atonement
therefore, or yielded it when demanded
Of MIN. .....
Now, it happened on one occasion in
a debate in the Senate that Mr.. DAVIS
selected our own distinguished Senator
J. P. Benjamin as the object Of one OF
his wrathful and menacing explosions.
and hurled at him an offensive and
personal insult. Mr.. Benjamin made
no reply in the Senate, but sent a
prom pit demand for au apology or the
satisfaction of gentleman. Mr. Davis
replied that he would answer TO this
demand in the Senate. Accordingly
the next tay he appeared in that au-
gust body and a. soon ss he could obtain
the floor arose and addressed the Presi'
dent in one Of the noblest and most
touching amends ever made by o proud
and brave man. The purport OF it was
that naturally irritable temper had
not been improved by a military I've
and training and ipexperience in civil
debate, and that when to these def
ciencies was addeda feeble and depress'
ed ph ysical condition, he felt that he
had claims upon his brother
senators for some indulgence and for
bearance for exhibitions or irritablllty
and acerbity, such as he had exhibits
ed to the honorable seDator from Lou
isiana the day before. BUTT was, in
deed, a great solace and relief to hin,
when the opportunity was afforded him
thus promptly to acknowledge his error
and weakness, and to express to the
honorable senator his sincere sorrow
and full withdrawal OF the offensive
rewsrks in which he had INDUCED.
These words, delivered in the pecu.
liar, earnest, and melancholy tones oil
Mr.. Davis, produced a thrill through
out the Senate, and when the two Sem
ators advanced and cordially shook
hands the faces of all the Senators
were lighted up with "a expression Of
cordial sympathy aud admiration Of
the high bearing and magnanimity Of
the heroic Mississippian.