The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-11-20
GILLESPIE on DAVIS.

OF the tenth instant. Il IS entitled the
''Character, Intellect and Attainments Of
E Governor Davis" The author has not been
) unknown to fame heretofore, having filed At
: various times and with more or less distinc-
9 ton the positions Of minister Of the gospel,
d Confederate Colonel and editor Of Demo
= cratic and Of Radical journal. Though some
Z Of these callings may seem to clash with each
!, other yet the genius Of the man enabled
: : him to harmonize them all and TO establish
Z a character for truth and conscientiousness,
: which even a Brownlow might have en-
1 We'd. But If the author had never written
anything previous, the production in ques-
! ton would be sufficient to establish a
!. reputation, such as few literary men ever
! acquire during long life of study and toll.
Il is true the subject was enobling, and a
! great subject sometimes makes great writer
I in spite OF himself Sam johnson imnor-
Z talized Boswell, and a greater than DIR.
{ Johnson has immortalized Gillespie. 1t
seems before the last departure Of Governor
Davis to meet the Hon. Rat Monroe and re-
! new the Radical canvass, he took pains to
make out full list Of his accomplishments
and attainments, the most of them hitherto
Z unknown, and not even suspected by his
most intimate friends, which list he handed
c over 70 Gillespie, the new editor of the
g Journal, with the modest request that he
I should dress them up in his polished though
|, forid style, and present them TO an appre-
ciatiye and admiring public. This task was
: very pleasing one for the new editor, ex-
/, actly suiting his peculiar talent for accurate
, as well as ornate description, and it must be
= admitted that he has carried out the wishes
/ Of his friend and employer with singular
! fidelity.
It appears from this faithful account, that
: Governor Davis is really the greatest man
a Of this or any other age, more of wonder,
: indeed, than the Admirable Crichton, =
] who so astonished Europe several hundred
/, years ago. His learning is truly marvellous.
: In astronomy, geology, botany, history and
! religious philosophy, " be is without com
2 petilion-''none but himself can be his
parallel" His knowledge of the languages
is so extensive that he can actually speak
Spanish equal to a polished Greaser. ''Hs
a has thoroughly studied the various cduca
tional systems" and come to the conclusion
! that the De Gress system excels all Others
9 as a profitable study and practice Of
; English literature, he has ''wider and
Z more critical knowledge than Arnold o
: Rugby or Bcb Taylor of Bonham, and nC
; one can beat him in the fine arts" ''Ht
is not content with a smattering or surface
knowledge of anything" He dives deeI
into the ocean of everything, clears away the
''earth and sandn at the bottom, and
''sifts out the pure gold of established
facts and undOubted truths. How this
) sitting process is performed at these immens,
depths is left for fancy to conjecture ThC
2 /, fact is so. "Iis knowledge of science, ar
+ and culture is a matter of wonder We
J. use the language of the truthful biographer
4 for no other could do full justice to the Gov
9 ernor's attainments "He is one of the
most thorough lawyers and judges in the
State" This need not have been stated, as
:. it is evident from the selections he ha.
made for district attorneys and judges since
he has been Governor by the grace of Goo
E and Federal bayonets. None but Davis
could have discovered the merits of Jacl
Evans, an Oliver and Hart. None but
\ Davis could have found Nancy to hurl con
+ tempt on whole bar of lawyers and nullify
and arrest the Supreme Court. This portion
might have been left out, but our modern
j, Boswell was determined to leave out moth
ing that might brighten the halo surround
ing the lofty head of his hero. Blu
great and inapproaohable as are th'
intellectual qualities and requirement
: of Governor Davis, they dwindlc int,
littleness when compared with his mora
nature, his innate purity, honesty and
righteousness, and his practical develop
n ments Of all these virtues II he is not
cOmmunicant Of any church, he isa member
nevertheless, and may be saved through tn,
devoted catholicity of his really estimabl,
lady. Why so good man is not commu
meant puzzles us, for the is so rigidly JUS
that the Scripture may be applied to him
which says, if thine eye be single, thy
whole body shall be full of light. ~ II tho
Il Governors eye is single and his whole body
I shines with light, why does he keep bach
from the communion tablet Is it owing t,
: his singular modestyl If SO, how mucl
does this enhance his Christian character
The biographer tells US his personal hon
esty and official purity have become 'house
!, hold words throughout Texas This j.
the crowning wonder OF wonders Il is sci
: dom that such enormous intellectual devel
3 opments are attended with corresponding
aud balancing amount Of moral qualities
The great Bacon, who was something o
alawyer in his day, as well as philosophe
like Davis, was guiltyof taking brides, an,
even some Of the learned judges, appointed
by the Governor, have gwen occasion fo
some whispers Of like falling but in thi
!. paragon Of paragons all Of intellect ans
virtue eombine 70 '.give the world assu
: rance Of perfect man. At the close o
: this delicious and highly interesting sketcl
Of the greatest descendant OF Adam, saw
divinity in the flesh, if wemay dare to init
= mate an exception, we are told that th'
Governor IS only about forty-iye years o
age, aud is now constantly growing anS
developing, 50 that, at three score and ten
there is no calculating the height he may at
tain with ''his powerful constitution. w
grow dizzy at the contemplation and IA.
D down our pen.
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