The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-26
lFor the DlSpatcli.1
Jefferson Davis.


Jefferson Davis.
1 was never an unqualified adnirer Of JEFF
ferson Davis. For, leaving the war aud his
relations with it out Of the account, there
were some matters in connection with bis
name, both personal and political, which i
| would have had otherwise. With qualtici-
top, however, suppose that esteem him
| as highly a. most men.
| 1t is SAID that in the war he was sometimes
very obstinate, and that be often overcast
u,ated weak men and under estimated strong
ores, and that in this way damage was scme-
times done to the public service. But SINH.
lar charges have been laid at the door Of
most meu who, by force Of circum.
stances, have been thrust into the fore
ground of great endeayors. II is said, too,
that in the Hampton Roads affair be should
have come upon terms with our worthy
friends of the mlgnanim)uS North" But
az | contemplate the peculiar displays OF
northern magnauimity, rs seen in the adj
n1ipiStration Of public affiirs since the fall Of
the South, cinnot help supposing that Mr.
Davis knew the North better than we did;
and that he supposed death under the ruins
of ones country would be better than to be-
come objects of yndictiYe policy. / am
quite sure tina. if con'd have foreseen what
was 10 store Tor us, should have preferred
death amid the RUNS OF Richmond to life
with the humiliatiOns have had to witness.
In the matter Of personal bravery, l had
supposed that Sir. Davis would have passed
| muster with 1.-THE whole world and the
rest of mankind.' Whether in the field OF
! in civil position, [ om not aware that be
ever shrank FROM duty. It was not, there
tore, without measure Of vexition that
observed that some Of our Northwestern
| braves, along with the word arch-traitOr,"
had used the word SEQ ward" In conpec-
ton with the name of Mr.. Davis. | am ra-
| ther inclined to thiuk that some of the north
ern people have known will suppose this
is carving the joke little too far, and !
cannot help supnoSing that they must be
co wards who say 1t; for really brave man,
whether from the North or South, has very
| little use for such words as I" coDQrd.'
Now, the use which these worthy Whine.
bagoes have nude oil a movement which
suppose was well intended 90 both sides, has
kiudIed my wrath little and have word
or TWO 10 FAY concerning ehem, aud also con.
corning Mr.. Davis. As for proper estimate
OF the character OF Mr.. Davis. the time tor it
is not yet. BE must pass away. The rancor
of silly people must abate. We must walk
around the grave of the man; and We must
consider the pros aud coas which stand con-
necied with his name. Then we shall see
more clearly how to award our censure
and cur praise. Bot, in the mean time
| venture to hint TO our Winnebago "bro'
theirs /" the opinion that when they and are
,nugly sleeping in oblivion along with the
men who built the Egyptian Pyramids, the
name OF Mr.. Davis will be shining as star
of considerable magnitude in the worlds
historical armament.
Ny reasons for this opinion are both fire
mote aud proximate." Mr.. Davis stood at
the head of our affairs during the whole life
| of the Corfederacy. exercising the powers
Of ruler, and the Conflict was managed pref
ty much as he wished; aud yet the war,
which by Mr. Stewards card was to close
within ninety days, lasted for four good, long
Pyears. And after the fas of Richmond l
conyersed with good many Yankee soldiers
that ,cere soldiers; aud as they talked about
The war they did not say anything about
southern cowardice, and they fra0kly con.
fessed that.they had got about as much war.
snort as they cared for. To this some
Of them superaddcd the belief that if
Mr. Davis could have put only 10000
fresh men around Peter burg in 1866 Gene.
raj Grant would have bad to join his ilIu :
triouS predecessor (McCleliaDl 10 seekng
,ome rsiroad employment. Now, the actual
duration of the war, measured by the antici.
psted duration, aud The frank confessions OF
men VINO bad been reslly In the field, may
serve az helps by.and.by in forming ajust
Judgment Of the merits of jefferson Davis.
hF = oXimate reason grows out Of this
WIFE ago affair, In connection With !: