Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-03-17
rrom the Oxford Torch light
Some RecOlleetiOns, Opinions and Ex.
tracts.
NUMBER 4.
HON. GEORGE DAVIS.

| IL Is uOb tOO W say LuHb kuOQe
living North Carolinians this gentle
man is one of the most gifted and dis
tinguished. He is not SO we'll known
in this section of the State as his up.
| questioned abilities and high reputa =
ton at home deserve. I regret that
my information concerning HIM is SO
limited. have never had the pleasure
of meeting him. Indeed, have never
been fortunate enough even to see ''a
counterfeit presertiment" of him, and
| cannot, therefore, tell you what man
ner of man he is, nor describe his style
of public address. For years I have
known him as an accomplished gentle
man, as an orator of a rare order, as a
lawyer of high reputation, as a politi-
cal speaker of remarkable attractive
| ness and force, and as writer Of I'M
mistakable excellence.
Mr.. Davis is fifty. seven, which is
two years older than I supposed when
these chais began. A gifted lady, a
common friend of Mr.. Davis and my
self, in a recent letter in which she re-
fers to him, says--''He is Christian,
a echolar and q gentleman He is a
member of the Episcopal CHURCH, and
is younger brother of the late Bishop
Thomas Davis, of the Diocese of South
Carolina, but are natives of this State
Bishop Davis was a gentleman OF fine
talents, and better still, of sincere.
earnest, simple piety.
Mr.. Davis has never. I believe,
mingled much in political life. He has
been of too modest and retiring a di e
position to be obtrusive or to seek
office. His occasional speeches on the
hustings ATTRACTED large crowds and
were signalized with much effect. being
distinguished for exalted sentiment,
logical cutcness, brillianoy and beauty
of language, and fervor of declama-
ton. Such is the opinion I have form
ed from reading the accounts of his
campaign efforts that have appeared
IN the public prints. He was a member
of the Confederate Senate, and was
also called by President Davis to fill
the Office of Attorney General viii list
the government was at Richmond, Va.
Il was a merited tribute to his high
personal worth, and to his attainments
and abilit y as a lawyer.
do not know that he has published
anything but an occasional paper upon
points of law. and a literary address
which was delivered at the University
of North Caroiins ip 1855. [ think it
was. In common with hundreds who
have read that address, 1 admired it
very much. It is the production OF
graceful, cultivated and discriminating
intellect. His sketches of the leading
spirits who figured in the Cape Fear
section in the troublous days of the
War of Independence are exceedingly
graphic, spirited and eloquent, and
possess moi than q transient interest.
They excite desire in his readers for
other productions of q similar character
from his pen. and regret that one
who writes SO we'll has not written
more. I read those sketches some
yesrs ago, and they impressed me as
the best contributions of their kind to
our sparse native literature.
It occurs to 1ae that Mr.. Davis is
especially qualified for some elaborate
literary undertakinR-biogr Or
history. He has the intellectual furni-
ture, the taste, the accuracy, the
ability, the literary skill, and the logical
training necessary. besides, he has
that appreciation of and devotion to
North Carolina which are SO essential
10 the preparing of q work in which
our past SIS 6 people enters. With his
intellectual powers of Justly prime; with
the experience, repose. and assured
strength which age only gives; and
with that fund of general information
and accurate learning which prolonged
study alone can gather, it appears to
nae that be could write some work con-
nected with North Ca olina that would
be an ornament to his mother and a
memorial of himself.
"One deed dying tongueless,
,Slaughters a thousand waiting on it,"
Mr.. Davis resides at Wilmington,
where he is groatl. loved and esteemed.
I have never met a Cape Fear plan
who was not proud of him-proud OF
him because Of his high character for
Integrity, truth. honor-for all the
manly aud eRnobling virtues. and for
his superior culture and abilities. They
regard him as a very eloquent and 40
| complished gontleman-as possibly the
| first orator in the State. Of the cor
rectnsss eff this judgment I can Of
course venture NO opinion having never
| heard him.
He has been twice married. His
I first wife was Miss Polk, a niece OF
the late Leonidas Polk, a native OF
North Carolina, Episcopal Bishop OF
Louisiana, and lieutenant Genera!
| in the Confederate army, who offered
his life sacrifice to freedom and IN
defence of the South. His present
wife was Miss Fairfax. of Virginia. q
| near relative of Lord Fairfax, of Eng
land, WHOM che once visited by special
| invitation.
fully purposed accompanying this
very imperfect sketch with some ex.
tracts from his Chapel Hill address,
but I have in vain sought for a copy.
, my own having been mislaid or Dor
roved, T. B. X.