New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-17

close of the war found the quarantine propioin o'
the publics hands, and huge amount OF news
paper sensation was let of. We were all dooheu W
die without any exception unless so'i'c '''ne u",e
the day quarantine was purchaser ana INC Puo"0
indignation stopped 1t is in this EXPLANATORY
h.aJIono wov Of agitation that grave and precau-
tionarv things are too often done, and generaily
underneath the noise some chap uno Is trying To
do a baroain IL was so in this case. The old doc
Tor was n man of considerable influence at that
time having mixed into the quarrel about quar-
antine with knowledge and authority and II had
occnrrcd 10 him that. by the way he was inter-
viewed, and called on 10 speak ana 10 reiute
somebody he ought now 10 get immediately foh.
He had red nose, wore prodlgious spectacles' anu
might have been the surgeon TO the Flying Dutch-
man. or Captain Kidd. The way he would commune
in the same sentence avarce, science anu phiiah-
tbropv was ~ me the greatest inducement to go
with him The politician was poor. meritorious,
anxious man. all his life a clerk TO something ana
with notion that hs.was Warwick who could rend
or mako things Both were thoroughly good fell
lows indulging the innocent vision OF instant
wealtb.-tbe noblest vision think in life, because
IL disposes at once of all the mean processes 10
wealth and gives play to every generous magma
ton.
We took n conveyance to Sheepshead Bay and
there took q sailboat TO Barren Island, ana maze
our way over dead horses and hospital poultices
and the scattered refuse of vast city to tte nut
where for about twenty-five dollars we secured IT,
fusal of large part of the island for thirty DAYS.
As we passed over COncy Island 1t never occurred
TO Ms that there was the philanthropy, there tue
profit Yet we could have bought acres on Cohey
Island for fifty dollars apiece. Ultimately the quar-
antine was built out in the Lower Bay on piles and
nothing remains of that great sensation but my
recollection of q happy sunny May-day, sixteen
years ago.
And now for my Sabbath interview!
JEFFERSON DAvIs's REAPPEARANcE
welknown man in New-YOrk is Colonel
Thomas Snead q native of Richmond, virginia
but long n citizen of Missouri, who was member
of the Confederate Congress, and at the same Time
Colonel In the field, commanding regiment OF Oh
staff duty. ! found him at the GIlsey House on
Good Friday eve 1t was just sixteen years since
Lincoln was last alive. My mind required to the
President of the nsurgcnt Government, which Presi-
dent Lincoln opposed-jeflcrson Davis,-and said
aMr Snead have you seen Daviss new book
81 have not" was the reply. "Mr DAVIS wrote
70 me for information on point which presume lie
will treat of in the book. IL was the dlsobcdence
of Sterling Price. which led to the attack on
Corinth when Price and Van Dorm were so terribly
beaten General Bragg had ordered Price not To
engage the enemy, but TO avoid him and shp past
and Join Bragg at Nashville. knc" OF 'h"nc
orders and when Price resolved under the p'rSua-
sons of Van Dorm, to risk battle, left General
Price. telling him explicitly that he was disobcying
his orders. and would not serve with him. As Mr.
Davis was great deal censurcd on General Bracgs
account suppose he desires Ia show that Braggs
osoeralship was good but that his orders were not
obeyed"
Said |: Mr. Snead. was Davis the best man who
could have superlntendcd the Confederate Govern
mentT
"No sir He was wholly ont Of place there. In
my Judgment. Mr.. Davi, was chiefly rhcioncdn.
| will apply term 10 him that | have never used
before but which | have often thought OF: he was
the Edward Everett of the South His influence
over the South, which led to most Of his promo
lions. and to the Presidency Of the Confcdcrat"
Government, was in his rhetoric. He could say
things with such expertncss and with such strong
and nnimating fancy. that he passed for more than
his worth a. the executive genius OF people IN
their neceasity | have some notices. CON
timed Mr. Snead. calling Davi-'s book dry. This
surprises me. lie ought to De able, with his style
70 make ono of the most interesting Looks TO read
that have come ont OF the war
give me some idea Of his character and mind"
ale il man of narrow aud intense mind, rs you
generally find men to be who are narruw between
the temples, and such is the construction "f IN"
head Most Of the men he preferred. such ~ Lo'elI
and Kirby Smith. were men Of the same narrow
type lie was deficient in executive capacity. His
brother Joe Davis had always supcrintcndcd his
affairs and rendered him independent III fortune,
and since the war Mr.. Davis has only been sue
cessfuI in breastng necessity by the strength OF his
name with few persons who took him on tradi-
ton He WAS not wise man. His Judgment was
not clear and could not be where he allowed pr"jn-
dice and passion to come into consultation with the
publc necessity He seldom forgavc his opponents,
was Jealous in extraordinary cases. and was IRE
quently not speaking terms with the most I'M
portant men in his Government lie did not speak
10 Vice President Stephens for very long time, II
he has relations with him now. He was Jealous OF
General Lee as eau give you an instance directly.
And vet Davis by means belongs to "A mediocre
TYNE of men, He il wcl-read. HIS sclf-cstcem II
high he has pride of bearing; he was opposed to
secession; and in the campaign OF 1850 made
stump speeches in New -England on behalf OF the
Union You may think his judgment good their.
but after he went into the secession he wonid
listen TO no notions Of accommodation. even when
it became manifest that we were whipped"
"Who should have been President Of the Confcd-
eracyT
Howell Cobb Of Georgia. Cobb was the ablest
man for general administration We had in the Con
| federacy. He was a good lawyer well informed
| had a disciplined mlhu, ana was dcpulll''h Win
| fnance-that question OF questions 50 useful 10 a
Young struggling nation DESTROYS TO plant itself in
| the interests of mankind. and on solid bottom.
| Davis beat Cobb by one vote.
81 witnessed remarkable scene in ono of tho
secret sessions Of the Confederate Congress- said
| Mr. Snead. Perhaps this has never been printed
before We frequently had secret sessions. and
they were among the most important We held In
our Congress the President and ViccPresidcnt and
the members of tho Cabinet entitled to sit and
| sneak Davis never did So but the Cabinet fire.