The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-16
A Day with Jeff Davis.
FREE AND FRANK TALK BY THE EX-
CONFEDERATE CHIEF.
Opinion upon the Material Future of the
South.

CONFEDERATE CHIEF.
Opinion upon the Material Future of the
South.
Upon the porch Of his residence, which COM
correspondent of the Philadelphia Press found
Mr.. Davis sitting, a few days ago, and was re-
ceived with hearty welcome. I was, says
the correspondent, greatly surprised at Mr..
Davs's appearance. 1 have seen many differ
ent pictures of him, none Of which resemble
him much more than they do Julius Cesar.
The picture in the second volume of his book,
if the gray hair and whiskers could be shorn
would bc the best have seen. He is 1.-the,
spare man, little above the medium height
weighing, 1 should say not moro than 40
pounds. As 1 saw him to-day, be was neatly
dressed in light colored duck trousers, white
vest and linen coat. A light gold watch chain
hung in his buttonhole, and his spectacles
dangled from black horsehair chain about
his neck. He wore standing collar with a
neat black tie, and his whole appearance was
that of an unpretentious gentleman. Closely
cropped graywhiskers fringe his entire face and
his expression, while very firm, is quito pleas
ant, especially when he smiles, which he often
does. He has an am pie suit of gray hair. His
eyes are full Of fire and expression, and in
conversation he has way of closing his
mouth firmly, denoting the great will power,
which has ever been recognized as one of his
leading characteristics. His first exclamation
as he greeted me, in a tone Of voice low and
pleasant, was:
81 am glad to see you, SIR" Almost before
had time to respond he anxiously inquired
"What is the latest news as to the Presidents
condition."
gave him the latest news, and, inviting me
to be seated he said: "This assault on Gen.
Garfield is
HORRIBLE CRIME.
There can be but one sentiment among the
people of this country on the enormity of the
offence. What it may forebode to the country
is hard to determine. When man will kill
the President because he refuses him office,
what may not be expected? Assassination is
usually the outgrowth of seasons of CALLING op-
preston. Even then it is the resort of a force
or sentiment too contemplate for civilization to
tolerate. But this crime is without even the
excuse of excitement. A vulgar man murders
the President in his wild delirium about office.
Such crime makes the whole nation kin, hal
ters all preiudices, and bushes partisan
thoughts. 1t is evident that the crime is the
outgrowth of the greedy scramble for office
which has of late years been so marked. 1t is
to be hoped that the reaction which this great
crime will produce may correct this alarming
evil. 1t has for long time been growing into
our system of government, until it appears to
have finally resulted in the murder of the ex-
ecutive The South had much hope of Gar
fields administration, and will sincerely mourn
his loss as it joins in the national sorrow over
the assault upon hislife. I earnestly hope he
may speedily recover When the confederacy
was organized at Montgomery, it was provided
that no man should be removed from office by
thelexecutive except for cause, which the law re-
quired should be specifically stated. The politi-
cal power concentrated in the hands of the Pres
ident by his control of patronage has been grow
ing greater every day, and its administration
has for long time been vicious"
ORIGIN OF THE sPoILs SYSTEM.
didn't it begin in Jackson's time, when he
fathered the doctrine that 'to the victors be-
long the spoils'?''
SIT is a common error that Jackson was the
author of that declaration. That is not true,
nor is it true that removals and appointments,
for political considerations began during his
administration. Mr. Marcy, while making a
speech in the Senate, made use of the express
sion, TO the victors belong the spoils,' while
stating what might follow as the line of policy
under certain contingencies. Another senator,
after the speech, called his attention to the
phrase and said:
That statement will be considered and
treated as an open avowal of party policy, and
you had better have it stricken OUT
NO; that IS not what l intended, but it is
there and will not change it, replied Mr..
Marcy.
The first removals for political considera-
tions began during John Quincy Adams ad.
ministration, in the State department, when
Mr.. Clay was at the head of it, and removed
the printers who did the public printing The
State Department then also indirectly con.
trolled the Postoffice Department, the Post
master General not then being cabinet Off
cer.''
Mr.. Davis then gave a most interesting ac-
count of the civil service in early DAYS and
how it had been administered under the vari-
GUS administrations with which he was associ-
ated as Congressman and Cabinet officer, and
of which he had familiar knowledge. Touch.
ing his book, Mr.. Davis said he was satisfied
with its reception, preferring criticism to 81.
lent acceptance. He perceived that the prin.
cipal point of assault was his claim that Gen
Lee cooperated with him in the conduct of the
war during its closing days. But no two crit
les agreed, and he had no doubt that the con-
troversy would establish the
TRUTH OF HIS CLAIM.
A better witness than the critics was Gen
Lee himself, who told the grand jury at Rich
mond when he Davis was accused of treason
that he had too great a respect for Mr.. Davis's
judgment to have ever materially differed
with him, and that there were no differences
between them requiring his individual action
Mr.. Davis says Gen. Lee once told him that he
intended to write his recollections of the war;
81 can," remarked Mr.. Davis, livery we'll un-
derstand the reluctance with which Gen. Lee
would take up that subject. 1t was an exceed
ingly painful one to him. 1t was like mans
performing surgical operation upon himself,
and Lee was very sensitive man. He had
attained a high place in the estimation of the
world and in the hearts of his people, and he
naturally shrunk from putting on paper him.
self the record of failure"
At this point the conversation was interrupt
ed by the arrival of the mail. Mr.. Davis
stepped down TO meet the messenger before he
had reached the upper step Of the porch. He
took the New Orleans paper, seated himself
and quickly, began reading aloud, without
spectacles, the last dispatches concerning
President Garfield's condition. AS he read
the unfavorable dispatches, he dropped the
paper upon his lap, and, for moment, sat in
deep thought. He finally looked up and said
81 fear he will die. What calamity! What
fearful crime! Life is full of danger and bit
ter disappointments, and we all get our share.
This is terrible blow at our institutions. In
time of perfect peace and plenty, that the
President should be shot down by vile wretch
portends, I fear, more of evil than we can now
comprehend. 1t is a great pity. 1 do hope
that he may yet rally"
Then the ex-President of the Confederacy
went on discussing the various phases of the
crime, showing deep concern for the life OF
Gen. Garfield. While he was talking, Mrs
Davis, a large, fne-looking, motherly-appear
ing lady, came and took seat in the grour
and mingled her expressions of regret, regard
and coincidence with her husbands. A refer
ence to the crime recalled the war and the ef
feet it had had upon the country, our govern.
ment and institutions "We are by no means
out of danger yet" said Mr.. Davis. "The so.
luton of the great
PROBLEM OF POPULAR GOVERNMENT
| is still in the womb of tme. The foresight O
| man cannot determine the resdlt as the seri
| Gus and startling events which have ridden
| down upon each other in quick succession dur
| ing the past 20 years clearly demonstrate"
"Have they in any wise changed the charac
| ter of the government"
Certainly. 1t was said by our enemie
| when the war began that it was waged for tn,
| preservation of the Union. Ii that had beer
| true, when the war was over the States wer,