Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-27
rx-PnEsfDENT DAVIS,
Points OF His Coming Book the
ssRIse and FAN of che Confederate
G0wernmemt.o


Near York Herald
For the first time since-nearly fifteen
years ago-he walked free man out OF
a Federal prison, Mr.. Jefferson Davis,
first and last President of the late Southern
Confederacy, is about to become the CEN
ire of discussion. With swiftness that
were almost magical the imperious and
self-willed leader of the seeding States
dropped out of general attention on the
collapse of his government. For more
than ten years the currents have swept
by him carelessly, and nothing has been
heard of him except that his name was
here and there woven into the
growing platitudes of some Northern
editor, or borne on the huzzas OF some
occasional Southern audience. Mr.. Da-
Wis now comes to the front with history
of secession and the war of secession
that is, a defense as well as a history
and that being aggressive as well as au-
thoritative, must command very wide at
tentiOn. In view of the nature OF the
forthcoming book and its distinguished
character it becomes interesting to know
something of Mr.. Davis history for the
past decade, the manner of his research
and writing, the influences and inspira-
tons under which he has prepared his
defense and justification of the most
gigantic civil war of modern times.
A PRIVATE SUBSCRIPTION.
It is known to his friends that Mr.
Davis has been very poor since 1870.
Some years ago, learn upon the very best
authority, it came to the knowledge of
Governor Colquitt, of Georgia, that the
ex President was in actual need of funds.
Governor COlquitt at once quietly con-
suited Governor Hampton and others,
and fund of 81, 600 was raised at once.
This was sent to Mr. Davis with letter
in which it was stated that it had been
raised solely among his ex-colleagues,
and in such way that if it were return
ed it could not find its way to the Origi
nal subscribers. Mr.. DAVIS replied in
dignified but appreciative letter, saying
that under the circumstances he would
be compelled to retain the amount sent,
but that the subscription must not
be repeated nor extended, as he
could consent TO receive nothing
more. adding that there were
hundreds of fatherless children
and widows who needed it worse than
he did. In the same spirit Mr.. Davis has
declined all testimonials or benefits, and
avoided when possible, even public re-
cogniticn. He has attended no conven-
ton or meetings, delivered no addresses
except a few casual speeches to crowds
that caught him at hotels, in which
he said as little as possible. He has re-
fused all offers to lecture, having had re-
peated offers to engage for a season at
$500 night. With stern and unassaila-
BILE purpose he has preserved his silence,
standing aloof from all discussion or ex-
element, seeking seclusion in the sense
of dignity rather than Of retreat, holding
for years and years, through storm and
calm, figure that had once been all fire
and energy, almost as dumb and motion
less as the monuments that stand over
the men who died under his leadership.
MATERIALS FOR HISTORY.
1t must not be supposed that Mr.. Da-
Wis has been idle or inactive during his
retirement. For more than ten years he
has devoted himself to the collection of
material for writing his history of the
Confederate Government. A gentleman
who knows him intimately said to your
correspondent:
Ten years ago Mr.. Davis said to me
that he intended to devote the remaining
years of his life TO the writing of de-
tense of the Lost Cause. If God spares
ME, he said, I shall put in the hands OF
the children of our dead justification
of the cause for which their fathers died
His work is dedicated to the widows and
children of the Confederate dead. But
there is little of sentiment in the book.
1t is cold, clear, logical appeal to pub
lie judgment"
After Mr.. Davis had spent years il the
collection of material for his work be
felt the necessity of some quiet place in
which he could concentrate all his scat
tered papers and obtain the seclusion
necessary for his great task. This was
quickly offered by Mrs. Sarah Dorsey,
who had always been devoted Confed-
crate and an especial friend and admirer
of Mr.. Davis. She was then living at
Beauv0ir, country seat OF c0nsld'
cradle pretensions, about two hours ride
out of New Orleans. While she was not
of blood kin to Mr.. Davis, the relations
between his family and hers had always
been close, and there had been some in
termarriages. Dir. DAVIS accepted her
invitation and was soon settled at Beau
voir, where his papers shortly followed
him.
Mr.. DAVIS AT BEAUVOIR.
If an author, engaged upon work that
required reflection and study, were to
try the world over he could not get
place better suited to his needs than
Beauvoir. 1t stands several miles off
the railroad-on the shore OF the gulf
and is surrounded with the dismantled
wrecks of mansions that were formerly
the summer homes of the wealthy PEG
pie of New Orleans. The rooms in
which Mr. Davis wrote the history of
the war are neatly but comfortably fur
nished. The front room, entered from
low piazza, is the library. 1t is filed to
the ceiling with books and papers, all
bearing on the war. There is rough lad
der platform by which the upper shelves
NAV be reached. Mr.. Davis is quite
proud of this library, which, he says, is
probably the completest collection OF
books bearing on the war, its causes and
us COQuuCt, uOW III CALStCuCOs AOuA OOA-
respondent noticed on the shelves such
light and gossipv books as -Four Years
in the Saddle" "Surrey of Eagles
Nest" ETC., and accepted them as evil
dence of the care with which the distin-
guished author had gathered every
volume that could fix an incident or in
dictate a sentiment. Over the plain
wooden mantel is large steel engaving,
the only decoration in the room.
HOW HE WORKS.
In the centre of the room stands a
large table, on which Mr.. Davis writes
or dictates. He writes a great deal him
self, but occasionally dietates-always to
a long-handsd writer Major w. T.
Walthall began as Secretary, but Judge
Tenney, editor of AppletOn'S EncycI0.
nadia, and General Joe Davis, his ne
phew, have been with him for the past
year. General Marcus Wright, who has
charge Of the Confederate archives at
Washington, has been in almost con-
slant correspondence with Dir. Davis,
has had thousands OF original docu
menis copied from the archives, and has
spent some weeks at Beauvoir.
WILL TT BE BROAD OR PERSONALLY
find a very general fear throughout
the South that Mr.. Davis will let his in
tolerant spirit get the better of him, and
that what should be an impartial history
will become a vehicle of personal opin-