The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-21
WAR IT villa. covER-uow THE ARCH Elk
CONFEDERATE HAS LIVED SINGS THE WAR
ma WORKSHOP At BEAUvoIR.
NEW York Henald.l

wicked Tree man out OF edeTai pTiso",
IA. Jefferson Davis, fret and last President
q The late Southern Confederacy, Is about
20 become the centre Of discussion. FOL
more than ten years the currents have swep'
By him carelessiy, and nothing mas peen
heard OF him except that bis name was mere
end there woven INTO the growing p,s'r
tudes OF some northern editor, or Dorue on
The huxxas OF some occasional southern au'
dtence. Mr.. DAVIS now comes TO the front
with history OF secession and the war OF
sccession--thst Is, defence as well as MS
fory--and that being aggressive as Wen Us
authoritative, must command very wide at
tentiou. In view OF the nature OF the 10TH
coming book and its distinguished charac'
fer Il becomes interesting 10 know some
thing Of Mr.. Dsyls's history for the past
decade. the manner OF bis research ano
writing. and the influences and inspirations
under which he has prepared his defence
aod justification Of the post gigantic civil
war Of modern times.
Ii may be promised that Mr.. Davis's re-
tirement has been purely voluntary. Al
toe close OF the war he held the hrst pace
In the sympathy and affections OF bis people,
1gst as he bore the larger share of northern
odium and hatred. He could have been .
most potential f,sctor In southern affairs nso
he minded TO enter the arena, hut he seemed
to understand from The first that, being the
head and front OF the, supreme failure, IL
would not become bin to expostulate WIN
the victors or argue over the small deta'is Oh
,vsiiu,tment. The leader Of the southern
armies, General Lee, seemed to nave peen
governed BY the same sense OF dignity, and
no persussion ever induced him TO en-
ter actively into public life after ne
surrendered his sword at Appomat"
tox. Mr.. Davis's seciusion has been
absolute. Without sbeing inaccessible
he has been silent. And after politlcai
reyolution that surpassed IN importance
even the war itself, IL maybe said that To
neither friend nor foe has he offered advice
or uftered q remonstraDce. This pollcy oil
withdrawal on the part OF Mr.. Davis has
extended even TO his business analis, ana
has been subimated into sort OF aDnega-
ton. He has seen bis estates swept away
and has raised no hand to stav them; ne
has turned away from business opportuni-
ties that were made for his behoof, and IL
may be literally said of him that until he
received il from the hands OF woman ne
has had no home. He has alternated between
Memphis, New Orleans, and Mississippi
City, living in dignity.
APRIvATE SUBSCRIPTION.
tits known to his friends that Mr.. Davis
has been very poor since 1870. Some years
ago, i learn upon the very best authority.
It came to the knowledge Of Governor Col
Quit, OF Georgia, that the ex-President
was In actual need OF funds. Governor
ColQuitt at once quietly consulted Governor
Hampton and others, and a fund OF $4,000
was raised at once. This was sent to MT.
Davis with a letter In which ii was stated that
Il had been raised solely among his ex'coi.
leagues, and in such way that II II were re.
turned 1t could not find its way to the origi-
nal subscribers. Mr.. Davis replied in
dignified but apprecative letter, saying
that under the circumstances be would
be compelled to retain the amount sent,
but that the subscription must not
BIZ repeated or extended, us he could
consent TO receive nothing more, adding
that there were hundreds OF fatheress
children and widows who needed II worse
than be did. In The same spirit Mr.. Davis
had declined all testimonials or Dement'S,
and avoided, when possible, even public
recognition. He has attended no conyen-
tons 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. lie has refused all offers
gage for season at $500 night. With
stern and unasssiIable purpose he has pre-
served his silence, standing aloof from all
discussion Or excitement, seeking secusioD
in the sense OF dignity rather than OF re-
treat, holding for years and years. through
storm and calm, figure that had once been
all FIRE and energy, almost as dumb and
motioniess as the monuments that stand
over the men who died under his leader |
ship.
MATERIALS FOR HISTORY.
1t must not be supposed that Mr.. Davis |
has been idle or inactive during his retire |
inent. For more than ten years he has de |
voted himself TO the collection Of material |
for writing his History OF the Confederate |
Govern ment. A gentleman who knows |
him intimately said to your correspondent |
"Ten years ago Mr.. Davis said to me |
that be intended TO devote the remaining |
years Of his life to the writing Of a defence |
OF the lost cause. III God spares me- he
said, / shall put In the hands OF the chill |
dren 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 bold, clear,
logical appeal to public judgment"
After Mr.. Davis bad spent years in the
collection OF material for his work he felt
the necessity OF some quiet place in which
be could cor centrate all bis scattered
papers and obtain the secusion necessary
for bis great task. This was quickly offered
by Mrs. Sarah Dorsey, who had always
been devoted Confederate and an especial
friend and admirer OF Mr.. Davis. She was
then living at Beauvoir, a country-seat OF
considerable prelensiOns, 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 inter-
MIR. Davis accepted her invita-
fion, and was soon settled at Beauvoir,
where his papers shortly followed him.
Mr.. DAVIS AT BEAUvOIR.
II an author, engaged upon work that re-
quired reflection and study, were TO try the
world over be could not get place better
suited TO his needs than Beauvor. 1t stands
several miies of The railrOad-on the shore
u the Guif--and Is surrounded with the dis {
mautlcd wrecks OF mansions that we're for {
ucriy the summer homes Of the wealthy {
people OF New Orleans. Beauvoir is set IN 4
be midst OF silence and des0lation, The q
Duse &tseM IL handsome and cost the 0rigi. | I
4 bOiider--one Mr.. BrOwn--$50, 900. 1t | I
tbuik IN the old style OF southern houses,
ind the broad, loug piazza looks out upon 5
be Gun that Dours IT'S crisp waters upon 4
white beach that stretches TO the front d
,ate. Thls piazza Is one Of Mr.. Da- {
13s fassrite places, and the visitor In the I
morning Is apt TO see him sitting by the side 6
{ large rennd table, which Is covered c
vith books and pspers, studying and b