Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-01-07
A Talk with JEFF Davis.
HE THINKS SALARIES TOO HIGH AND RE-
CARDS POLITICAL AFFAIRS AS A
SppCTATOR MERELY.

HE THINKS SALARIES TOO HIGH AND RE-
CARDS POLITICAL AFFAIRS ASA
SPECTATOR MERELY.
A citizen OF Nashville has spent day at
Beauvoir with Jefferson Davis and his
family. he refers to it as an occasion Of
much interest and pleasure. Having SER
we'd in the army under General Joseph E.
Johnston, and being great admirer of
him, he had shared, in measure, the feel
ing against Mr.. Davis administration,
but a talk with the ex-President of the
Confederacy caused him to feel that injus-
tice bad been done that gentleman in
charging that he had acted from prejudice
ed motives. Mr. Davis said that one OF
the hardest duties he had performed was
that Of removing General Johnston when
Hood succeeded to the command of the
Army of the Tennessee. The change was
pressed from every section OF the South
when it became apparent that Atlanta
must surrender to the enemy.
Other subjects were freely discussed
during the day. A compliment was paid
Mr.. Hayes administration by another
gentleman, who was guest at the time.
when Mr.. Davis remarked that Hayes did
not recommend a reduction of his salary.
In this connection, he remarked that sal
aries of public officials are too high, and
ne told how members of Congress used to
club together In messes. He furthermore
said that our form of government is safest
when the people are poor. ''Not poor, for
instance, as the people of Mississippi" be
added with grim humor, ''but where there
is degree of dependence of the people
among themselves, and especially when
officials receive moderate salaries and live
within their Incomes Mrs. Davis show
ed her love for her country in the express
sion that she would be SOrely grleved II
one of her children should think any
other country better than his own Ameri,
ca. She would not be willing, therefore,
to educa, sons abroad, as circumstances
have made it proper with their daughter.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis will go to Europe in
June for their daughter. Notwithstand
ing reports to the contrary, Mr.. DAVIS
does not remember to have seen MIR. Lin
coin. He talks freely of men and meas
ures. Andrew Jackson is greatly admired
by him. He said: ''If Jackson had been
norm in courts he could not have been
more courtly'' When Mr.. Davis had
completed his education he went from
Kentucky to Mississippi on horseback. and
from Nashville he rode out to The Hermit
age, making delightful visit to the Gen
eral. He mentions Jackson as having been
much purer man III his moral character
than is generally believed. In Jackson,
Calhoun and Albert Sidney Johnston, he
said, he could never see much fault.
In conversation upon the present politi-
cal issues, Mr.. Davis spoke as a mere spec
tator, as he really is, and not participant.
He does not regard the defeat of Hancock
as SO deplorable matter as might be sup
posed. and says that the sooner Democrats
announce their fxedness of purpose to
stand by the right, expecting only defeat.
the sooner will they be respected, and the
better will be their chances of ultimate
success.-Nashville (Ien,s.) american.