The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-09-26

eession cabal, he deemed this de~ultor,
conversation. albeit sustained through
Two graphic hours, unworthy Of himself
ana the historical cxigency Of the sitna
tiDn.
But death digniiies all things. The
[ passing conversation of an August fore
noon has became the last record of a
! period ~ our history, Of whose inner and
contral prUerc-- within President Bach-
anan abihet no other record can exist.
Cabinct-, BY their nature. keen no min.
utcs. Custom, courtesy and habit Of
Official life leave the vindicati0n Of their
pOiicy and their action 10 some survivor.
who defends before another ienerat on
events upon which his lips were sealed
at their occurrence.
Much Of the history Of the period
when Judge Black was influencing. in
Buchanan'- Cabinet, the issues Of peace
nd war, II has already been the good
fortune Ot the writer 10 lay before the
public II il, perhaps, not too much to
say that these disclosures have reversed
public opinion Of Judge Blacks counsel
ana profoundly influenced public esti-
mate Of President Buchanan's course
whether this be 80, it is unnecessary here
I ana now 10 discuss. The decision i one
which can best be left to others; hut it
| viii probably be admitted by all that
| the vide acceptance by the press of the
land Of the facts set forth in the series
| OF papers which led TO Mr.. Dayis's let
/ Ter have placed ia wholly new as
l P'ct pubic discussion Of the period just
| before the war.
These interviews resulted in intimate
aud cordia! rel ltiOns between Judge
Black and myself, whose natural conse-
qucnce was the free aud unrestricted
0utpouring Of his opinions and counsel
in the past, ~ which my last interview
with him was full. Since his death
sealed all other sources of information
have consented 10 reproduce the alb
t9rbing features of this conversation.
How successful this has beon done
the record here made must tell.
aud only practiced journalists can ap-
prcciatc. Judge. Black spoke but a. a
preface and prologue to the paper he
meditated. This paper IS lost to history
lost also TO himself and his defense
Il defense were needed by a man about
Whom the controversies of a lifetime
had beaten but to leave his memory
greener and his fame freshcr. l. al
least. shall not presume TO suggest that
this conversation can supply the place
OF the lost effort of his great powers. 1t
can only reflect its purpose and purport.
No one but Judge Black could fulfill
ne task Judge Black could set himself.
No other man can presume to lift his
magic wand Of power The bow of
l lysses can be bent only By the hero
who had dunk delight of battle with
his foes through thrice ten years Of war
fare
'r rhc unfinished window OF Aladdin. PAL
ace
Unfinished must remain"
tiE INTERVIEW JEFf DAVIS $ IEr-
TER.
Two days before Judge Black was
stricken with the disease that carried
him to his grave, drove up through
the grove by the gravelcd road that
leads to Brockie. II was not 9 o'clock
in the morning when drew rain before
the broad porch, upon which sat Mrs
Black and another member of the fam
lily. As | alighted the Judge walked
around from the back porch, greeted me
cordially, aud said.
whats up nowg
Mr. Davis has published a letter to-
day which, think, will interest YOU"
Lets see it,"
] handed him the paper containing il
ard he led the way to the front porch
where We could be alone. He took a
seat in large easy chair, and | another
near HIM. lie began reading as soon as
he sat down, and read the cutire letter
without speaking word.
During the perusal of it his coup-
tcuance betrayed not the slightest idea
OF the impression the document was
making upon him. As he finished read
ing II, he folded the paper and laid il
down by his side. lie took off his spec-,
tacles, took out the silver tobacco box
which he had worn smooth in conver-
sation of years. and began turning il
rapidly in his lame hand. He looked
off upon the beautiful fields that stretch
away from Brockie as far as the eve can
reach, and spoke not a word. For half
a minute OF more he gazed intently upon
the beautiful country side scenes before
there was an expression either in his
face or his lips. He finally gave half
audible laugh, shrugged his shoulders.
as was his want when amused, and said
in that deliberate, forcible way 50 char.
acteristic Of him:
Mr.. Davis has lost his opportunity.
and he can now veneer the truth with
twenty years reflection. He has lost
his temper and likewise his case. He
has uttered epithets and written obso-
iete ideas without even giving them
new clothes. He must have written in
the shadow & failing recollection. or
his Judgment must have been impaired
by brooding over the failures of his
life. His paper is weak, and were it
not for his historical position and char
acter, 1t would require no answer from
me. But Mr.. Davis is a foeman worthy
Of any mans steel, and such A docn-
ment as this from him eompels an
answer.
JUDGE BLACK READS MR. DAvTs's LET
TER A SECOND TINE.
The judge picked up Mr.. Dayis's let
ter and read second time the first few
paragraphs, and then turned to me and
said
when the paper was written that
called out this article | said To Won. Il
do not believe Mr.. Davis would make a
wiliful misStatement for anv earthly
consideration | believe so now. for /
always found him fair opponent. Yet.
in this letter he betrays a woeful igno-
rance Of the facts ne undertakes to han
die. Time and disappointments must
have done their work with his once su
perior mind. | have not seen him for
more than twenty years, and speak Of
him as he appeared to me before he
struck hands with the greatest conspir-
acy Of modern times. / do not retract
single word Of what | said in the
article that provoked Mr.. Davis's latest
utteranees. BY the way he squirms
that blow must have hurt. In quoting
the paragraph from my utterances two
years ago, he does not give all said"
The following Is the full paragraph to
which Judge Black referred, a mart Of
which Mr.. Davis quoted and made the
basis Of his answer:
When he told you that Mr.. Buchanan
was timid because he did not give M
the forts In Charleston harbor. he said
what was not only inaccurate but alb
surd. The Abolitionists abuse Buch-
anan because he did not reinforce Sum
ter. They, Of course, do him injustice.
But Mr.. Davis now charges him with
timidity because he DID not eracuats fke
forfs and let secession have everything
its own way. That is ridiculous. Mr..
Davis also makes a sinner Of his judg-
ment when he expresses the opinion
thatif Sumter had been given up no other
State than South Carolina would have
gone out. In truth and in fact, Mr..
Davis and all other SeceSsionists de-
sired that evacuation for the sole pnr-
pose Of making their predetermined
departure easy and safe Such a cen
spicuous ACT Of concession would have
been an acknowledgment Of their right
% seccde, and they would have tum-
bled out AZ fast a. they could formulate
their ordinances. II Mr.. Davis win tax