The Osceola times., 1883-05-19
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
PIel ant Chat with Him IN His Pa
vilion-study at Beauyoir.

pi made in the last decade p
"Agriculturally, commercially or edu-
cationally?"
"AIl three, separately and combined?'
Wonderfully, considering the attend
ant circumstances and yet not so rapid
| ly as would like to see her move for
ward. She produces more cotton than
any other State in the Union.
"The sum total of bales this year, |
think, will foot up 100000, which at
$45 per bale would bring S54,0O0,OOO
Her corn crop will amount to about 2l,-
900 600 bushels, and the census report
shows that the live stock of all kinds in
the State is valued at $50, 600.
'Of course, there are other crops-oats,
wheat, rye, barley tobacco and rice-but
am not sufficiently acquainted with the
subject to talk upon it. Commercially
considered, the States progress should
be regarded as quite satisfactory. There
are now within her borders twelve cot
ton mills and about $500 other manu-
featuring establishments, employing
about 10000 hands, with a capital of
about 100000, paying about the same
amount in wages and producing about
sl5,OOO,OO0.
Internationally speaking, the diffusion
Of knowledge is greater now than it
ever was before. There are now over
5000 free schools in the State, with an
attendance of 246, ,654, out of426, $50 black
and white educable children.
THAT is not bad showing but it
might be better, and | am sure it will
soon be improved. Besides, there are
about 600 private schools and academ-
les in the State, with an attendance Of
10000"
"Mr Davis, why are you 50 ayerse to
being interviewed ?"
because, am constantly being abus-
ed, maligned and villilied by the press,
and for the reasons | gave you when
first greeted you this morning"
"In your early public life, what public
men and associates did youmost ADMIRE"
"John Quincy Adams for one. He was
the most genial gentleman l knew.
enjoyed his society, and found him TO be
highly cultivated. His wife was a most
estimable lady very charming in her
manner and really adorned the White
House. passed many a pleasant even
ing with them and cherish among my
fondest recollections the many courteous
attentions which they paid me. Col.
Greene. of the Post, is another
MASSACHUSETTS GENTLEMAN
for whom have had an abiding love.
He was very able, and, in his day WELD
ed a great deal of influence Daniel
Webster was very kind to me, and,
though some of our views were thorough
ly antagonistic we always met ~ friends
He had large heart and never forgot a
kindness. His nature was very grateful.
have reason TO know whereof | speak.
During my visit to Boston | was hand
somely entertained, and ! received a
, perfect ovation at Faneui Hall Then,
| had many friends in the old Bay State,
and, am proud TO say, have few of
them left. | admired Henry Clay as a
, speaker, but my political ideas were op-
posed to his. He was a great compro-
miser. When mere boy looked upon
Calhoun as an ideal statesman, and as
grew older my admiration for the man
r increased. He never prepared his
I speeches in the sense of writing them
out. He frequently gave me his views
on certain subjects, and when he address
sed the Senate, it seemed to me as if he
: was repeating what he had before utter
ed in conversation. | followed him
; closely in many things, and, like him,
lacked method and great preparation.
| Webster, on the other hand, prepared
almost everything he uttered, and paid
| as much attention 10 the sound of his
words as he did to their sense. That is
J why his speeches read so well.
Have you gathered and prepared
your speeches for publications.
81 have not, nor have | contemplated
such thing"
The conversation then drifted into
literary channels, but by degrees Mr..
Davis almost permitted himself to talk
about the "lost cause" Your cores
pondent smilingly reminded him that
there was still living Massachusetts
man who had voted fifty-seven times to
make him a Presidential candidate. and
who was now regarded in some quarters
as an aspirant for the same high honors,
and then asked him what effect his
nomination would have had upon the
nation, conceding for the sake of argu-
ment, that Gen. Buffers plan at Charles
had proved successful and that the
Democratic party instead of dividing in
to factions, had solidified around him IA
acompromise nominee. Mr.. Davis look
ed upa moment, then became thoughtful,
and finally said "No, sir; it was to be.
Ii was an agitation that began with the
Government, and that kept the country
in furry of excitement. Providence
decreed that the struggle should end as
it did "
At this juncture, Mr.. Davis rose from
his chair and offered TO take your CORES
pondent over his grounds. His bath
house, extending rabout 400 feet into
Mississippi Sound, was visited. and on
either hand Mississippi City and Biloxi
were viewed. The orange orchard was
also inspected, and Mr.. Dayis said that
many of his oldest and finest trees had
been killed by the severe cold of last
winter. An old colored man was seen
repairing wagon, and Mr.. Davis intro
duced HIM as Robert, a servant, who,
through good report and bad report,
through prosperity and adversity, had
remained faithful to him, and even
when Mr.. Davis was incarcerated in
Fort Monroe, stopped with his children
and waited upon their wants. After ac-
! ppnt1nO n,