The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1884-11-19
JEFF DAVIS PORTRAIT.
A Northern Paper Charges that a
Southern Editor is Afflicted with
bad Eyesight.

Southern Editor Is Afflicted with
bad Eyesight.
The following is taken from the Gin
cinnati IimcS-StW in reply to the
statement made by the Coweta, (Ga)
-ldrerttscr that Secretary Robert Lin
coin had removed from the list Of por-
traits of the secretaries Of war that Of
Jefferson Davis
A paragraph is floating about in the
newspapers, just now, TO the effect that
some Georgia editor, who visited the
war department rcccntly, went away
very indignant because the portrait of
jeff Davis was not to be found among
those of the secretaries Of war which
adorn the department. Certainly he
must have been afflicted with very bad
eycslSht Tor the portrait Of Mr.. Davis
hangs in its proper place among these,
large as life and twice rs NATURAL 1t
hangs in the room Of the private sccrc
tary OF war, in it's regular order, the
portraits in the gallery being arranged
with reference to the date of service of
the secretaries whom they represent.
The war department pridcs itself on
having, with one exception, the only
lull line of portraits Of the various
secretaries who have presided over it
from the beginning down to the present
time. So the portrait of Mr.. Davis is
there. If the Georgia editor had had oc-
caS'on, however, to ride up the Poto-
mac a few miles above Washington he
would have found something genuine to
excite his regard. ''Cabn John Bridgc''
is said to be the largest stone arch in
the world. 1t was constructed by the
war department in Pierccs administra-
ton for the purpose of carrying across
deep chasm the large ninc-foot water
pipe which runs from Great falls fifteen
miles above Washington, to the rescr-
roir
The bridge, which is 42O feet long. is
single stone arch 1t was considered
so important feat that it was thought
proper to cut in it the name Of the prcs-
ldent, sccratary Of war, engineer and
others under whom it was constructed.
MIR. Davis being then secretary Of
war, his name was cut in the brown
sandstone of which the arch is made.
It Is not there now, however, but oppo-
site the words, "Sccrctnry Of War" is a
deep blank, showing that the name has
been cut out. The name, it is stated,
Was cut out by order Of the secretary Of
war, MIR. Stanton, who was the head Of
the department during the years in which
jeff Davis name was so unpopular north
Of Mason ard Dixon's line. The deep
incison made in the stone just where
the letters Of the name originally were,
and beside the words ''secretary Of
war; makes it 'conspicuous by its abb
scnce,' and this feature of this wonder
full structure is sui ject Of remark by
many visiting it.
The portrait gallery in the war de-
partment, regarding which the com
| plaint above alluded to was made, is the
creation Of William X. Belknap. secrc-
tary of war under Grant from October
25, 1869, to March 2, 1876. The propri-
ETY. Of adorning the walls Of the dc.
partmcnt with the portraits Of the sec
rctarics of war occurred to Mr. Belk-
nap during the term Of his period in Of
flee. lie Immediately set to work to
gather these portraits. 1t required n
great deal Of effort, however, in the car
licr day, but by persistent effort he sue
ceeded in collecting all but two, one OF
which was Roger Griswold, who was
secretary under John Adams, and the
other Il gentleman who was secretary
for a brief period, and whose name ha,
not been learned.