The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1885-09-12
JEFFERSON DAVIS sKETCHED.

JEFFERSON DAVIS SKETCHED.
"Sunsetr Cox, the wit and hu-
morist. orator and statesman, has
an article in the September num-
ber Of the Overland Monthly. that
is full of very interesting reminis-
cences, some of them Of Southern
statesmen. From them we extract
the following: an that Congress,
foremost in influence for peace OF
war, for Union or disunion. is JEFF.
ferson Davis; how then nnlike
that Davis, who in Maine. but a
few years before, had spoken
burning words for the perpetuity
of the Union. He had fought gal.
lantly in Mexico for its extension
and honor. Whatever of preju-
dice his name may have since
aroused has been incident to re-
calling the memories of a beaten
cause. At that Congress he was
far more potential in directing the
fatal genius of Southern states.
manship than any other man in
the Senate. His own memoirs
have been published. There his
character is analysed and his mo-
tives questioned with pitiless aud
torturing inquisition; still the
great body Of his countrymen
South will cherish his memory,
despite all adverse criticism.
Whether he ever renounced his
secession doctrines, while acting
as the chieftain of the Confedera-
cy, has not been proven. 1t has
been surmised and inferred. The
same presiding care which shield.
ed him from a trial for treason,
and gave him peaceful retiracy in
o Southern home, seems still to
hover over his old age. Remem
bering his personal courtesy, his
urbane aud dignified manners, his
silvery oratory, his undaunted
courage as q soldier and honesty
as q man, the historian Of this
eventful epoch--in which madness
ruled in the most sedate counseli
cannot fail to recall much to the
credit of this leader Of the South
ern people. He may not have ex
ercised the wisdom of some who
acquiesced promptly and grace
fully In the inevitable. Yet will
many this trait of enduring con
sistency is a virtue. But 1t mus
. be said that he was not forward Il
+. secession. His State was no
: among the foremost to secede
! She waited until the 9th of Janus
+. ry, 1861, before passing her ord
I nance, and her Senators, lingere
|. until the last before they will
] drew. 1t is generally credited b
9 those who we're familiar with Nj
s Davis's incliuations that, even q
ter the ordinance was passed, h
q was anxious to remain. There
n indubitable evidence that viii
4 In the Committee Of Thirteen /
9 was willing to accept the compr
! mise of Mr.. Crittenden and recet
n from secession. This committ'
It and a house committee Of thirt
9 three members were then consi
ering "the state Of the Union.
% The compromise failed; becans
I. as Senator Hale said, on the IS
It of December, 1860, the day II vi
D. introduced, it was determined th
d the controversy should not be 81
Y, tied in Congress. When 1t faile
n the hero Of Buena Vista becau
"a the Confederate leader. Much
d he is moderated by some Sont
e ern men who opposed him duril
n the war, he was fitted to be Il
'e leader of just such revolt. Eve
m revolution has o fabulous or actu
II hero conformable to the local sit
r alton, manners and character
r the people who rise. To a rust
10 people like the Swiss, Villa
st Tell. with his crossbow aud 4
in apple; to All aspiring race. III
n. the Americans, Washington, wi
1t bis sword and the law, are, as l
m MARITIME once said, the symbt
at standing erect at the cradles
ID these two distinct Liberties! j.
~ ferson Davis, naughty, self.will
le and persistent, full Of martial
r. dor and defiant eloquence, W
'd the symbol. both in bis charact
~ and his situation, Of the prou
n impulsiye. but suppressed ardo
aud hopes of the Southern mint
Red River Work.