The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-09-18
jefferson Davis in the Thirty-sixth
Congress-.

JsHsTSou LAWS ID LnS 404Eby -sl4bu
Congress.
In that Congress, foremost in
influence for peace or war, for Union
or dis-union, is Jefferson DAVIS; how
then unlike that Davis, who in
Maine, but few years before, had
spoken Turning words fer the per-
petuity of the union. He had fought
galIantly in Mexico for lts extension
and honor. Whatever of prejudice
his name may have since aroused
has been incident TO recalling the
memories Of a beaten cause. At
that congress he was far more poten-
tia' in directing the fateful geniusR
Southern craftsmanship than any
other man in the senate. HIS own
memoirs haYe been published.
There his character has been ana
lyzed and his motives questioned
with pitiless and torturing inquisi-
tion; still the great body of his
countrymen South will cherish his
memory, despite all adverse criti-
cism. Whether he ever ren0unced
his secession doctrines. while acting
us the ehieitain Of the C0niederacy,
has not been proven. IL has oeen
surmised and inferred. The same
presiding care which shielded hum
from a trial for treason, aud gave
hlm peaceful retiracy in Southern
homo, seems still to hover over hip
old age. Remembering his personal
courtesy, has urbane and dignilied
manners. his silvery oratory, his un-
daunted courage as n soldier and
honesty as nan, the historian of
this sventful epoch--in which mad
ness ruled in the most sedate coun.
cIls-cannot fail to recall much 30
the credit Of this leader Of tie south
ern people. He may not have ex-
ercisel the wisdom of some who ac-
quiesced promptly and gracefully in
the inevitable. Yet with many
this trait Of enduring consistency is
a virtue. But it must be said shat
he wAs Rot forward in secession.
Lis state was not among the fore
most TO socede. She waited until
the 9th Of January, 1861, before
passing her ordinance. and her SEN
ators fingered until the 21st before
they Withdrew. /. is generally cred
tied among those who were familiar
with Mr.. Davis inclinations, that
even after the ordinance passed, he
was anxious to remain There il
indubitable evidence thar while ia
the Committee Of Thhteen he was
willing 70 accept the compromise of
Mr.. Critfenden and recedo from se>
cession. (This committee and
house committee OF thirtytt roe mem-
hers we're then considering "the state
Of the Union The compromise
failed. because, as Senator Hale said
on the 18th Of December. 1860, the
day it was introduced, it was deter
mined that the controversy should
not be settled in congress. When it.
failed, the hero Of Buena Vista be-
came the Confederate lesder.
Much rs he is undeTrAted by some
Southern men who opposed him dur
ing lhe war. he was fitted 70 he the
leader Of just such u revolt. Every
revolution has fabulous or actual
hero c0nformable 10 the local situa-
ton. manners and ch ,racter Of the
people who rise. To Il rustic people
like he Swiss, William Tell with lass
crossbow and the apple, to ma agpir-
ing race like the Amer leans, Wash-
ington. with his sword and the law.
are, NJ Lama Ii &c once said, the SYM
bols stAndiug erect at the cradles Of
these two distinct llbsrtieA Jeaer-
son Davis, naughty. selfwilled aud
persistent. full Of martial ardOr and
defiant sloquence, WAS the synibol.
bpth ia his character and his situa-
ton. of the proud, impulsive, but
Suppressed ardors aud hopes oi the
Southern mind. S. S. Cox in the
Overland Magazine.