Savannah morning news., 1886-06-29
DAVID DAVIS, CAREER.
Hon. Leonard SWEET Recalls Incl
dents in the Jurisi's Early Life.


SWEET in the Chicago Mail just before
David Davis death gives tair idea OF
what sort Of a man MI. Davis was:
Judge Davis" said Leonard SWEET, sis
man ABOUT whom am always ready to
tsiE' nave known him long, intimately
anu WIN ever-lncreasing regard. Two
months ago / visited him in his home at
bloomington. knew then, aud his reia-
ives knew, that his days were mum bered.
my WISH at that time waSin the nature of
farewell. lie knew it, and | knew it.
cannot describe 1t. He has never been
ap Incorporate liver, but has always lived
richly. Of late years his extreme obesity
mas prevented sufficient activity, and he
was never much given to exercise. The
result is that his physical condition has
reached such torpid state that it can
not repel the attacks OF disease. Iexpect
to near OF his death at any time.
81 have known MIN since lS4S," con-
tlnued Mr.. SWEET. ''at which time he
came into puygsS Prominence. His first
appearance in politics was as member
OF the Constitutional Convention, which
met that year. In tie same year be was
chosen Circuit Judge. This was In the
old Eighth district, which comprised
fourteen counties IN the central part of
the State, extending from Sangamon, on
the west TO the Staje line east. over this
extensive district Judge Davis Travelled
twice each year, holding court in different
places.
"Judge Davis, Abraham Lincoln. John
L. Stewart, John j, Hardin, Stephen Z. Lo-
gan, Edward b. Baker, Edward Hanni-
gan, Daniel W. Voorhees,, Kirby Benedict.
Edward Jones, David B. Campbell, and
myself were the company that admins
tered law in that district. Most OF the
attorneys would only go through county
or two, ana then drop out. Lincoln and
accompanied judge Davis throughout
the entire circuit. We would travel on
horseback generally, and would inva-
rlably put up at one hOstelry.
CONTINUALLY thrown in intimate COM
paniOnship with Lincoln and Davis. /
came 10 know boil well. They were an
tpodal natures, bat the closest of friends.
Davis was OF the most positive, decisive
Character, tak1nghls positions firmly and
holding to them tenaeiOusly and dog
gediy. Lincoln was suaVe and more
yielding. Both we're princes of eeniaity
and capital story tellers. Each had
fund of stories taat seemed ineXhaustible
and never lacked appOsiteness, nor lost
anything of excellence in the telling. In
this intimacy, formed in the Eighth cir
cult, may be fOund the foundation of botn
LincOln's and Davis after greatness.
lit is MOI generally known, but true,
that Lincoln owed his nomination in 1860
TO the friends he made among the
circuit attorneys, and particularly to.
Judge Davis. Lincoln had been talked OF
IN the State little, but had not doomed
prominently as the coming man. Davis
had never taken any part in national
politics, but at this time,he took a notion
be wanted tObe delegate at-large. When
ho ~ mo 20 ha
master Of ceremonies, called aids about
him andset them TO work. Dick Oglesby
was sent into the pit to work
up enthusiasm. A committee of
three was sent to each State dele
cation to talk up Lincoln. No one ever
thought of questioning Davis right to
send men hither and thither, nor TO ques-
tiOn his judgment. He wasthe most thor
Ough manager Of men l ever knew. He
was born ruler. He was a teacher Of
teachers, a man among men, q master of
masters. He never faltered, never gave
up, never made any mistakes. The result
OF that convention WAS the nomination of
Lincoln. Two years later, a vacancy
occurring on the Supreme bench, Davis
was appointed. 1t was largely gratitude
on LincOln's part, though q most worthy
appointment.
NJ "The strong points in Davis character,
as exhibited in his whole career, public
and private, were IN any. He had the
keenest foresight. Away back in 1910 he
saw tins state as we now see it. To-day
ne is a very rich man, worth probably
$1,000. 600. 1 don't know; no one does.
he never made dollar in trade; never
made a trade ia which he was not worst
ed. He did not know how to make bar
gain, and seldom ever tried. He knew
good land when he saw it. He made all
his money entering land. His present
magnificent farm Of 600 acres in Mclean
county cest him about So an acre.
II remember once OF case that Illus
tRates him very well. Jesse W. Fell, of
bloomington, was a merchant on the
down grade. Mr. Davis received a nObe
from some Eastern party against Fell,
which he was instructed to collect. Fell
and Davis were friends. On investigation
Davis found there were no resources save
an eIghty-acre piece of ground near Chi
cago. Fell offered to give up the land for
the note. Without a m0ments hesitation
Davis accepted. When the Eastern party
came out he was incensed at losing the
note for a worthless piece of swamp.
Davis agreed TO take the land himself and
pay the amount OF the note in money.
This offer was accepted. Those so acres
lie between the city and the stock yards,
and are Of incalculable value.
''One OF Davis popular points when in
the circuit was his care for orphans and
their estates. He had the responsibility
OF guardians burned into him By expe-
rIence; he inherited a large estate in
MARYLAND, which. by the disagreement of
the court, was lost to him. When he be-
camea Judge he was especially careful
in this matter. He never allowed en- es-
tate belonging to minor heirs TO be sold
never but once. 1t was near DanvilIe.
The guardian petitioned for decree to
sell. and Davis agreed that it should be
done. He would take charge OF the mat
ter himself. He ordered the sale, and con-
Quoted il through a confidential law
partner. When the money was obtained
Davis sent the man off to Cincinnati to
buy land warrants. When the next term
of court came at Danviile the trustee OF
the estate was presented with pocketful
of land warrants as the proceeds Of the
sale. The minor was young girl, and
when she came Of age that land was worth
at least 100000.
"Dayis excelled fas a judge. 1t was
his natural sphere. He was more like
John Marshall than any man the country
has produced. or Marshall il Is related
that he would listen atteutively to an ar
gument, catch at once the point. and say
That's it. That's the law exactly. Now
look UP an authority or two IL was just
80 with Davis. He took the law as
greyhound takes the scent. He never re-
lied on his knowledge OF authorities. and
never allowed his legal lore to smother his
common-sense perception OF equity and
Justice.
stVos Tudea Davia Ia a man Of whom