The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-27

Davis fear that some day the whole country
would have reason to recognize the repressive
spirit of slavery. Judge Davis was in Illinois
during all the period OF her internal improve
ment; first the canals, and then the railroads;
during the Mormon excitement, attended with
the death of Joe Smith; the Mexican war. the
rise of Douglas and Lincoln. the duels; and he
saw the birth Of the Republican party, the d.
vision in the Democracy, the disappointment of
Douglas and the elevation OF Lincoln from pri-
vate citizen to be the great President in the
crisis.
Riding the circuits Of the State to attend
courts as they were held in order. Mr.. Davis be-
came acquainted with Lincoln, and remarked
upon him that Fin all the elements that consti
| suted the great lawyer he had few equals He
was great both at nls prius and before an ap-
pellate tribunal. He seized the strong points or
a case and presented them with clearness and
great compactness. A vein of humor never de-
serted him, and he was always able to hold the
attention of court and jury when the case was
most embarrassing by the appropriateness OF his
anecdotes"
Lincoln loved Davis for his warm, neighbory
nature, simplicity of character, truth and sim
certify. and they went together like pair of
boys, riding in the same buggy from town to
town. lodging in the same room, and at the
funeral ceremonies of Mr. Lincoln in Indianap
oils the Judge said:
II enjoyed for over twenty years his personal
friendship. We were admitted to the bar about
the same time, and travelled for many years the
went on the bench. the circuit embraced four
teen counties and Mr. Lincoln went with the
court to every county, either on horseback or in
a buggy This simple life he loved, preferring
city, where, although the remuneration
wolld be less for mixing with the
great body of the people. who loved him, and
rect, and he did not indulge in extraneous dis
cussion. Generalities and platitudes had no
charms for him. The framework Of his mental
and moral being was honesty, and wrong
cause was poorly defended by him. In order to
bring into full activity his great powers it was
necessary that he should be convinced of the
right and justice of the matter which he advo-
Gated. He hated wrong and oppression every
where He was the most simple and unostenta-
tious man in his habits, having few wants. and
those easily supplied To his honor be it said
that he never took from client, even when the
case was gained, more than he thought the serv-
ice worth and the client could reasonably af-
ford to pay"
OF the most important towns in Illinois. He
married in Massachusetts lady whom he had
known when studying law there, and this con-
necrion probably assisted to strengthen his feel
ings for the Union and fer freedom. Yet he was
never an arrogant Northern man, remembering
the temptations and attachments of Shareholders
as he had seen them, and this was probably one
cause of the good understanding between him
and Lncoln, both having been born In the South
and bred in the West.
Mr.. Lincoln thought so highly of Judge Dayiss
legal requirements that, when the Supreme
Court had to be filed he promptly named Davis
| as one of the four judges given to him to nomi-
nate.
Judge Davis, having abiding faith in the West,
began to invest his patrimony and earnings in
lands about Bloomington, aud, as the country
filled up and improved his property appreciated.
and thus he grew wealthy without ever over
olc ell -,
in any of the devious paths to riches customary
in our times. The influence of everything that
he might do upon his self-respect and good lame
was carefully considered.
Many qualities as interesting and odd as those
of Lincoln were remarked of him. His frequent
absent mindedness and way of talking aloud,
if to assure himself of the propriety of his
victions and judgment his domestic joy. purity
of domestic ife easily-moved heart and yet ro-
bust nature and strength of principle
His gifted cousin died at the close of the war,
and among the mourners was Judge Davis. Not
far from the time of that event his friend Lincoln
also passed away, and the settlement OF his
estate was given to the Judge. He maintained
intimate relations with all Lincclns family, kept
his memory tender, never Wanted his friendly
connection with the deceased and under all cir
cumstances retained his modesty and simplicity
Of heart and behavior.
In 1872 the Judge was strongly urged Lib
eral Republican candidate for the presidency,
and was nominated by the Labor Reform party,
but the Liberal convention, which met later,
nominated Horace Greedy. and the Democratic
out of the field. His friends say that he was
greatly disappointed at the failure Of
the Liberal Republicans and Democrats
to nominate him for the presidency.
On the first ballot he received 92a votes against
ITO for Trumbull, l47 for Greeley. POS for Ad-
ans, and So for Brown. He was, in 1876, urged
for the presidential nomination at ST. Louis by
many Democrats, who wished to clear them
selves of any charge Of Bourbonism, and who
thought it the part Of wisdom to put up a sandi
date who would DO entirely acceptable to the
liberal Republicans. He was not voted for how
ever Judge Davis kept perfectly silent, ex-
pressed no disappointment, and he lost so little
In the public opinion of his neighbors that three
or four years afterward, he was sent to the
Senate without putting out his hand He had
then only to choose whether he would sit on the
bench or take the senatorial seat He did not
hesitate. His increasing flesh adraonished him
that he must pursue a more active life, and it
was congenial to his mind to enter into real
public lfe
In 1877. Judge Davis withdrew from the SUI
preme Court to accept seat in the Senate.
The circumstances of his election were
peculiar. The Assembly was close. The
Republicans could not all be rallied for
Mr.. Logan, and after prolonged struggle,
the Democrats yielded to the Independents,
whose choice was the Senator. Had he remained
upon the bench, it is highly probable that he
would have sat in that extraordinary tribunal.
the Electoral Commission, but that he would
have made Tilden President is an assertion as
gratuitous as that the senatorship was designed
to prevent his service in the commission. The
latter story is q gross absurdity.
On the retirement of Mr. Arthur from the
Presidency of the Senate when called to the
presidential chair, Mr.. Davis was elected as his
successor, and he served as President of the
Senate until the recent expiration of his term of
Office. He was for six years one of the most
conspicuous members of that body. Physically
Judge Davis was the largest man who ever occu-
pied a seat In the Senate. 1t was necessary on
his admission to that body, to have chair mado
Senate as an Independent, and acted az one
while member. Mr.. Malone, of Virginia, was
the other Independent in the Senate and the
balance of power rested with him aud Judge
Davis.
No one knew better than the Judge how to