Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-06
NO FLAG AT HALF MAST.
Jefferson Davis Regarded as Onicially
Dead Since 1861.

NO FLAG AT HALF MAST.
Jefferson Davis Regarded as Onicially
Dead Since 1851.
THE PORTRAIT OF THE DEAD sourHERNER
HANGS UNDRAPEp-THE DILEMMA THAT con-
FRoNTEp THE WAR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
cENcEs OF DAvrs-HE WAS PLEASANT TO ALL,
IN OFFICE AND OUT.
The American flag was run up to the
top of the War department flagstaff
this morning at Q o'clock and remained
there all day. Inside Of the building.
In the Office of the chief clerk. hung the
undraped portrait Of Jefferson Davis, Secretary
OF War, from 1858 TO 1857, under Presi-
dent Pierce. In every mouth was
some reference to the announcement
that came flashing along the wires last night
from New Orleans that Jefferson Davis, the ex-
president of the late southern confederacy,
was dead. In the archives of the War Depart
ment molder orders directing the draping of
the building and the lowering of the flag on
the occasion of the death Of ex-Secretaries of
War.
In the face of all these facts the War depart
ment awoke this morning face to face with a
lished custom and on the other the law. OFF,
cially speaking, the department did not-does
not-know that Jefferson Davis had died; and
yet, officially speaking, the depart
ment held that he died in 1861.
As matter Of fact the question Of recogniz-
ing the services Of Secretary Davis during the
SOS at his death has at various times been q
subject of discussion informally for some time
past among the officials of the department., the
almost universal opinion being that his con-
dition as an ''unreconstructed rebel
lionist' who had refused to avail himself
of an opportunity to remove his
own political disabilities precluded the posi-
bility of taking any step. There were few
who held that the Office and not the man should
be honored, but the others continued to point
to the fact that Jefferson Davis did not exist as
far as the United States government was con-
cerned, and this line of opinion prevailed this
morning.
SECRETARY PRocToR's VIEW.
Secretary Proctor had evidently made up his
mind to do nothing in the case before he came
to the Office and to STAR reporter he said: Il
do not see that there is anything before US in
the matter. We know nothing we; know no
such man. 1t is better to forget such things;
to let them pass away from our minds"
There is no precedent for the case whatever,
although the nearest to such was the action Of
Secretary McCreary, February II, 1878. in or
dering the closing of the department, the
lowering OF the flag and the draping of the build
ing on the day of the funeral of ex-Secretary
Charles NJ. Conrad of Louisiana, who was
Davis immediate predecessor in office. Conrad
was prominent rebel during the war. but his
disabilities had been removed. This order was
h1x., n, -,
there was a misunderstanding, SO that nothing
whatever was done.
In the present case, however, there is not an
exact analogy, since Davis was never recon
structed. 1t was that fact, rather than his
position in the confederacy that caused his
official oblivion at the department.
Several army officers in talking about the
case approved the Secretary's determination to
ignore the matter, and said there was really no
other course to take in view of the fact that
the citizenship Of Jefferson Davis has never
been restored.
REMEMBERS HIM AS SECRETARY.
The only man now living5who served under
Secretary Davis immediate administration-in
the Secretary's office-is Mai. William B. Lee,
who was one of the seven clerks then forming
the force in that division. He is still employed
in the same Office now. He remembers Mr..
Davis very well. He said this morning:
"He was one of the best Secretaries of War
who ever served. He kind, social man,
very considerable and pleasant to serve under.
l never heard a complaint from one of the
clerks. Socially he was most charming man,
officially very pleasant. He was a warm friend
and a bitter enemy. knew him many years
and as a man found him good friend. He
was regular bull dog when he formed an
opinion, for he would never let go. About the
only very important event of his administra-
ton was his quarrel with Gen. Scott, which was
very bitter and caused a great deal of hard
feeling"
An officer of the army remarked today that
Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis once
served together under Maj. Zachary Taylor in
the Black Hawk war. Lincoln at that time was
a member of the Illinois state guard and Davis
was an officer in the regular army.
sTENoGRAPHER MURPHY's RECoLLEcTIoNs OF
SENATOR" DAVIS.
There are not many persons about the Capitol
now who were contemporaries of Jefferson
Davis when he was in the Senate thirty years
ago. Mr.. E. V. Murphy, one of the official
stenographers Of the Senate, was a boy just be-
ginning shorthand work during the latter part
OF MIR. Davis political career under
the national government. He remem-
bers Mr.. Davis well and speaks of
him very highly 'He was," said Mr..
very impressive. He spoke rapidly and forcibly
and as if he was thoroughly in earnest This
earnestness and force made him highly effect
i've. He was leading man in the Senate and
gave every one who saw him the impression
that he was q born leader. He was not a
demagogue and would always take the unpop-
ular side of any question when he believed he
was right. In his speeches in the Senate he was
not nearly outspoken secessionist as
his colleague, Brown of Mississippi. Brown APP
peared to fear that Davis would stand better
with the people of Mississippi than himself,
and for that reason took a very radical tone in
his southern speeches. But when the time for
secession came he could not make a farewell
address. Brown burst into tears in the
Office of the secretary of the Senate
and said he could not do it. The galleries
were crowded when Davis made his farewell
address with young southern men and boys.
Davis was the leader of the south and Judah z.
Benjamin was its orator. Those were exciting
times, but there was never such a scene as
when Benjamin made his farewell speech.
The galleries were packed, and when Benjamin
ended by saying: 1.-THE south will never sur
render! never neverl neveri Handkerchiefs
were waved and thrown into the Senate cham
Der and there was an outbreak such as have
never seen in the Senate"
Speaking of Mr.. Davis personal qualities Mr..
Murphy said that he was courteous and kind to
all. He gave strangers said Mr.. Murphy,
1.-The impression that he was reserved
and unapproachable, but this was
- IL