St. Paul daily globe., 1889-12-07
DAVIS In THE SENATE.
He Gave Every One the impress
sion He Was q Leader.

sion He Was Leader.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-There are not
many persons about the capitol now
who were there when jefferson Davis
was in the senate thirty years ago. E..
V. Murphy, one of the official stenog-
raphers of the senate, was boy, just
beginning shorthand work during the
latter part OF MIR. Davis political career
under the national government. He re-
members r. Davis well and speaks of
him very highly.
'He was,'' said Mr. Murphy, ''a nervous,
energetic speaker. and very impulsive. He
spoke rapidly and forcibly. and as if he was
thoroughly in earnest. This earnestness and
force made him highly effective. He was a
leading man in the senate, and gave every
one VINO saw him the impression that he was
a born leader He was not demagOgue,
and would always take the unpopular side of
any question when he believed he was right.
In his speeche in the senate he was not
nearly so outspoken seceSsionist as his col
league Brown, of Mississippi Brown ap-
with the people OF Mississippi than himself.
and for that reason took very radical tone
in his Southern speeches. But when the
d me for secession came he could not make a
fa reWell 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 fare
well address, with young Southern men
South, and Judah p. Benjamin was its
orator. Those were exciting times, but there
was no such scene as when Benjamin made
his farewell speech. The galleries were
packed. and when Benjamin ended by say
ing, The South will never surrender; never,
never, never handkerchiefs were waved
and thrown into the senate chamber, 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.
sstbe impression that he was reserved and
unapproachatle, but this was not so. His
quick, nervous temperament made him
easily nettled, and when he was disturbed
he would sometimes make. q sharp retort,
but would apologize for it the next moment.
He stood very high in the estimation of sena-
tors on both sides of the chamber. His long
and varied service, and his practice of enter
tanning, gave him wide acquaintance. In
those DAYS most of the senators and mem
lbers lived in hotels and boarding houses.
Money was not so abundant, and many of
them lived in quarters which a govern
ment would not now occupy. Davis. Slide,i
and q few others were the only Southern men
who kept house, and they entertained in
luxurious manner for those days. although
it would not be thought so now. l recollet
particularly how kind Mr.. Davis was to all
the employees about the senate. He knew
them all personally, and would ask after
them aud after their families when they had
any, He had complimented the stenographic
reports of the senate. He was favorite with
ali the employees for another reason, and
that was because he would always endeavor
TO secure extra compensation for them.
Several years ago Mr.. Murphy wrote
to Mr.. Davis in regard to two pictures
which friend had secured at sale of
the collection of picture dealer named
Lamb. The history of the pictures
made it probable that they had belonged
to Mr.. Davis. A letter from him was
received by Mr.. Murphy. in which he
said that the pictures had been stolen