The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-07
sOUTHERN CONGREssMEN
Talk of the virtues of the Dead
statesman and Patriot.

WASHINGTON, D. c., December 6.-Few
of the Southern representatives about
the capital to-day could be induced to
talk about Mr.. Davis career, fearing in
many instances, that their remarks would
be misconstrued. Representative Mills,
of Texas, however, spoke his mind freely
to the following effect:
"Mr. Davis was regarded by the South
ern people as one of the greatest, best
and purest men in the world. We all
loved him. He was our representative
man, and all of the Southern people un-
derstood that the opposition he encoun-
tered and the adverse criticisms piled
upon him were intended for them. His
position was misunderstood in the North.
Mr.. Davis was union man at the be-
ginning, and he adopted the course he
did with great reluctance, but from
feeling of duty. He was deeply attached
to the union and wanted to exhaust
every means on earth to prevent a rup-
ture. He was not vindictive or cruel
man. He had perfect confidence in him
self, was well balanced on all occasions,
and was great military man and states
man. He was highly accomplished and
spoke the best of English. His memory
was marvellously clear. Henever forgot
anybody. My predecessor, Mr.. Gedding,
told me that one day Mr.. Davis was ad-
dressing crowd, when a snowy-haired
old man on the outskirts expressed de-
sire to greet the speaker whom he had
known and served under in the Mexican
war. Mr.. Geddings offered to introduce
him, but the old man declined, and going
up to Mr.. Davis offered him his hand,
and asked if he recognized him. Mr..
Davis fixed his eyes upon him for a mo-
ment, his mouth twitched, tears sprang
into his eyes, and he exclaimed, Ward,
snow has fallen on your head since last
saw you and that, said Mills, was
about forty years before the meeting"
Representative Clements, of Georgia,
said:
"a good man is gone. He was permit
ted to live to see largely modified the
harsh criticism engendcred by the late
strife, and events in which he took such
a prominent part, and the ultimate YER
dict of the world will be that he was
both statesman and patriot In time
to come the North will accord in that
judgment as well as the South and the
rest of the world. do not believe that
any man was ever animated by more
pure and patriotic motives than he was.
People of my section have the greatest
reverence for him."
Representative Turner, of Georgia,
said: Davis death will leave no person
embttered against him, and his decease
will be matter of universal regret
throughout the South He was a man
of great ability, and of unsurpassed pub
lie accomplishment"
Ey-At torney General Garland said:
Yes, hnew Davis quite well. as l was
near him almost daily, from Montgom-
cry, Ala, to Richmond during the whole
time OF the war between the States. and
| regarded him as man of fine attain
ments, polished and accomplished, brave
and courageous and true to his princi-
pies, and believe the Contederacy came
as near succeeding under his presidency
as it would have done under that OF
any other man. As to the place history
will give him, that is a most difficult
question to answer at any time, and as
to any man, but believe when his whole
life and character are considered and an
alyzed in an unclouded atmosphere, by
cool dispassionate people, he will hold
very high place in history"
Justice Lamar said that it was with
great reluctance that he could speak of
Mr.. Davis at this time. so soon after his
death, which he the Justicel felt deeply
He expressed willingness to answer
briefly any questions which might be
asked, and in reply to these said: THE
whole people of Mississippi are in grief
They regard him as a much beloved
countryman, who has suffered much for
their sake. My own personal relations
with him were not only kind, but affec-
tionate. AS a public man, my estimate
of him was of the most exalted charac-
ter. He was a man Of intellect. honor
and craftsmanship. He was the friend
and sympathizer of young men whom he
was always ready to aid. When came
to congress in 1857, young man, Davis
was then senator. He received me with
kindness, and throughout my life have
been indebted to him for kindness, coun-
sci and aid"