New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
DAVIS IN THE SENATE.
AS AN OLD ABoLIToNIsT KNEW HIM

AS AN OLD ABOLITIONIST KNEW HIM
Shortly after the news Of the death OF Jeaersot
Davis was flashed over the wires Tribune reporter
called on Mr. oliver Dyer, author OF Great Senators
OF Forty Years Ago. who in the winter Of l34sJ49
was the United States Senate reporter OF The National
Inclligencer,, % Washington, al that time one OF
the most widely circulated and most influential journals
in the country Owing TO his position on that paper
and owing also to the fact that he wa pioneer
in Photographic reporting ian art then attracting
interest as factor in revoluOnizing journalism, Mr.
Over had exceptionally favorable opportunities for
scrtinzlng and Analysing the characters oil the Tans
of the Senate Among the most prominent and ables,
prOslavery champions in the Senate In those years
was Colonel Jefferson Davis, Senator from Mississippi,
of whose qualities Mr.. Dyer made careful and dis
eliminating study, a study peculiarly valuable, as
uas made by an intensely determined and enthusiastic
Aboiionist.
Have YOU distinct recOectOns of Jen Davis
vou saw him in 1s45'49l7 was the first question
which Mr. Dyer was desired TO answer.
Yes was the response. - remember him distinctly
IN every respect, and can see him with perfect
clcarness before me now, and hear him speak lie
was a man 10 make distinct and lasting impressions
on every man that met him. lie hal handsome and
penetrating eyes, pleasant, carion-Iike voice. He
was gamy and chvalric in bearing His personal
hearing was more like that OF Henry Clay than that
of any other man of my recollection
senator Davis then forty years of age and
was a physically handsome man, with figure OF
nerfeot symmetry, well up TO the medium Size lie
was in excellent health, but lame from wound
ecei,ed in the battle of Beuna Vista. in the Mexican
war. fought in February, 1s47. His courage and
Gallant conduct at that engagement had male him
popular hero of the day
Il was a hot Abolitionist so long as slavery en-
ised and have been stanch Republican since the
birth OF the Republican party, and consequently IL
ak
NJ Mr. Davis As TO that, must say that speaA
~ him As found him-and always found him genisi,
coureolls and considerable ! used to nouee mat
seemed TO give him keen pleasure to 90 an ac" Vi
kindness for any Frequently there "eio I'm
nortant bills before the Senate containing innuhers'
Mexican Aztec and spanish Names which inc "'
tinguished gentleman on the floor would Jugsle III
oronouncing in such a distressing way as 10 coi"S
the reporters In such emergencies uSeu 10 appp
10 Mr. Davis for COPIES of the documents containing
the foreign names, which copies he wouid aiNsss
procure without regard TO the trouble II o''"'''
him TO do So such acts he ga WIN hae"o''
courtesy that went straight to my heart' puHS
the Civi War, when almost any Unionl't "ouH' na''
been pleased to have had him shot as an enemy anu
trator IN the republic. often recalled his PERSONA
traits and the remembrance tempered my cohdehh+
tion of his political course. 1t Is evneh. VIA Us
natural mOra-nOt mentaI-characteris,lo h ,r,
been thus attract me despite my i"o"' "''' '''
'ct DO you remember his manner Of speaking in tho
Yes distinctly. frequently reported ssnI Ii%
Daviss speeches. The reporters a ISS 10 good and
meaty' his pleasing and his une aoSees
deliberate and distinct lie had LEA md IN
thought 1t easy to report him with accuracy
q an YOU compare him with any orator Of the dv
cannot calf to mind any speaker Of the present.
day with whom | can compare him. Know OF "a
who has the CO. the @ tSe eSS Ssbrsd
courtesy that senator Davis always exhpited i'll uo
bate" ~, .o,,r ,couaintancs
who has to considerable degree any Seb ot "s
more of Mr. Davis than does any other speaker l ga"
can to mind although point there n IS game
ness Of style about ingalls, which reminds me Oh 'ie
same quality in Mr. Davis, ,.,h hred courte.v does
Mr.. Davis remind you of Chauncey NJ: Depe~ NJ,
Now you are touching on a olS lues' and high
Depew Is as genial, elegant aud courteous anu ns
breG as Mr. Davis wa, but have never seen nm
exhibit such fire and y 6aS PebaPs II Mr. Dpev
rbond get into the same cXasrerating swirl O ueos'
in which the senator from Mss.Sspm S s%G 2 ersa
voved he would show much energy anu Wo'
Twas Jefferson Davis a logical speaAer1 ~. ALWAYS
.aa sG G. Id S y1 ner SsSa plano a There
takng what he meant. He did not rank Win WIN, n
houn, Clay and Webster a. Ieasohe s Ds next
below those three preemnen orsIOl'' tho, no took
wish add resumed Mr. Dyer t MAJ o. Su wos
criticism from his colleagues with perfect sood humc,
/ remember on one occasion, when ne was NUN MI .%s
clse that he wound up glowing sentence WIN ~" ia
| Lnme of thc naval officer. when IN active ~tNNo.
uhcrcyer tho sun goes down over his head sehauSy
" p Mangm. OF North Carolina ma'lerut 49, stO oc
Goes down over his head "a question WIZ Sans,
casioned much amusement I'm the stAsN s ,h"s
Chamber Davis Joined IN me gseIa oms ~ the naval
revised his glowing sentence; me home u "a ~ when
o,,icer when in active service is wherever ne i ""''
the sun g9es fayortte with his fellow senators
4 favorite with the majority durh- eie nm one
was there lie was never discq9LIsouiH " all rs
Dun hn7 howej considerable curiosity ara n,eres'
regarding what then me new y t,e ,ec,trss In
1Tssnbic writing about which had gwen 'e Css
Hdpnno o - some Of tho most eminent Congrssss
men lie requested me one morning. 10 when a.
~ stem in Of the com mn nSo'ophS ard showing
G0rIi E "m of the President and several on ms
etn no tbev appeared in phonographic chaiac.hs
senators, a. LA 20 sre hi, own In the characters OF G
vs,cm and was greatly amused whth Nss I'D
sHSori Sirnhanty displayed. Furthermore aOss
him Tho Characters I'm my n0te-leaNes tepI5 besors
sarnS from a speech OF his delivered shoI'S eo,tons
wish 10 add word concernli'g MT NY Of Colonel
! 10 rho enthusiasm with which mo reports VI 80 rr
n,viS,s mart in the battle Of Buens vista %s' WAS
ccivcd throughout the country N,r inr Sv oCny e.
preSS and was conveyed through the c9un. .r ssvs
same slow means, except whore haVlssoiv NE news
an rorers and the bearers OF dispatches h.r
through the country. they told the news , S' IN tff
I ro,,S Civ after city. village after village ss% Il
after hamlet was illuminated Every ip% anSns hee
H ee was glowing account Of the ssst
OF Colonel Jefferson Davis OF IN, hsdiy wounded
! MiSSeslpDt Volunteers. WHO -. ~. borSe
fnSed IN omit tho field but grimy sat on NJ nosion
| tbn head of his regiment, and heh a wie,ory was
against vastly superior iorce' u''''
| assured. $50. graduate OF Nes'
Point Poi S9G amY was an accOmplssssa oS G%'I
Ills REGIMENT 3t Tss .o y prS SS p.s
hered ino to Il hey We're driven from seT vrrsssrd
american Ire e Sn Of sS SS entire s %
to mP ,n nnvincibe resolution When s Re ns must
S S@' a So r If I Ss @
retire he ss ,f'I IN his saddle and held on Ssss Of
growing desperate liz ord,red a brigade OF cav 'rs
MIsssrSdtRSs sm seeing NV what va; CCpsDs
f TO SSa +. es%snf VIM f tn he shape s t sr
toward the eneSs Inscriptions of IN, battle pscsn oSs
cordng time the Mexlcsns came sallanv r,,b hr raes