Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-06
jefferson Davis.


Tor, ex-Secretary Of War, and ex-Presi-
dent Of the Confederate States-has passed
away, and death holds within his conquer
ing arms another hero.
President DAVIS has been a conspicuous
figure in American history. His education
NJ West Point gave him an inclination 10
military pursuits and scientific studies.
As soldier in the Mexican war he acquit-
ted himself not simply by daring courage,
common trait of American soldiers,
but by unusual military talent III dis
covering the weak points IN the
position of the enemy and doing
promptly and effectively what was re-
Quired 10 give success to ms plans
As Secretary Of War under that pure pa
triot and wise statesman, FRANKLIN PIERCE,
be administered the department not SIM
ply in thcroutine style. but 10y sagacious re-
forms and far.secins schemes of improve
mont lie sent McCLuLAN and others to
Europe 10 study the whole science Of
tactics. Notifications. and warfare, and the
marvellous achievements of later days
were due in part to the information thus
acquired and tho high, ambitious spirit
awakened among the officers Of the army.
OF Mr.. DAyIs's influence upon the cam
paigns IN the late war between the States
we must not now write, because some of
the prominent actors are living and the
controversies have hecn too warm and re-
cent to allow unpreiudiccd judgments.
Mr.. DAu5s acquaintance with and fond
ness for scientific knowledge made him an
exceptionally valuable member of the
United States Senate when questions arose
requiring such knowledge The old co,--
orcss,,,.al Gioie viii show how often and
how proGtallv hc took part In discussions
in which fewcould participate and how be
wis able thereby, with a few colleagues, 10
direct and mould legislation which, perse-
vercd IN. has given our country q most
honorable rank among the few nations
which have advanced discoveries IN science.
Mr. DAvls's fame viii rest on his c0nncc-
tion with the Confederate Government. of
which he was the sole President during its
bloody and eventful existence. That was
not prominently "a time f0rstatesmanshp
Raising armies and finding the means for
their support were the urgent and haras'-
ing questions Obtaining foreign recogni-
ton of the Confedcracy for which men Of
great experience and ability were sent to
Europe, depended not on diplomatic skill
but on the success Of soldiers. Finding
support for soldiers in the field became in
orcasncly difficult ~ territory for agricul-
tuIal produce and meat was contracted and
the field for the circulation of Treasury
notes became more and more limited. A
statesman combining all the cxccllences
Of Pm, CAvoUR, BISMARCK, and GLADSTONE
would have had no scope for the dis
play of his powers nor any success in
maturing or communicating policy
which had perfect human wisdom to back
il. The struggle was one between III
creasine millions of soldiers and growing
wealth on one side and decreasing thou
sands and growing bankruptcy on the
other. without disparaging OF dcpre-
ciating northern valor and legislative Wis
dom. every intelligent and candid person
knows and will admit that the South went
down before the irresistible force of avOir-
dupois. II would be cruclest injustice to
hold Mr.. DAVIS responsible for or to mar
his reputation in consequence of the sub
jugation of the Confoderacy.
Secession having occurred. for the wis
dom (which men may well be called TO &C
count, and war following, we are to pass
Judgment on the Confederacy and its
chief by what occurred pe7ldnte lie, and
not upon what was antecedent.
Mr.. DAVIS possessed keen, discrimi-
mating intellect, rare powers of debate, in
flexible courage, large information. unu-
sual colloquial power, and unimpeachable
integrity. At times he was reticent. re-
served, withdrew into his own inner con-
SERIOUSNESS, was sometimes suspicious, and
was not remarkable for his knowledge of
men or of the springs Of human action. He
was'a profound student of American his
tory. of the formation of our government,
and of the Constitution which the States
each for itself ordained, and which is the
only standard by which the rights and
obligations Of all the States in the Union are
20 be measured. A disciple of JEFFERSON
and CALHOUN, he became the exponent
of their theories, and his book contains.
nfter MIR. CALHOUN's works, the most mas
terly exposition which the States rights
theory, as opposed TO Capitalization and
consolidation. has ever received. The fact
is wickedly ignored and withheld that Sc
cession was no new dogma originating
in 1861, but that il and the sovereignty Of
the States on which il was based were
maintained and promulged boldly, clearly.
and increasingly from the very origin OF
our Federal Government. Modern writers
and DISCLAIMERS seem 10 think that seces-
sion was an unheard-of experiment. de-
vised and put in execution after and in re-
sistance to the election Of SIR. LINCOLN. In
truth and in fact, the real ISSUES involved
in the war between the States had been
issues 0b b,iio, and war, perhaps, was the
only arbitrament that could have settled
them irreyersibly.
Mr.. DAVIS has been bounded from 1861
until the present hour as if he were the
head and front of secession-ofending, and
he has vicariously suffered injustice. mis-
representation. SANDER. and calumny. He
was no more guilty than hundreds of
others. no more influential in precipitating
the efforts at separation. Now that the
grave covers him and pens dipped in vitriol
cannot affect him we may hope that the
ISLANDERS will cease.
The future historian may do him and the
"LoSt Cause" severe historical justice.
That is oil that can be asked or hoped
for. Secession is dead-slavery is dead.
The Union is indissoluble. Let the States
be indestructible.
Whatever MIR. DAusS faults and mis-.
takes may have been as President Of the
Confederacy. the fact remains that when
The funeral-bell of history tolls his requiem
its vibrations viii go sounding down the
corridors OF all time as a eulogium 10 a great
Americs1. Let these vibrations carry in
them hymn OF charity from the people
Of this republic that will serve 70 make
the South forget the eankeying iron 4"
hate put upon the old patriot, and which
CALLED into the soul Of the southern people
--------~.s----------g--
A NEW KIND or NOMINATING Caucus. In