Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-07


could not do IL. Tho galleries were crowd
ed when Mr.. Davis made his farewell adj
dress with young southern men and boys.
Mr.. Davis was the leader Of the South and
Judah 2. Benjamin was its orator. Those
were exciting times, but there was never
such n scene as when Benjamin made his
farewell speech. The galleries were pack
ed. and when Mr.. benjamin ended by say
ing the South will never surrender
never. never. never" bandkerchiefs were
waved and thrown into the Senate cham
Der, and there was an outbreak such as
have never seen in the Senate"
In speaking Of Mr.. Davis's personal
qualities Mr. Murphy said that he was
courteous and kind 10 all. He gave
strangers said Mr.. Murphy, the i'm
preston that he was reserved and unap-
proachable. but this was not So His
quick, nervous temperament made HIM
easily nettled and whom he was disturbed
he would sometimes make n sharp retort,
but would apologize for It tho next mo-
ment. He stood very high IN the estlna-
ton of the senators on both sides OF the
chamber. His long and varied service ana
his practice OF entertaining gave HIM 2
wide acouaintance. In those days most Of
the senators and members lived IN the
hotels and boarding houses. Money was
not SO abundant and many Of them lived IN
quarters which Government clerk would
not now occupy. Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Slldell
and few others were the only southern
men who kept house. and they entertained
in luxurious manner for those days.
although il would not De thought so now
I recOllect particularly how kind Ar.
Davis was 10 all the employees about the
Senate. He knew them all personally. and
would ask after them and after their faIni-
lies when they had any. He compliment
ed the stenocraphic reports OF the senate.
He was fayorite with all the employees tor
another reason, and that was because he
/ would always endeavOr to secure extra CON-
pensation for them"
Several years ago Mr.. Murphy wrote 20
Mr.. Davis in regard to two pictures when
n friend had secured at the sale Of cOllec-
ton Of a picture-dealer named Lamb. Inc
history Of the pictures made II probable
that they had belonged TO Mr. DAVIS,
/ letter from him was received by Sir. Nur-
ply in which he said that the pictures nad
! been stoen from him, and that he had had
too much experience with pillage during
the war 10 buy back his property twice.
Representative SpinOck, of New YORK, IS
ono OF the few persons now IN Congress
/ who was acquainted with Mr.. Davis when
/ he WIS q senator of the United States and
/ a member OF the Cabinet. He says that at
B that time Mr.. Davis was looked upon as
one of the leading men ot the country. lie
,
ton and hrmness and a leader always.
"There was. then. no yindictiyeness. no
/ hostility to the northern peOp.ef" Not
/ AT all. SO far from that being the case, Mr..
4 Davis had served in the army, and IN the
/ War Department, had been a member OF
both branches Of Congress, during all OF
which experience hcassOciated with north
| ern people in such relations that TOT year
/ or two bef0re the war the radical southern
| leaders did not confer with him at all. !
/ know this for | was here and familiar WIN
what was going on"
WHY was he elected to the presidency
of the Confectionery If the leaders felt so
disposed toward him."
"Because they recognized his ability and
integrity Of character, and knew that ne
. could be depended on"
/ Did his trouble during the war with
+ General Johnson grow out of lack OF con
fdence expressed before the rebellion be-
gan
+ but ike many other bright me-. be went
of on "A tangent tried to break up the
h Government. and died virtually an exile.
For conduct preceding and during the war
he is generally condemned IN the North.
but the condemnation could not chace ms
previous record"
Senator Reagan was seen at the tele-
/ graph Office this afternoon lust a. he was
/ sending telegram of coincidence 10 the
family Of Nr. Davis. In answer TO que5-
ton by an Associated Press reporter he
said:
II served with Mr.. Davis in the Cabinet
f of the COnfedcracy from the beginning TO
/ the end rs his pOstinaster-ge ntraL"
what were his charact eristcst'
"lIe was q man of great labor, of great
learning, of great integrity, and or great
/ purity -, .,..o.u,o5,o and 30
nuaintance with the man. WAS the prnci-
pal motive which actuated him IN going
/ INTO the rebcllion;"
"To secure a government that should
be friendly 10 the people. lie was an IN
tense believer in the doctrine that state
should control absolutely her domestic
affairs and that tAt General Government
/ had no power or authority % act OUTSIDE
r Of he matters specially delegated 20 ~,
. but IL is one about which know but httle.
/ This much. however. can say. that before
the differences arose between them Hnd
F. they related % questions Of rank and pre-
/ codcpce merely in the appolntments) they
were the best of friends. Both were con-
eorvative bv nature: both were ardent
Ctates'-riehts men. and their divergence
was not occa4ioned by any variance OF
views rs 10 policy"
/ ~ W nat VIII DC tue tutNi VI A-9 Nt1'A
upon the SOUTH"
There will be general sorrow. for the
, people of the South greatly loved HIM"
"Nill IL affect IN any way the sentiment
I'm favor of accepting the results or the war
Of the rebellion 10 tual;'
; Not nj all. Why. Mr. Davis himself nj
WAYS urged the fullest acceptance IL the
present condition Of affairs"
why. then, did he not ash to have MS
/ disabilities remOvedr"
Because he didnot feel that he had done
ANYTHING which required hIm To- ask any
mans pardon. lie had done his duly as ne
/ had couscientiously seen It, aud he had no
apologies To make therefor"
MIR. Davis was greatly mlsludged m many
WAYS. He was the most Gey0ut Christian
/ ever knew and most selt-sacrlhcing
man. When his plantation was IN danger
of being seized ard his property destroyed
! be was urged by friends 70 send q force or
men 10 protect il. g.,
The President Of the Coufederacy,' he
responded. cannot afford TO use the pub
lie means TO preserve private interests and
| cannot employ men 10 take care OF my
propertg.n And so when his Hill property
/ In Kinds county was threatened aud all ms
books and papers were IN danger OF de-
stluctiOn be again resisted all PERSUASION
of friends 10 have them protected.
Cir. Reagan said he knew nothing about
the intention of the southern members OF
/ Congress. or whether or not any OF them
/ would attend the funeral, as at that time