The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-12
PHASES OF MR.. DAVIS CHARACTER
The Hold He Had Upon Those Who
We're Dear to Him.


F. q. Carpenter, IL, the Ne0 York World.
WASHINGTON, Dec. S.-The death of
Jefferson Davis is the chief subject of gossip
among the statesmen at Washington. His
record as President of the confederacv is
being discussed, and in addition to that
there are many quiet estimates of jefferson
Davis, the man. 1t is wonderful what a
hold he has kept on the south, and the lead
ing southern senators speak of him with
praise and admiration. Senator George of
Mississippi said to me the other night that
be thought Davis would have far different
character in history than that now &C
corded him, and this is the opinion of SEN
auor Reagan of Texas. Senator George
says that he was a private in Col Davis
company during the Mexican war, aud he
describes Davis as one ofsthe finest looking
and as one of the ablest officers ne had ever
known. Senator Reagan speaks in high
terms OF his character as great military
officer, and he once told me that had he had
the choosing of the president of the confed-
eracy he would have voted against him, as
he thought that Davis was especially fitted
for the head of the army. Senator Cockrell
speaks in the highest terms of jefferson
Davis as scholar and general, and hear
on every side remarks as to his wide read
ing and classical scholarship. After his
graduation at West Point he entered the
army, but afterward resigned and settled
near Vicksburg, Miss. Here he spent ten
years in study and reading before he
entered upon his political career, and Sem
ator Reagan tells me he was an excellent
French and German scholar
Throughout his private letters to his
friends there are many expressions which
Oh. hat
as his years went on. just before the war
he wrote to friend, describing the condi-
ton of the north, and advising his friend,
by all means, not TO send his boys to school
at a northern college. He concluded the
letter as follows:
Keep John and Andrew at home-there
is no need they should go above Baltimore
for their schooling"
And then after few words continued:
my mind often goes back to the old
days, when we were laughing and hurrah-
ing our lives away-boys, for the little
time wholly happy. I never see a young
barefoot that my heart does not warm to
him; and while the old-fashioned boy sur
wives l must still have hope abundant.
And old Aunt Rachel-God grant her peace
lis yet alive and with you? Do you re-
member how she used to scrimp herself at
dinner to exc out some favorite
she's gone. An honest woman
is in heaven. Once l was sure sho was
going to be your wife and then / was GER
tain she was bound to be mine. Ali love
Of our callow daysi 1t was only last
month she was buried. Cousin Sally to the
end. Her life was not all joy She trod
down good many thorns, l hear Her
poor husband, as l told you long ago, is in a
poorhouse, mad. He quit his pulpit penni-
less more than year ago. = But
do you know I've often regretted that did
not take the cloth for life? That life of a
country parson, a life of ease, but still of
earnestness, | reckon would suit me better
than any other fortune in all the world.n
About ten years ago jefferson DAVIS had
an interview with a correspondent of the
Boston Herald in which he said: ''You
may assure your people that have no I'M
kindness in my heart for them or any of the
people Of the north. ! am not the devil
they have painted me. | have neither horns
nor hoof, and if they knew me they would
find that | am very much like one of them
selves. This common humanity of Jefferson
Davis is seen in his letters written at the
Time OF the downfall of the confederacv.
Two OF those which he wrote at that time
70 ms wife have become matters of history.
In one sent when he was at Danville. and
dated April 5, 1865 he closes as follows:
hiss my dear children. / weary of this
~ recital and have nothing pleasant to
yen. May God have you in his holy keep