Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-26

effort to tx odium on Presiuent DAVIS con.
stifuted lone of the boldest and baldest
ATTEMPTED outrsges upon the truth OF his
tory which has ever been essaye1
Charles A. Dana, Of the New rork Sun.
formerly Assistant Secretary 81 war, nopiy
yindicafed President Davis WINE ne lived,
declared him "altogetner acSIu an OF
the charge, and SAID % MI" u'a a "a-
When General Lee congratulated his
army on the victories OF Richmond, he said
TO them: Your humanity TO the wounded
end The nr;soners was the 1T and crown
nc olorv az vour yalor." And could that
a., nr,nS now march by. they would lift those
lanrels from their bayonets and throw
them upon the grave OF the Confederate
President.
HE RESENTED WRONG, But bohh HHiIh1h hA-
TIRED NOR MALICE. ~
Resentment wreaked itself upon him IRE
these truths were fully known and whNe
indeed passion turned deaf ear to them.
And If he struck back what just man can
blame him? With q reward for 500 900
offered for him as an assassin, charged With
maltreatine prisoners, indicted for treason
and imprisoned for two years and denied
trial: handcuffed like common ruihan ;
put in solitary confinement, silent senti-
mel aud blazing light at watch on his
every motion, where IS there creature
who can call himself man who could con-
demn-aye. who does not syrnpathize with
the eoaded innocence and the righteous in
dionation with which he spurned the &C
c,isations and denounced the accusers?
But whatever he suffered the grandeur
of his soul lifted him above the feelings OF
hatred and malice.
When Grant law stricken on Mt. McGregor
he was reas1ested to write criticism OF his
military career. He declined for two rea-
sons: " First, General Grant is dying. Sc
cond, though he invaded our country with
ruthless, il was with an open nand, and,
as far as | know, he abetted neither arson
nor piIlage, and has since the war, 1 pc
lieye. shown no malignity to the .Confede-
rates either of the military or civil service ;
therefore, instead of seeking to disturb the
quiet of his closing hours, would, If it
were in my power, contribute to the peace
of his mind and the comfort of his body"
This was no newborn feeling. At Fortress
Monroe when suffering the fortunes OF
bodily pain in an unwholesome prison, and
the worse tortures of O humiliating and
cruel confinement which make man blush
for his kind to recall them. he yet III the
solitude of his cell. shared only by his
faithful pastor, took the Holy Com,
munion which commentaries the blood
and the broken body of Christ Jesus, and
bowling to God, declared his heart at peace
with Him and man.
AZ free from envy az he was from malice,
he was foremost in recognizing, applaud
ing. and eulogizing the great character and
achievements of General X. II. Lee. and
with his almost dying hand he, wove
chaplet of evergreen beauty to lay upon
his lonored brow.
RIGID ADHERENCE TO PRINCIPLE.
Sternly did he stand tor principle. lie
was no courtier, no flatterer, no word ma
gician, no tIme-server, no demagogue
unless that word shake from 1t the con-
Examinations of its abuse and return to Its
pristine meaning-a leader Of the people.
Like King David's was his command,
There shall no deceitful man dwell in
my house." A pure and lofty spirit
breathed through his every utterance,
which, like the Parian stone. revealed IN
its polish the fineness of the grain. can
recall no public man who In the midst OF
such shifting and perplexing scenes OF
strife maintained so firmly the consistency
of his principles. and who, despite the
shower of darts that hurtled around his
head, triumphed so completely over every
dishonoring imputation. 1t was because
those who knew his faith knew always
where to find him, and wherever found he
proclaimed that faith as the standard
bearer unfurls his colors.
He was always ready to follow his prln-
ciples to their logical conclusion, to be-
come at any sacrifice their champion to
face defeat in their defence, and to die, II
need be, rather than disguise or recant
them.
Advocating the Mexican war while q
member Of the House Of Representatives.
from Mississippi, he resigned bis seat there
to take commanded a Mississippi regiment
and share the hardships and dangers OF the
field.
When later his party in Mississippi SEEM
ed TO be losing ground. and General Quit
man, its candidate for Governor, retired, a
popular election giving forecaste of 1900
majority against him, Jefferson DAVIS re-
signed his seat in the United States Senate
to accept its leadership and become its noml-
nee. and with such effect did no rally Its
ranks that he came within 1000 votes OF
election.
When he turned homeward from Mexi-
co the laurelled hero of Buena Vista,
he was everywhere hailed With acclama-
ton, and q commission as brigadier-gene-
raj of volunteers in the United States army
was rendered him by President Polk. We
may well conceive with what PRIDE the
young soldier, not yet forty years OF age,
would welcome go rare an honor in the
cherished profession which had kindled his
Youthful ardor, and in which he had be-
come now so signally distinguished.
But he had taught tho doctrine that the
State and not the Federal Government was
the true constitutional fountain OF such an
honor, and from another hand he would
not bend his knightly brow TO receive 1t.
And yet later on when summoned from the
privacy of home TO place in the Cabinet
of President Pierce he declined because
he believed it to be his duty to remain N
Mississippi and wrestle for the cause
with which he was identified. Thus did he
abandon or decline the highest dignities OF
civil and military life always putting prin.
ciple in the lead, and himself anywhere
that would best support 1t.
REPRESENTATIVE MIN INTERPRET THE GENIUS
OF PEOPLES.
Personal virtues and public services are
so different in essence and effect that IA
tions often glorify those whose private
characters are detestable, and condemn
Others who possess the most admirable
traits. The notorious vices of Mari
borough stood not in the way of the titles
honors, and estates which England heaped
on the hero of Bienhelm, and the noble
ness of Robert Emmett did not shield the
champion of Irish independence from the
scaffold.
But the men of history cannot be thus
dismissed from the bar of public judg
ment with verdicts wrung from the pas
sion of an hour. There is court OF APP
peals in the calmer life, and the clearer IN
teligence of nations, and whenever the in
herent rights or the moral ideas underlyins
the movements of society are brought il
question the personal qualities, TIE honor
the comprehension, the constancy OF it:
leading spirits must contribute largely tC
the final judgment. In this forum per
sonal and public character are blended, fol
in great conjunctures it is largely through
their representative men that we must in
terpret the genius of peoples.
TRUE REPRESENTATIVES, MAN OF THE SOUTH
II was fortunate for the South, fol
America. and for humanity that at th'
head of the South in war was o true type o.
its honor. character, and history--a mar
whose clear rectitude preserved every
complication from impeachment of bat
faith; apatriot whose love OF law anC
liberty were paramount to all expe
diencies: commander whose mode
ration and firmness could restrain, anC
whose lofty passion and courag,
could inspire; a publicist whose intel
lectual powers and attainments made hin
the peer of any statesman who ha
champloned the rights of Commonwealth
in debate, or stood at the helm when tn,