The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-04-19
L FINISHED ETLOGY.

The TINES is in receipt of pamph- |
let copy of the address of Judge Camp
bell upon the character and life of the |
late jefferson Davis, delivered at the
request of the Mississippi Legislature.
The paper is so apt in expression, its
scope and outlines so felicitous, that it
is deserving of all publicity. Regret
ting that our space does not admit of
its reproduction in full, the following
extracts are given:
Probably, no man was, ever more
misrepresented or misunderstood.
He did not desire or seek topromote
dIsunion. lie was animated by the
common sentiment of the Southern
people. He loved the Union he had
been taught to revere in which he
had grown to honor and distinction,
and for which he had periled his life
and shed his blood
He had more to lose by disunion
than any Southern man. He was, un-
doubtedly, the foremost man in the
South, among our public men. He
was United States Senator, and had
been Secretary Of War, and with a
brilliant reputation as civilian and
soldier, had fair prospects for the Pres
idency of the United States. He was
slow to accept secession.
The oft repeated charge that he de-
sired disruption of the Union that
he might be chief of a Southern Con-
federacy, is utterly untrue. 1t is well
known by those possessed Of his views,
that he did not wish to be President
of the Confederate States.
The imputation that he did not have
a just conception Of the contest. or
that he thought a small number of
troops or short time sufficient to end
the struggle by arms. is groundless
calumny, born of total ignorance or
reckless hate or mendacity. He, more
than any of our public men, anticipa-
ted long and serious struggle. His
knowledge of the people of the North
convinced him that the South would
not be allowed to depart in peace, and
his knowledge of war, and the prepa-
ration and resources Of the North, and
the comparative want of both IN the
South, impressed him with the seri-
business of the step taken by the seced-
ing States. Time and again have !
heard him, in this hall, warn his hear
ers that the time might come, whom q
sense of danger would impel the South
ern States to assume control of their
own affairs in a separate government
and that wisdom dictated timely prep
aration for the possible conflict. His
view was that secession meant war
and that the States of the South should
. prepare tor the possible contingency
both because such preparation would
go far to avert the necessity, by deter
ring from that course which woult
produce disruption; and, If the States
should be driven at last, to secession
they would be ready to maintain theil
I attitude. After the formation of th'
|. Confederacy it was the declared opin
ion of President DAVIS, in the earl!
part of the spring of 1861, that th'
D war would be serious, and that Vir
!. ginia would be the chief seat of tn
: war. | heard him make this declara
ton in Montgomery, In May, 1861, AM
= a distinguished friend Of mine, nov
living, was present and heard 1t.
His career was illustrious, and cha
d lenges admiration. He was a grea
II man. He was the grandest man eve
n knew, and hope | will be pardone
a for saying that / have had opportun
% ties for measuring him by some of th
II greatest Of earth. Tried often, and o
D great occasions, he always prove
Is equal to the demand upon him, an
o thus sustained the real test of grea
1t ness.
% He was not a saint; he was huma
ts and doubtless erred. He may ha,
ID had faults. The sun has spots, b
DR. they are invisible, obscured by
or effulgent rays. So, his faults, whs
a. ever they may have been, were eclipse
d, by his splendid virtues. Through
10 long aud busy life, tried on many the
d. tres, and ever exposed to the cleare
~ public gaze, he bore himself magni
to Gently, illustrating many of the highe
cd virtues that adorn human charactt
In His courage was sublime.
q. speak not merely of the sort
courage that enables one to bear hiI
self well on the battlefield. Most M
have that. But have reference to th
high moral courage based on trui
aud faith in the right; that moral VI
tue, which sustains Its possessor und
*, all circumstances and prompts and e
h ables him to follow his conviction
ut duty in the face Of q frowning wor
rn If need be.
,e- He had lofty contempt of eveI
mt thing low and mean. His metho
'ly were all direct, open and manly.
III was incapable of trucking; he did n
know how to act the small politici,
Dr. He had faith in the triumph of rig
ad He was governed by principle in
he actions, and depended on his hi
er- character and public appreciation Of
No for his success. His public and priv
it, life was pure his conduct always |
Ith right. He was always truthful, ht
he orable, brave, faithful, and consist,
in maintenance of the right as
de viewed it.
en- A distinguishing feature of his ch
er. acter, and the most prominent o
tn, was his devotion to duty. Duty v
his inspiration and guide. Where
ex- pointed, he followed, whatever
Al, sacrifice, or the peril lie left
7er' pleasant seat in Congress to lead N
sissippians on fields of carnage, il
). foreign land, in obedience to its beh,
When severely wounded in battle,
remained in command all day.
resigned full term of six years in
Senate Of the United States, to be
has candidate of his party for an office
ro- did not desire, and In the faoe of
in strong probability of defeat. SO, w
lm. he accepted the presidency of the G
ted federate States, with its exacting du
ga and perplexities. No man had a hi