The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-05-07
JEFFERSON DAVIS.


The following eulogy on the late
president of the Southern Confed-
eracy was delivered by the Hon.
John H. Reagan, the only surviv-
lug member of the Confederate
Cabinet, at Dallas, Texas, on last
Thursday. The occasion was the
unveiling of a monument, erected
by the ladies of Dallas to the mem
DRY of the Confederate dead:
To me has been assigned the duty
of saying, in brief way, something
of the character and services of the
president of the Confederate States,
the beloved Jefferson Davis. NV
association with Mr.. Davis during
our great struggle, and the very high
opinion 1 formed of his disinter-
ested and patriotic devotion to
the cause of the Confederacy
and of his unvarying constancy
and courage makes the duty
most agreeable, except that i
recognize my inability to give such
an account of his service and por-
traiture of his character as is due
to his memory.
To say that he was an honest man,
brave soldier, and able statesman, a
sincere patriot and an earnest Christ
ian, does not give full idea of his
character.
In one respect there was, to some
extent misapprehensiOns of his char
acter. 1t was sometimes alleged he
was self-willed, imperiOus and stub
born. Those in close contact and
association with him did not so re-
gard him. have heretofore express
ed the view, and now repeat it, that
practically he had two characters, or
rather two methods of thought
and action. While in his private
relations he was gentleness and kind
ness, in the discharge of his public
service he seemed to be guided al
most wholly by a sense of duty.
And he seemed to expect those who
conferred with him about public
matters to address themselves direct
ly TO the matter under consideration,
and was not at all times patient
with such persons as sought to
occupy his time in general CONVEX
satlOn, or as TO matters about which
they could give him no information.
1t will be readily understood that
one who occupied his position, In
which his whole time was neces-
sarily given to the discharge of i'm
portant public business, should not
permit that time to be wasted in
commonplace conversation, or in
listening to men who could give him
no real information. This doubtless
created the idea with such persons
that he was self-willed and impe-
riOus.
Another mistake as to his character
made by some persons, has been that
ne would not listen to advice about
matters of Importance. More than
four years of constant contact with
him as a member of his cabinet en-
ables me to say that this was great
mistake. His habit was-when he
took up public question on which
he had to act-tO exhaust all avail |
able sources of information on it |
before coming to a conclusion,
always consulting freely with the
members of his cabinet and with |
others who might be able to give
information. After doing this and
reaching his conclusion the matter
was settled with him unless the pres
entation of new facts required
further consideration. lie had not
time to consider questions upon the
same facts. And in the position he
occupied vacillation would have
been about as bad as the erroneous
decision of public questions. say
this much on these points because
think in respect to them some in
justice has been done to his memory.
The sOlicitude of President Davis
for the success of the Confederate
army caused him several times to ;
put himself under the fire of the Fed I
erals in battle. AT the battle of
Seven Pines (Fair Oaks saw him,
Gen. Lee and Gen. Macgruder under |
heavy fire of musketrY, and re-