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| (Postwar Portrait by Daniel Huntington) |
Although as much of a work in progress as any other human being, Jefferson Davis had also been widely known for his piety.
Michael T. Griffith tells us that Davis was “deeply religious,” and was seen “kneeling in prayer in the presidential mansion” more than once.
He not only read the Bible in English, but also in Greek. He
took Scripture to heart, and quoted it liberally.
When two of his own children had died, Davis was able to summon up the faith to say:
Not my will, but thy will be done.
Yet how could such religious fervor be reconciled with the slavery of the day? Griffith reports that Davis “believed it was his Christian duty to treat blacks with respect.”
Davis therefore made it a point to develop friendly relationships with slaves. During the
war, he personally cared for an orphaned mulatto. Former slaves of Davis fiercely defended him from detractors years after the war was over.
There was so much trust between Davis and his slaves that when the plantation had been threatened by white outlaws, Davis “armed his slaves” to help drive the ruffians away.
Davis also recognized the “evils and abuses” of slavery. Toward the war’s end, he “led the fight to grant slaves their freedom in exchange for military service.”
Resources
http://www.mtgriffith.com/web_documents/jeffersondavis.htmCopyright May 11, 2015 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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