The Yazoo Democrat., 1852-08-04
speech OF Col. Davis nt nTemDhis.

it as having produced powerful impression up
on the audience, in favor of the cause and the
speaker The report is necessarily very imper-
feet An experienced reporter was engaged to
report the speech, and he was so completely car
RED away by the eloquence of the orator that he
dropped his pen and gazed with his mouth open,
at the speaker. Hence the splendid diction of
the speaker" says the Appeal, was lost.
We make the following extract from the speech,
Which, will be found every way interesting: and
we will in some of our future numbers give the
letters of Scott, showing that Col Davis is cor
rect in the picture there drawn of him - Kick.
Sentinel
But Scott's partizan friends had invited re-
view of his military conduct, by presenting his
services as soldier as his title TO the Presiden-
cy. He would accept the invitation, not for the
purpose OF examining his fitness as a General,
or Of scrutinizing his military conduct; but for
the more useful purpose of ascertaining what
administrative capacity he had ever shown J;
what talent for the cares and Offices of State
and for making and gathering around him the
resources for efficient action, without which no
man can be truly great and useful.
With this purpose alone would he essay any
review of Gen. Scott's military conduct In
Gen. Jackson's great services as soldier, it was
not the mere victories whose glare had so daz-
zled his countrymen In his Indian battles but
at the battle of New Orleans he had
exhibited administrative capacity of the highest
order. He had moulded the means and gather
ed together the resources, and shown command
over the minds of men, which had enabled him
to win one of the most splendid victories in the
annals Of our country, 1t was not the cotton
bags alone, nor yet the valor of our brave volun-
teers which had protected that beautiful city
from the rapine and violence of the nercenary
legions that had gained the victories of Wei
lington. But it was the extraordinary sagacity.
energy and determination of that iron hearted
son OF Tennessee which enabled him to keep at
beg the British mercenaries, until the debarka-
tion Of the whole army had been accomplished,
under the belief that Jackson had large army
in New Orleans, and facility with
which he in few days collected together the
true and unerring rifemen of the West.
The duty even under this aspect was not an
agreeable one, but it was high public duty
which he owed to his Country, and ne, (Col. ID
would not shrink from the examination of Gen.
Scott's conduct with reference TO that sort of
ca pacity which would fit him for civil service in
a cricis like this, though the ties between them
were ten-fold stronger than they were. A par.
alel had been attempted between Gen. Scott
and Harrison and Taylor, but no parellel could
be drawn which would not be unfavorahe to
the first, except as mere soldier Harrison
and Taylor were both remarkable for their sim
plicity and modesty, their frank and unaffected
bearing, and the perfect confidence and kind
ness with which they inspired all around them.
Harrison too had been tried in high civil en-
in Congress, as Governor of Ohio
and was even transferred from honorable civil
service to the Presidency. Taylor exhibited en-
inent administrative talent in his conduct of the
war on the Rio Grande, when, stript of his com
mand, he was left to overcome the largest and
best disciplined army that Mexico ever brought
into the field under Gen. Santa Anna
Scott, on the contrary, remained at home at
his ease, peevishly complaining of and dreading
a fire from home in his rear, and permitting Gen.
Taylor to conduct the campaign on the Rio
Grande until he was satisfied that there was
more to be done than the troublesome
business of driving back from the frontier the
soldiers that there held the military posts, and
that laureis were to be won which he would be
willing to wear. He then advanced upon Vera
Cruz after concentrating the flower of the army,
md picking and culling the best officers and
corps of Taylor's command
In all those qualities which command the
affection and confidence of those around him,
he was singalarly wanting, being proud, petu-
ant, vain and presumptuous His whole
history abounded in quarrels with his brother
officers. No sooner had he landed ON the Rio
1rande, preparatory to his descent upon Vera
cruz, than he quarrelled with a gallant Tenn
brave Col. Harney, first depriv-
ng him of his command. and giving it to a
subordinate officer; and then, when Harney
Indignantly protested against such lnjustice'
nd told him he was willing to be arrested and
ried, but would never consent to surrender his
ommand and his pospect of seeing active service,
e excused himself to Mr.. Marcy, then Secretary
f War, on the plea that when he was on the
eprive of their command officers who proved
themselves incompetent or inefficient. Was
Iarney incompetent or efficient2 Let the rocky
eights of Cero Gordo answer. Let the battles
f the valley OF Mexico tell.
And again when Trist was sent out by
resident Polk as negociator for peace, to ac-
ompany the army, he quarrelled with him on the
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