Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-03-23

and industry as their chairman. He was
distinguished in Congress for sterling abr
lily, patient industry. uncompromising
integrity. and stern fidelity to his duties,
and his speeches gave preof of strong,
well balanced mind, sound judgement,
and great practical information; and when
he retired from that body, all of his asso-
ciates of all parties felt that the House
had lost one of its ablest and most useful
members, Mr.. McCielland was mem.
Der Of the convention called to revise the
constitution of Michigan, which met in
1885, and the succeeding year. 1850, he
was selected as the Democrats candidate
tor Governor of that State, to which of
nee he was elected by over I, 900 majori-
ty, In a most excited contest with the
combined forces of whiggery and aboli-
tionism. He was chosen for two years.
and desired to retire at the close of his
term, but the State convention unanimous
ly renominated him last fall, and he was
prevailed upon to accept, and was re-elec-
ted ia November by q majority of over
e0oo. The whole career of Governor
NcClelland, Of which we have given but
an imperfect sketch. proves him to pos.
sess the essential qualifications for the i'm
portant and laborlous position to which
he has been called-ability of high or
der, unquestionable integrity, great prac-
teal. knowledge, sound Judgment and
uncommon industry. We confidently
predict that he will make very able and
popular Secretary, worthy of the admi
nistration with which he IS connected.
There is not in the country more
competent man for Secretary OF War than
Gen. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi
Eminent as statesman and distinguished
as soldier-a man of superior talents
and of thorough education, of unsullied
integrity. and great energy and firmness,
he combines in high degree all the es-
sential qualifications for which he has
been called. Unfortunately we have not
at hand the materials for a full sketch Of
his life. He was educated at the West
Point Military Academy, and joined the
army as lieutenant, after completing the
prescribed course of studies there. He
remained in the army a number of years,
and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel,
we believe, when he resigned his commits
sion. He was afterwards elected to Con-
gresS, where he served SIX or eight years.
He was distinguished IN Congress for his
ability, industry, and devotion to his du-
ties, and was universally regarded as one
of the ablest men in the House. He was
in Congress when the Mexican war broke
out. and resigned his seat, went to Mis-
slssippi, raised a regiment OF volunteers,
was chosen its colonel and joined the ar
my of General Taylor. His services in
that war are well remembered by our rea-
ders. 1t is not too much to say that no
officer of that army did more gallant SER
vice, or won more deserved honor than
JEFF. Davis In the lannon's battle of Blu
ena Vista. in particular, Davis and his
gallant rlAemen were conspicuous for
their daring courage and execution, and
contributed immensely, and probably de-
cislvely to the triumphant result of that
hard-fought battle, as the official reports
abundantly testify. In that battle he re-
ceived a severe wound, which rendered
him a cripple for long time. Soon af-
ter, he was appointed brigadier general
by President Polk. but the severity of the
wound prevented further active participa
ton in the war. Soon after his return,
IN 1847, he was elected to the U. S. Sc
nate, to serve out an uneXpired term, by
nearly unanimous vote ofthe legislature
of his State, and was reelected for six
years in 1850. In that body he was re-
garded as very able and valuable mem
Der. He resigned his seat in the Senate
in 1851. His experience us Il soldier has
made him familiar with the entire orga-
nization of the army, its imperfections
and its wants-an indispensable qualiica-
ton in an efficient head of the War De-
partment, which has been sadly wanting
there during the last four years. Combi-
ming this qualification with his admitted
capacity as statesman, his great energy
and decision of character, and his well
known devotion to most rigid economy
in the national expenditures, his admins
tration of the War Department will be
found most signally effective in the refor-
nation of existing abuses and in the de-
velopemnt of the highest degree of prac-
teal efficiency. ....
Hon. James G.. Dobbin, the Secretary
of the Navy, was born in Fayetteville,
North Carolina, in the year 1914, and is
therefore thirty nine years of age, being
the youngest member of the cabinet. His
father was for many years an eminentIy
successful merchant of that place, and his
glr,. i b..