Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1860-05-12
iHl1l DEMOCRAT.
P. A. ROY, Editor.
Jefferson Davis.

y
now forms Todd Go. Soon after his
birth his father, Sam>vl Davis, a planter,
who served during the revolutionary
war in the mounted force Of Georgia, re-
moved with his family to Mississippi,
and settled near Noodvilic, Wilkinson
Go. Young Davis received an acadcmi-
cal education, and was sent at the usual
age to Pennsylvania college KY, which
| lie leftin ls2#to enter the bfsS military
academy at West Point, where he was
/ graduated in 1928, and was appointed
brevet second Iientenant He remained
IN the army seven years, and served as
ian infantry and staff officer on the north
Rwcst frontier in the Black Hawk war OF
! i,S3!-'32, with such distinction that in
! March 4, 1888, lie was promoted to a
first lieuteTancy of dragons, in which
calarIty he was employed IN 1884 in
various expeditions against the Conan
! ches, PaWnces, and cther hostile Indian
| tr!bes. He resigned his commission
EJunc 80, 1865, returned to Mississippi,
and became n cotton planter, living in
retircmcnttiII 1913, when he began TO
| take an active part in politics on the
Democratic side, aud in 944 was chosen
one of the presidential electors ofM is
sissippi tovote for Polk and Dallas. IN
IsNovcInhcr,I845, he was elected a re-
preventative in Congress, and took his
scat in December Of that year. He bore
Ia conspicuous part in tIlc Discussions Of
the session on the tariff, on TIE Oregon
question: on military affairs, and par
ticuIarly on the preparations for war
against Mexico, and or the organization
Of volunteer militia when called into
the service of the United States. While
in Congress, in July, ls4G, the first
regiment of Mississippi volunteers, then
enrolled for service in Mexico, elected
linn their colonel. lie promptly left his
seat IN the House, and overtaking lis.
regimcnt-at New Orleans on its way to
The seat Of war, led it to rc-enforce the
armycf Gen. Taylor on the Rio Grandes
He was actively engaged in the attack
and storpling of Monterey, September,
sI84G; was one Of the commissioners for
arranging the terms of the capitulation
of that city;@and highly distinguished
himself IN the battle Of Bucna Vista,
February %, 1871 Where his regiment,
attacked hy an immensel y superior
force, maintained their ground for a long
time unsupported, while Col. Davis him
self though. severely wounded, remained
in thesaadle until tie close of the action,
and was eomplimcnted forshis coolness
and gallantiy by the commander-in-
chief in hissdespateh Of March 6, l847.t
At the expiration of the term Of his en-.
listmcnt, in July, 1s47,. the Mississippi
regiment was ordered home: and Col.
Davis while on his return received at
New Orleans a commission from Presf-a
dent Po olkas brisader, general Of voltln-
.tscrs, which hezsdeelined accepting On
the ground that the CONSTITUTE on re-
serves to the States respectively the
appointment Of the.otficcrs Of the militia,
untlthat consequently tIteir appointment
by the federal 7cxecutiresis a violation
ii therj ghtssofathe States. In August,
ls47, hcaNas appointedby the Governor
of Mississippi C. S. Scnat0r to FIJI a va
cancy, and. 1T the ensuing session ofthe.|
State LegisIature, was unarimously4
elected to .thesame Office for the residue
Of the term In $50 he was reelected
for the sensuing full term IN thee Sen.
ate l,e. was chosen chairman Of the com
mittee on military affairs, and took sal
prominent part IN II4e debates *onfs sthed
slavery question, III defence O. the sinsti-
tntions aud policy of the slave States.
and was azealous d advocate Of the doc
trine Of 5tateSsrights. III September,
1851, he was nominated candidate for
Governor Of Mississippi BY the Demo
cratic party in opposition to Henry 5.
Foote, the candidate of the Union party.
He fesig ned his seat in the#6enate on
accepting the nomination. and was
Beaten inthe election by asmajority Of
999 votes; a marked indication of his
popularity in his own State,
for at the "conyention election twol
months before, the Union party had a
majorityEof 1900 After his defeat Col. !
Davis remained in retirement until the
Presidential contest of 1852, when he
took the stump in bcnali Of Gen. Pierce
in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana,
where he rendered essential service to
the Democratic party. In 1853 he was
by Pierce Secretary Of War,
which post he held until tie accession
Of President Buchanan in 1851. His ad- :
Of the war department was
marked by ability and energy, and was
highly popular with the army. He pro (
posed or carried into effect, among other
the revision Of the army rcgu-
lations; the Introduction Of camels into
America; the introduction Of the light
or rifle system Of tactics; the
Of rified muskets and pis /
tolls, and the use of the Mimic ball; the
a ION Of fa,r rco:iI4.cuts II tLc