Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-15
Herald, as follows

Total 4,45o,i9s
This is a population exceeding by 522, 90
that Of 1880, ut the close Of the REVOLUTIONARY
war, in the whole United States.
HON. JEFFERSON DAVIS, OF MISSISSIPPI, PRES
IDENT.
Few men have led life more filled With stir
ring or eventful incidents than Jefferson Davis
A native of Kentucky, born about 1906, h
went in early youth with his father to Missis
Sippi, then Territory, and was appointed by
President Monroe, in 1922, to be cadet a
West Point. He graduated with the first hon
ors in 1928 rs breyet second lieutenant, and o
his own request was placed in active service
being assigned to the command Of General
(then Colonel Zachary Taylor who was sta
toned in the West. In the frontier wars
the time young Davis distinguished himself il
SO marked manner that when new regimen
of dragons was formed he at once obtained ;
commission as first lieutenant. During th:
time romantic attachment sprang up between
him and his prisoner, the famous chief Blacl
Hawk, in which the latter forgot his anlnosity
to the people Of the United States in his ADM
ration for Lieut.. Davis and not until his deatl
was the boud Of amty severed between the two
brave men.
In 1895 he settled down quietly upon cot
ton plantation, devoting himself to thorough
and systematic course Of political and scientific
education. He was married to daughter o.
Gen. Taylor. In 1913 he took the stump foI
Polk, and in lS45, having attracted no little at
tention in his State by his vigor aud ability
he was elected to Congress Ten days after
he made his maiden speech. Soon the Mexican
war broke out, and regiment of volunteers
having been formed in Mississippi, and himself
chosen Colonel, he resigned his post in Con
gress, and instantly repaired with his command
to join the corps Garnee under General Taylor
At Monterey and Buena Vista he and his noble
regiment achieved the soldiers highest fame
Twice by his coolncSs he saved the day at Bue
ma Vista. Wherever fire WAS hottest or DANCE,
to be encountered, there Colonel Davis and the
Mississippi Rifles were to be found. He was
badly wounded in the early part OF the action,
hut sat on his horse steadily till the day was
won, and refused to delegate even q portion OF
his duties to his subordinate officers
In ls4S he was appointed to fill the vacancy
in the Senate of the United States occasioned
by the death Of General Speight, and in 1850
was elected to that body almost unanimously
for the term Of six years. In 1851 he resigned
rights candidate for Governor, but was defeat.
seat in the Cabinet Of President Pierce, and
was Secretary of War during his administra.
ton. In 1857 he was elected United States
Senator from Mississippi for the term Of six
years, which office he held until his reSigna.
lion on the secession of Mississippi from the
Union.
Personally, he is the last man who would be
selected as fire eater" lie isa prn, smooth
looking man, with q precise manner a stiff,
soldierly carriage, and an austerity that is at
first forbidding He has naturally, however,
genial temper, conpanionable qualities, and
disposition that endcars him to all by whom
he may be surrounded. AS speaker he is
clear, forcible aud argumentatve; his voice is
clear and firm, without tremor, and he is one
in every way fitted for the distinguished post
to which he has been called.
HON. ALEXANDER q. STEVENS, OF GEORGIA, VICE
PRESIDENT
This gentleman is known throughout the
Union as one of the most prominent Of South.
ern politicians and eloquent orators. His IA
ther, Andrew B. Stephens, WIS q. planter oil
moderate means, and his mother (Margaret
Gricr) was a sister to the famous compiler OF
Grier's almanacs She died when he was an
infant, leaving him with four brothers and one
sister, of whom only one brothsr survives.
Mr.. Stephens was born in Georgia on the
llth of February, 1912. When III his four.
teenth year his father died, and the homestead
being sold, his share of the entire estate was
about five hundred dollars. With a commenda-
bic Anglo-Saxon love Of his ancestry, Mr.
Stephens has since repurchascd the original
estate, which comprised about two hundred and
fifty acres, and has added to it about six hun.
dred more.
Assisted by friends he entered the Univer-
sity of Georgia in 1923, and in s92 graduated
at the head of his class. In 1884 he com.
menced the study of the law, and in less than
twelve months was engaged in one Of the most
important cases in the country. His eloquencc
has ever had powerful effect upon juries, en-
forcing, as it does, arguments Of admirable SIM
plicity and legal weight From 1887 to 1s4o
he was member of the Georgia Legislature.
In 1912 he was elected 10 the State Senate, and
in lS43 he was elected TO Congress. He was a
member Of the Whig party in Its paln:icst days,
but since its dissolution has acted with the men
of the South, and such has been tho upright,
steadflst and patriotic policy he has pursued
that no one in the present era of faction, sell
fshness or suspicion has whispered all accusa-
ton Of selfish motives or degrading ntrlgues
against him. In the House he served pToml-
nently on the most important committees, and
effected the pussage Of the sasNcbrHSka
bill through the Jlouse at time when Its
warmest friends dcspaired Of success dc was
subsequently appointed Chairman of the com,
,n;,tee ON territories, and was also Chairman
of the special committee to which was referred
the Lecompton Constitution. BY his patriotic
course on the various measures he has, from
time to time, excited the ire of many Of the
Southern people, but he has always succeeded
in coming ont Of the contest with nylnG colors'
md his recent elevation is 4 mark of the pro.
found respect entertained io' HIS eou'll'eH d. IL
man and statesman.
Nr Stepbens is most distinguished as al
orotoc though he does not look like one who
can command the attention OF inc house 81
any time or upon any topic. Ills heallh from
childhood has been very feeble, beng au1tcted
with four assesses and continued oeranGe-
,nent of the liver, which gives blin q consump-
tive appearance, though his lungs are souto,
He has never weighed over n'nety-s'S pouh9s,
and to see his attenuated figure eent over MS
desk. the shoulders contracted ana tue s'aPe VI
his slender limbs visible through his garments,
a stranger would never select hun as ehe "Jonn
Randolph" Of our time, more dreaded as an
adversary and more priced as an ally IN us1
bate than any other member in the Hnuse VI
Representatives When speaking he mas at
first a shrill sharp voice, but as he warns up
with his subject the clear tones and vigorous
sentences roll out with sonorousIiess tha'
finds its way to every corner of the immense
hall. He is witty, rhetorical and solid, ana
has dash of keen satire that puts an edge
mon every speech. lie is J. careful student,
hit so very careful that no trace OF study IS
,,ercentible as he dashes along in a flow OF