Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1861-02-27


on cotton plantation, devotipg himself
to a thorough and systematic course Of
political and scientific education He
was married to daughter Of General
Taylor In 1914 he took tue stump for
FolE, ana III aoAs, La"ing attracted no
little attention in his State by his vigor
and ability, he was elected to Congress.
Ten days after he made Lis maiden
speech. Soon the Mexican war broke
out and regiment Of volunteers having
been formed in Mississippi, aud himself
chosen Colonel, he resigned his post in
Congress, and instantly repaired with
his command to join the corps d aimee
under General Taylor. AT Monterey
aud Buena Visa he and his noble regi-
ment achieved the soldiers highest fame
Twice by his coolness he saved the
day at Buena Vista. Wherever Ere
was hottest or danger was to be eDcoun-
tered, there Col. Davis and the Mssis
sippi Rifles were to be found. lie was
badly wounded in the early part of the
action, but sat bis horse steadily till the
day was won, and refused to delegate
even portion Of bis duties to his sub.
ordinate officers,
In lS4S he was appointed to fill the
vacancy in the Senate of the United
States occasioned by the death Of Gen
eral Speight, and in 1850 was elected to
that body almost unanimously for the
term of six years. In 1851 he resign.
ed his seat in the Senate to become the
State rights candidate for Governor, but
was defeated by Governor Foote, In
1853 be was called to a scat In the Cab.
met of President Pierce. and was Sec.
retary Of War during his administra.
tiOn. In 1857 he was elected United
States Senator from Mississippi, for the
term Of six years, which office he held
until bis resignation on the secession Of
Mississippi from the Union.
HON. ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS, OF
GEORGIA, vICE,PREsTDENT.
This gentleman is known throughout
the Union as one of the most prominent
of Southern politicians and eloquent
orators His father, Andrew B, Ste.
phens was a planter Of moderate means,
and bis mother, (Nlargarot Grier)'waS a
sister to the famous compiler Of Grier's
almanacs. She died when he was al
infant, leaving him with four brothers
and one sister, Of whom only one brOtE-
er survives.
Mr.. Stevens was born in Georgia on
! tie lIth of February, 1912. When in
his fourteenth year his father died, aud
the homestead being sold his share of
thc cntire estate was about five hundred
dollars. With commendable AuGlo-
Saxon love Of his ancestry, Mr., Stevens
has since repurchascd the original estate,
which comprised about two hundred and
fifty acres, and has added to it about six
hundred more.
Assisted by friends he entered the
University of Georgia in 1928, and in
1882 graduated at the head of his class.
In 1884 he commenced the study ot the
law, and in less than twelve months was
engaged in one of the most important
cases in the country. His eloquence
has ever had powerful effect upon ju'
ries, enforcing, as it does, arguments of
admirable simplicity aud legal weight.
From 1887 to 1910 he was a member
If the Georgia Legislature. In lS42
he was elected to the State Senate, and
in 1913 he was elected to Congress. =
lie was a member Of 'he Wing party in
its pamlest days, but since its dissolution
he has acted with the men Of the South,
and such has been the upright, steadfast
and patriotic policy he has pursued that
no one in the present era of faction, self
ishnesS or suspicion has whispered an
accusation Of selfish motives or degrOd
ing intrigue against him. In the House
he has served prominently, on the most
important committees, aud effected the
passage Of tho KansaS-Nebraska bill
through the House at a time when its
warmest friends despaired Of success
He was subsequently appointed chairman
Of the committee 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 be has, from time
to time, excited the ire Of many Of the
Southern people, but he has always sue.
Ossdsd in coming Ous Of!As sossss9 viii