The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-02-13
Alfhmono Qispatth.
WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEB. ls. 1861
THE CONFED GRATED STATES OF
NORTH AMERICA.
Sketches ofthe Executive Officers--StrenRth
and Wealth of the Republic--The Proyi-
sionaI CAPITAL. &c.

A sket tch OF the prominent man who is to |
share in North America the honors of the |
Presidential chair with Abraham Lincoln for |
the next four years, is at the present moment
especially Gpropos.
non. JEfF. DAVIS, PRESIDENT.
Few men have led n life more flled with
stirring or eventual incidents than Jefferson
Davis n native of ~bentncky, born about
1906, he Went IN early youth with his father
to mississippi, then a Territory, anu was APP
pointed by President Monroe IN ls22 10 be n
cadet at West Point. He graduated with the
first honors ia ls2S as Breyet Second Lieut.,
and AT his own request placed in active
service, being assigned 10 the command Of
General (thcn ColoaeI) Zachary Taylor, who
was stationed III the West. In the frontier
wars of the time young Davis distinguished
himself in 80 marked Il manner that when Il
new regiment of dragons was formed he at
once obtained commission rs first Leuten-
ant. During this time "A romantic attachment
sprans up between him and his prisoner, the
famous chieI Black Hawk, in which the latter
forgot his animosity to the people Of the
United States i'll his admiration for Lieut..
Davis, and not until his death was the bond of
alnity severed between the two brave men.
In 1854 he settled quietly down upon cot
ton plan ntation Jhavoting him self to u thorough
and systematic course of political aud scien
tiiic education. He was married to q daugh-
ter OF Gen. Taylor.
In lSl;j he took the stump for Polk and in
1S+5, having attracted no little attention in
his State by his vigor and ability, he was
elected to Congress. Ten days after, he made
his maiden speech. Soon the Mexican war
broke out, ant, regiment of volunteers haV-
ing been formed in Mississippi, and himself
chosen Colonel, he resigned his post i'll Con
gress, and instantly repaired with his COM
mand to join the corps d'"Thtee under General
Taylor. AT Monterey and Bnena Vista he
aud his noble regiment achieved the soldier
highest fame. Twice by his GOODNESS he saved
the day at Busna Vista Wherever fire was
hottest or danger to be encountered, there
Colonel Davis and the Mississippi Rifles
to be found. He was badly wounded in the
early part OF the action, but sat his horse
steadily till the day was won, and refused TO
delegate even a portion of his duties to his
subordinate officers.
In lS4S he was appointed to fill the vacancy
i'll the Senate OF the nited 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 his seat in the Senate to
become the State Rights candidate for Cover
nor, but was defeated by Governor Foote.
In 1858 he was called to a seat i'll the Cabinet
of President Pierce, and was Secretary of War
during his administration. In 1851 he was
elected United States Senator from Mississippi
for the term of SIX years, which office he held
until his resignation on the secession of Mis-
sissippi from the Union.
Personally, he is the last man who would
be select ted as Il 90 fire eater" He is Il prim,
smooth looking man, with precise manner,
stiff, soldierly carriage, and an austerity that
is al first forbidding. He has naturally, how
ever, u genial temper companlOnabIe quail
ties, and a disposition that endears him TO all
by whom he may he surrounded. AS Il speaker
he is clear, forciblp and argumentative his
voice is clear and firm, without tremor, anu
he is one in every way fitted Tor the distin-
guished post to which he has been called.
HON. ALEXANDER II. sTEPHEEs, OF GEORGIA, VICE
PRESIDENT.
This gentleman is known throughout the
Union as one OF the most prominent OF South
I A1.
father, Andrew b. Stevens, was Il planter Of
moderate means and his mother Margaret
Grier) was sister TO the famous compiler of
Griers almanacs. She died when he an
III niint- leaving him With four brothers and
one sister, OF whom only one brother sur
wives.
Mr.. Stephens was born in Georgia on the
llth of February, 1872. When in his four
teenth year his father died. and the homes tead
being sold, his share of the entire estate was
about five hundred dollars. With Il COM
mendable Anglo Saxon love OF his ancestry,
Mr. stephens has since re-purchdsed the ORR
ginal estate, which comprised about two hun
dred and fifty acres and has added to it about
! six hundred more. Assisted by friends, he en-
! tered the University of Georgia i'll 1925 and
! in 1892 graduated at the head of his class In
| 1884 he commenced the study of the law, and
! in less than twelve months was engaged in
! one of the most important cases i'll the coun-
/ try. His eloquence has ever had powerful
| effect upon jures, enforcing, il does, argu-
ments of admirable simplicity and legal
| weight. From 1887 TO 1910 he was a member
of the Georgia Legislature. In 1912 he was
elected to the State LSenate, and in lS43 was
elected to Congress. He was member of the
| Wing party Ill its pallniest days, but since its
dissolution has acted with the men of the
South, and such has been the upright, stead
! fast and patriotic policy he has pursued, that
| no one in the present era of faction, selfish
ness or suspicion, has whispered an accusa-
! ton of selfish motives or degrading intrigues
/ agans him. In the House he served prom-
t
! effected the passage OF the Kansas \ ebraS k;i
| bill through the House at time when its
/ warmest friends despaired of success. He
| was subSeq uently appoint ted chairman of the
| Committee Territories, and was also
| chairman of the special committee to which
| was referred the Lecompton constitution -
| BY his patriotic course on various measures,
| he has, from time to time, eAclted the ire OF
many of the Southern people, but he has al
/ ways succeeded i'll coming out OF the contest
| with flying colors, and his recent elevation is
Il mark OF the profound respect entertained for
| his qualities as Il man and Il statesman.
| Mr.. Stephens is most distinguished rs an
/ orator, though he does not look like one who
/ can command the attention of the House at
any time or upon any topic. His heait til from
childhood has been very feeble, being afflicted
/ with four assesses and a continued derange-
| nent of the liver which gives him Il consump-
/ tive appearance, though his lungs are sound
/ He has never weighed over ninety -six pounds,
! and 10 see his attenuated figure bent over his
desk, the shoulders con tracted and the shape
of his slender limbs visible through his gar
nents, a stranger would never select him as
the John Randolph" of our time, more
dreaded as an adversary and more priced as
all ally in debate than any other member OF
the House of Representatives. When speak
ing he has ut first Il shrill sharp voice, but as
he warns up with his subject the clear tones
/ and vigorous sen tences roll out with Il sono-
rousness that finds its way TO every corner OF
the immense hall. He is witty, rhetorical
and solid and has dash of keen satire that
- Astybt -
ful student, but so very careful that no trace
of study is percepible Us he dashes along in a
flow OF facts, arguments and language that to
common minds is almost bewildering. Pos
sessing hosts OF warm friends who are proud
OF his regard, an enlightened Christian virtue
/ and infiexible integrity, such is Alexander III.
! Stephens, the Vice President elect of the
Southern Confederacy.
SPEECH OF PyIcR-pREsIDENT STEPHENS
| MONTGOMERY, Feb. l0.--Mr. Stephens last
/ night, in response TO Il complimentary sere-
| made, said
Gentlemen and Fetioto- Citizens For al
though we met here as strangers from differ
/ ent independent States, we are once more citi
zens of common country. tApplause.] AL
| low me briefly and sincerely to express my
nnfeigned thanks Tor this compliment; but
the state CT my health and voice, and the mig h
/ air apart from other nsidera tions, pre- ven
/ me from doing more. This is not the time or
/ place to discuss those great questions which
| are now pressing upon our public councils,
! now in process of formation.
1t is sufficient TO say that this day new
/ Republic has been formed. The Confederate
| States OF North America" have been ushered
into existence, and take their place among the
nations OF the earth. fCheers.l Under a TEN :
porary or provisional government, ii Is true;
| but this will soon be followed by one of per-
manent charaet ter, which, while IL snrrenders
none of our ancient rights and privileges, VIII
secure, more perfectly, we trust, that peace,
nsif u nd