The Oxford intelligencer. (Oxford, Miss.) 1860-18??, 1861-02-27

jefferson Davis, who has just been chosen
President Of the Southern Confederacy, was born
June 8, 1905 in what is now Todd county, Ken
lucky. While yet an infant his father, Samuel
Davis, revolutionary soldier in Georgia, re-
moved to Mississippi and settled in Wilkinson
county. jefferson Davis was sent at the usual
age to Transylvania College KY, from which he
was transferred in 1924 to the Military Acade-
my at West Point which he left in 1928 with
the brevet appointment of I'd Lieutenant He
was in the army about seven years, and distin-
guished himself in active service on the Western
frontiers in the Black Hawk and other Indian
wars. With the rank of LIST Lieutenant of
Dragons, he resigned out Of the army in 1s45.
He then returned to Mississippi, and became a
cotton planter in Warren county, where he lived
in retirement until about 1874, when he first
took an active part in politics as Democrat
His first appearance as public speaker was at
I" barbecue" in Warren county, in answer to
the celebrated S. S. Prentiss. On that occasion
he sustained himself with such ability and bore
himself with such gallantry against aman who
was regarded as a sort of Napoleon OF stump Or
atory on the Wing side Of politics, that he at
enee attracted general attention, and was soon
earnestly desderated by the Democratic masses
as champion of Democracy. From that mo-
ment he became the Bayard Of the Mississippi
Democracy-a leader without fear and without
reproach-a leader equally sagacious and intre-
pid-a leader whom none knew what that thing
was of which he was afraid, unless dishonsr-
a leader who shrunk from no fair and open con-
test and who never came from battle with q
lowered crest or a suled scutcheon.
In 1874 jefferson Davis was chosen one of the
Presidential Electors of Mississippi in which
capacity he voted for Polk and Dallas. In the
succeeding year he was nominated by the Dem
ocratic party of his State as a candidate for Con-
gress, was elected, and took his seat in that body
in December.
While in Congress he was foremost among the
members who assisted to orgsnze the war against
Mexico, and in July, 1916, when the LIST Reg-
ment of Mississippi Volunteers was enrolled for
service in Mexico he was elected its Colonel,
when he left his seat in the House. and, joining
his regiment, led it to reinforce the army Of Gen.
Taylor on the Rio Grande. His services in the
army thenceforth are matter Of history-from
his conspicuous participation in the capture of
Monterey TO his brilliant exploit at Buena Vista.
His conduct on this last field has been alike the
theme of admiration to military criticism and to
martial patriotism Equally skillful and intrepid;
his regiment attacked by an immensely superior
force, which they repealed unsupported; and he
himself though wounded, remaining in the sad
die until the enemy was beaten, he was acknowl-
edged to have decided the fate Of the day, and
was warmly mentioned by Gen. Taylor for his
remarkable display of GOODNESS and gallantry. 1t
was lust after that action that Gen. Taylor, whose
daughter Col Davis had married under crcum-
stances displeasing to her father, consented to
be reconciled to his long repudiated son-in-law.
On the return of his regiment in July, 1s47,
Col Davis was rendered the appointment of Brig
adler General of volunteers, which he declined
on the ground that the States and not the Fed
eral Government had the right to appoint the
officers of the militia He was appointed by the
Governor of Mississippi, in the same year. to
fill vacancy in the u S. Senate, and was af
forwards unanimously elected by the Mississippi
Legislature for the remainder of the term, which
expired March A, 1851.
In September, 1851, Col Davis resigned his
seat as Senator on being nominated for Governor
by the secession wing of the Democratic party,
in opposition to Henry S. Foote, the Union can
didate, and was beaten by majority of only
500 votes, although the Union party went into
the field with a majority of $4,000 votes, as in
dictated by the Convention election short time
before.
Col. Davis was in retirement, then, until 1862,
when he rendered effective service on the stump
for Gen. Pierce as Democratic candidate for
President Appointed to the War Department
by President Pierce, he continued in that posi-
ton until the Inauguration of Mr.. Buchanan in
1857. And it may be safely said, no doubt, that
no head of that Department ever administered
it with more ability, discrimination and energy.
No previous administration had been so fruitful
of judicious changes and wholesome improve
ments. He revised the army regulations; he
introduced light infantry, or the rife system Of
tactics: he caused the manufacture of riied
muskets and pistols, and the use of the Minnie
ball; he induced the addition of four regiments
to the army, and organized cavalry service Pc
cularly adapted to the wants of the country;
he augmented the seacoast and frontier defense
of the country and had the western part ofthe
continent explored for scientific, geographical
and railroad purposes.
Col Davis was elected to the Senate by the
Mississippi Legislature in 1855, before his re-
tirment from the War Department He again
entered the Senate, therefore, in 1857, for the
term ending the 4th of March, 1868. His State
having seeded from the Union in the early part
of last month, Col Davis, on being apprised of
the fact withdrew from that body, and announc-
ed his withdrawal in brief address Of charac
teristic holiness of Tone manliness Of sentiment
and decision Of utterance.
In testimony of the confidence which
his constituents reposed in him, the
Mississippi Convention elected Col. Davis
Major General of the Army of the State and
also transferred him to the Senate of the South
ern Confederacy The duties of the former po-
sition, he devoted himself to, as Member Of the
Military Board Immediately on his return from