Newbern weekly progress. [volume] (Newbern, N.C.) 1858-1863, 1861-02-26
VOLUME III.
E>ayis and stephens.

y
especially opr9p0s.
HON. JEFF. DAVIS, PRESIDENT.
Few men have led life more filled with
stirring or eventfu incidents than jefferson
Davis A native of Kentucky, born about
1906, he went in early youth with his father
to Mississippi, then Territory and was ap-
pointed by Presid Mt Monroe in 1922 to be
cadet at West Point. He graduated with the
first honors in 1928 as Brevet Second Lieut.,
and at his own request placed IN active
service being assigned to the command of
General (then Colonel Zachary Taylor- who
was stationed in the West. In the frontier
wars of the time young Davis distinguished
himself in so marked manner that when a
new regiment of dragons was formed he at
once obtained commission as first Lieutenant.
During this time a romantic attachment sprung
up between him and his prisoner, the famous
chief Black Hawk, in which the latter forgot
his animosity to the people ofthe United States
in his admiration for Lieut.. Davis, and not I'M
til his death the bond of amity severed be-
tween the two brave men.
In 1885 he settled quietly down upon cot
ton plantation, devoting himself to a thorough
and systematic course Of political and scientific
education. He was married to a daughter of
Gen. Taylor.
In 1S43 he took the stump for Polk, and in
1845, having attracted no little attention III his
State by his ygor and ability, he elected
to Congress- Ten days AFTER he made his
maiden speech Soon the Mexican war broke
out and a regiment of volunteers having been
formed in Mississippi, and himself chosen
Colonel, he resigned his post in Congress, and
instantly repaired with his command to join
the c0rps Gd9maee under General Taylor At
Monterey and Buena Vista he and his noble
regiment achieved the soldiers highest fame.
Twice by his coolness he saved the day at Buena
Vista Wherever fire the hottest dan
/ H. Il i
the Mississippi Rifles were to be found. He
was badly wounded in the early part Of the ac-
ton, but sat on his horse steadily till the day
was won, and refused to delegate even a pOr-
ton of his duties to his subordinate officers.
In 1913 he was appointed to fill the vacancy
in the Senate ofthe 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 his seat in the Senate
to become the States Rights candidate for Gov
ernor but defeated by Governor Foote.
In 1858 he was called to a seat in the Cabi-
net of President Pierce, and was Secretary of
! War during his administration. In 1857 he
was elected United States Senator from Missis-
sippi for the term If six years, which office he
held until his resignation on the secession Of
Mississippi from the Union.
Personally, he is the last who would be
selected as a " fire-eater" He is prim,
smooth looking man, with precise manner, a
stiff, soldierly carriage, and an austerity that
is at first forbidding. lie has naturally, how
ever a genial temper, companionable qualities,
and disposition that endcarS HIM to all by
whom he may be surrounded. AS IL speaker
he is clear, t0rcihe and ;trgImrntatiyr; his
voice IS clear and firm, without tremor, and nc
is one in every WAY fitted for the distinguished
post to which be has been called.
HON ALEXANDER II. STEPHENS, OF GEORGIA, VICE
PRESIDENT.
This gentleman Is known Throughout thc
Union a> one OF the most prominent OF South
eln politicians and eloquent orators. His tarl.-
CT, AusreW T. Stephens WAS planter oil mod
crate lueans and his mother NIalgarct Gricr)
was Il sister to the famous compiler of erie1.
ain anacS. She died when he intane,
leaving him with four brothers and one sister,
of whom only one brother survives.
Mr. Stephens was born in Georgia on the
18th of February, 1912. When in his four
teenth year his father died, and the homestead
being sold, his share of the entire estate was
about five hundred dollars. With commend
able Anglo-Saxon love of his ancestry, Mr..
Stephens has since re-purchascd 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 1854
he commenced the study of 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
iuriCs, enforcing, it does arguments of ad-
mirable simplicity and legal weight From
1887 to 1910 he was a member OF the Georgia
Legislature In 1912 he was elected to the
State Senate, and in 1913 was elected to Con
gress He was a member of the Whig party
in it's palmiest days but since its dissolution
{ IL. Al Il. -.
has been the upright, steadfast and patriotic
policy he has pursued, that no one in the present
era of faction, selfshness or suspicion, has
whispered an accusation of selfish motives or
degrading intri CUES against him. In the House
he served prominently on the most important
! committees and effected the passage of the
Kansas-Nebraska bill through the House at d
time when its Warmest friends despaired of sue
cess He was subsequently appointed chair
man of the Committee on Territories, and was
also chairman Of the special committee to which
was referred the LecOmpton constitution. BY
his patriotic course various measures, he
has, from time to time, excited the ire Ofmany
of the Southern people, but he has always sue
| ceeded in coming out of the contest with flying
colors, and his recent elevation is mark of the
profound respect entertained for his qualities
! as man and a statesman.
| Mr.. Stephens is most distinguished as 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 health from child
hood has been very feeble, being afflicted with
! four assesses and continued arrangement of
the liver, which gives him a consumptive ap-
pearance, though his lungs are sound. He has
never weighed over ninety-six pounds, and to
see his attenuated figure bent over his desk,
the shoulder contracted and the shape of his
slender limbs visible through his garments, a
stranger would never select him as the John
Randolph" of our time, more dreaded as an
adversary and more priced as an ally in de
bate than any other member of the House of
Representatives. When speaking he has at
first shrlll sharp voice, but as he warns up
with his subject the clear tones and vigorous
sentences roll out with a sonorousness that
finds its way to every corner Of the immense
hall He is witty rhetorical and solid, and has
dash of keen satire that puts an edge upon
every speech He is careful student, but SO
verv careful that DO trace of study is percepti-
BILE as he dashes along in flow of facts, argu-
ments and language that to common minds Is