The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-06-11
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
a few Interesting Unpubiisii cd Facts Exem.
piifying his CowaTdice and Treason.

known 10 the American public at large, and
which seem 10 me, to be worth communicat-
ing to tho world, through tho newspaper
press. They arc interesting and instructive,
especially at the present time, as illustrating
and demonstrating his character; and conse.
quently, to some extent, the characten OF
those who, well knowing him, selected him
as the Nena Sahib of the Southern Sepoy
mutiny.
1t has been repeatedly announced that
Jeli. Davis will command the Southern Sc.
poys in person, in tho campaign now com
rnencing. hope he will lead the way on
their first battlefield, for mean to be thero
myself But i very much doubt whether
MIR. Davis has the courage to expose himself
to the peculiar risks-not of immediate death
but Of capture--which no would incur in
that position. Some Of ''our boys" ale bound
to Shave his carcass alive, if it costs thou.
sand of their lives.
BY the way if Jefferson Davis should lead
tho secession army in person, it is t. be hop
ed that his memory (or courage) won't fail
him, as it did at tho battle Of Buena Vista,
when he omitted to give the third and essen.
tial command to throw Lis regiment into n
solid square: "By the right and left of flank
battalions! To the color, marchw Tho con.
Seqaoucc OF this hiatus VQie debIeaRuS Wa,
that his regiments were left spread in the
form of a V, to receive the charge of 4 GOO
Mexican cavalry, coming down on them in
full career, on the slopes of Buena Vista -
The survivors Of that regiment knew that
nothing saved them from anhilation but
their long practiccd, deadly Workmanship
with rifles.
Perhaps it was well for Jefferson Davis that
Zachary Taylor was his lather-in.law, though
unwiIIingy SO. ~ steruer and more Brulus
like commander might have ordered a court
martial on the spot that would have con.
demneJ him to have been shot for cowardicu
or moral incompetency.
In my opinion, Jefferson Davis should
have been court martlaled for his disgraceful
III sconduct in that battle, as soon as i. was
decided. Perhaps he would have been, but
for hib peculiar relations to Zachary Taylor.
whose daughter he had married by stealth,
III opposition to the expressed wishes and pos
tive commands Of her father Gen. Chen
COLI Taylor said to his daughter. at you
marry Lieut.. Davis, | will never see your
girl, nevertheless, eloped with Davis, who
had taken advantage of the patronage Of his
commanding officer, aud violated the laws of
hospitality 10y secretely gaining tie affections
Of his daughter. In such abhorence did
Zachary Taylor hold Davis that he kept his
word with tirnness that may be deemed
pltIless cruelty. When, in the course Of time,
his dsobedient daughter lay on her death
bed, she sent him a penitent message, en-
trra'inr him - Welt hnr ,h", H." MIGHT lia
in peace, with her fathers blessing, or hi,
forgiveness the stern reply Of tho inexorable
old man was: IL warned YOU that if you
ever married that mar, | would never see YOU
again, living or dead, and never @W." And
SO the unfortunate lady died, unblest, and un-
forgiven By him.
When Davis came under the immediate
command of his tather.in law in the Mexican
war, Gen. Taylor refused to recognize him in
any way, except officially, as in giving orders
and in other matters of purely military form
and duty.
There was two.fold obstacle to Taylor's
performance Of his duty in the Buena Vista
matter. Davis was his son in-law, and was
at the same time, known to be the object Of
bis hatred and athorrcnce. He could not
we'll have escaped suspicion Of bad motives or
personal feeling, in either view.
A friend to whom ] read the foregoing a
short time since, gave me the following
sketch Of Davis relations to an old MssSs
ippian, renowned for desperate and reckless
courage. Alexander McClung often proved
himself, on the battle field, and on the duel
inc ground, man Of dauntlsss and unsur.
passed valor, showing an absolute contempt
for death on every occasion that presented.-
He killed many men with bis own hand, and
finally shot himself in the head
j happened to be in constant communica.
ton with Col. A. r. McCiuug, Of Mississippi,
in ls49 and 1850, and had almos: daily con
vcrsation with him in relation to prominent
MissisiPrians. A. matter Of course, JEFF.
Davis vas frequently named, and for him
McCung entertained the most supreme CON
t u,t. lie ,ail :hst Jo.I. was no, nan Of
true courage, that be wished TO be regard !
rs a duolist, but in giving challenge, would
always cast about for a non combstant, aud
would exercise enough prudence to creep on,
Of accepting one from sn antagonist over
whom ho had not y great advantage. Me.
Clung said, on one occasion:
81 am very sorry | ever fought q duel. It
is not pleasant busincsi and yet I woull
Ike to fight ono more, with one man anl
that man il Jefferson Davis, became think
the United States will bg better without m.
IIe will not fight me, be is too great COW.
ard. In fact, he is not now, never va and nov
er will be brave man, in the trno sense Of
the word. He is dangerous and willy pol
ticiap, loaded down with vanity and self con
ceit, wishing only for his own sggrsndizement
and he cares not at what expense or how
many desolstc households. lie thinks of
himself only, and Shoald not be surprs ID to
fud him one Of these days, taking such
step in public ss will place his neck in a hal
ter, fcg he is q bad man snl a scounlrcl, and
have frequently denounced him as such be
fore the people Of Missirsippi; and tho dry
poltrocn and artful william never had the cour-
ago to resent it,"
These conversations occurred on board the
ship, B. Gardner master, on our passage from
New York to Valparaiso. Mr. McClung was
on his way to Bolivia, as Charge dAtiaircs
from the United States.--Dr. Olmstead.
EFPresidcnt Lincoln, who was warm