The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-03-24
PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS.

Messrs. Editors: Perhaps it may be interesting
to some to review again the history of our Chief
Magistrate. .a
jefferson Davis was born in Christian county
] KY, in 1905, and while an infant moved to Mis-
ssisippi with his father, Samuel Davis, who had
been revolutionary soldier He entered Tran
sylEania University at Lexington KY, but left
without finishing the course and went to West
Point In 1894, where he graduated in 1S28 No. %
in class Of 33 members. He remained in the o.
s. Army till 1935-being the seven years requir-
ed to serve after leaving West Point.-when he
resigned and engaged in planting. He was I'd
Lieutenant in Infantry from 1923 to 1888; lst
Lieutenant in Dragons from 1888 to 1885; and
was Adjutant of Dragons and served in the Quar-
! termaster Department at different times. He
served in some of the Indian Wars and is said to
have captured the celebrated Black Hawk. In
| 1914 he was Presidential Eector on the Demo-
cratic ticket in Mississippi; in 1915 he was mem
Der of the Z. S. Congress, and about the A,r1ne
time was defeated for Governor; in 1916 hezwas
made Colonel Of the 1sf Regiment Miss Vol.
| (Rifes) in which capacity he served in the Mex
ican War. He displayed much gaantry and skill
| in Mexico, and was severely wounded on one oc-
casion While in Mexico in 1S47 he was tender
ed the appointment of Brigadier General, but de-
c;ined it, and in the same year he was appointed
T. S. Senator to fill unexpired term, till 1851,
when he was reelected for six years. He was
Secretary of War under Pierce from 1858 to 1857
from which time he was U. S. Senator from Mis-
sissippi till that State seeded. During great
portion of his Senatorial career he was Chairman
of the Committee on Military Affairs; and while at
the head of the War Department he managed its
affairs with more ability and success than any Of
his predecessors His rule to encourage merit
and sterling worth wherever found, and many Of
the present officers in the y. S. Army owe their
prominence and promotion to him. Feeling
| warm interest in Mcclellan, and entertaining
high appreciation ofhi worth and talents he sent
him with two others to take observations of the
siege of Sevastopol, and gaiH from the Eastern
World any information of value to military
science
In 1885 he married daughter of Geh. Tay lor,
and some years after her death he married his pre-
sent wife, Verina Howell an amiable and excel
lent lady daughter of wealthy commission mer-
chant of New Orleans and grand daughter of Gov.
! sEIsge4l-of New Jersey, of Revolutionary memory.
Is President Davis is about feet 10 inches high,
5tTand intelligent head, with forehead bugng out
considerably, aquiline nose and compressed lip.
The check bones are prominent, causing the
tcheeks to appear hollow; his hair is of dark color
mixed probably with gray; and his face is of saow
paleness, but with his keen, steady, dark eye,
shows much more color, boldness and animation
than is usually represented in the pictures see
He wears no whiskers except under his chin and
around his throat and of his eyes is said to be
defective in sight, but this would escape observa.
tion.
From bis manners and appearance would
naturally at first, regard him as dignifed morose,
and even repulsive; but farther acquaintance re-
moves much Of this impression, and Mr. Davis ap-
pears an agreeable, earnest, candid, accomplished
and interesting gentleman. His voice is an eleva-
ted key, distinct and full, and although little
rough is not unpleasant
As public speaker he is practical and impress |
sve, ins piring solemnty and inducing conviction.
He neither drives the imagination to the giddy
heights Of eloquence and intellectual spendor, nor
stoops below honor to tickle popular applause; but
appealing more to the moral than the sensual at
tributes of the soul, he speaks what he feels and
seems what he is, with that peculiar eloauence
which truth, directed to the conscience, always
imparts.
He is of Episcopalian persuasion and was con-
frmed two or three months ago learn, and with |
his family attends St. Paups' Church regularly.
On his Withdrawal from the U. S. Senate, after
the secession of Mississippi he showed, by a very
able and powerful speech which did honor to his
head and heart, that he fully realized the awful
responsibility of the issue forced upon u.s. 1t was
with deep and unfeigned regret that be felt it his
duty to relinquish that government which he had
served so long and so faithfully and for which he |
naQ CneTlSHeu SUCH u ullai aItdcHuEeHt -oH tHaI
occasion Mr. Davis rose calm and collected, and
although the blood of the nation hot and the |
popular heart throbbed with agitation, bis magma
nmity and sincerity extorted admiration and SYM
pathy even from his enemies. With eyes down.
cast and body motionless, and in calm, manly, |
emphatic tcne, he said, in substance 81 DOW leave
you for other and different duties, and will never |
again mingle with you as have done for so many
years. IF have done any of you injustice, now !
ask forgiveness Ifin debate or otherwise, have |
ever wounded any Senator's feelings, given insult,
or violated courtesy or confidence, now retract it
ALL have been devoted to our once noble gov
erument; and have tried faithfully in the vari- !
Gus distinguished positions l have been hororsd
with, to promote its prosperity, purity and dura-
bility. have given the best season of my man. ,
hood to the Constitution and the Laws, even when !
violated and trampled on by others, have borne
aloft that once proud flag amid the roar of battle
and freely poured out my blood in my country's !
cause. We of the South have offered you CON-
promise;-we have yielded everything save honor
and liberty, that the government inherited from
our fathers might not be disrupted and devasta-
ted, and in vain. But gentlemen, appealing to
just God for the rectitude of our intentions, we
do soemnly vow that to such outrageous violation
the Constitution, such insane fanticism, such usur
patton, and such sectional tyrannical, constant
and dangerous legislation, we will never, never,
NEVER submit"
I have had from the first unwavering conf
deuce in President Davis. This is however nv
opiuiou know there are some whose INDIGNANT