New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-23

Volunteers, sent 70 BIN by President Polk. Almoet
any other man wonld have at once accepted such an
honor. But here WA an opportunity Tor an exbib
ton Of a sort OF perverse, peTtlnacious consistency
IA mining the doctrine OF State sovereignty the
last extreme and OF giving civil rebut TO the Gov
erumsnt at Washington. Col Davis bad been com
missioned NJ GissIrsippi volunteer; and although
bs was ID the service VI the United States, under
command Of General In the regular army o. the
United States and paii by the United states, be was
vet not 10 be insulied as MisEssippihn by being
made General of Brigade by The President OF the
ItiIcd S.a,es apd so e destined the connmis'ion, on
the ground that bcetowa was "a iiaetl9n--weH
meant aud perdonable perhaps, but SIN al iharlc
fion-Of tho sovereignty of the "Republc oil
Miss;ssippi--a poor, struggling, debt-repudi4tisg
commonwealth created by al aeI OF Congress Oh the
United States, and sparsely Peopled by slch elii-
grant. az could bent bs spned from tho older COM
monweaiths OF tho same great nation. Dut stJi'
ridiculous ~ II was, Dir. DAVIS made hs point.
One of Mississippls Senatorial chairs at aching
ten beiug casually vacant in 1871, Dir. Davis WIS
arpoinler by the Governor Of the State to MI NJ ana
The he did 30 much 10 the satisfaction OF uis con-
sttuenls that be was twice reelected 10 Tue SAM
po,sli.n. In toe Senate-chsmber he ATTAINED Toe
r,puta alton OF ready, Gexteroue, and fearless de-
batter aud clear-headed. energetic man OF susiesa'
His views Of The supeIi0nty OF State aaihoiby 10
thrt OF tho central Government grew stronger rs Nc
grew older. IL ia tbs nature VI TIE nian 'IhI
they abou.d His notiODs OF State responsibility .or
rec1sisry Obligation we're brought INTO unplea'nns
uolo. ely during his SeDstorshIp by the pOtlLloh
which he took in regard to tho repndiation 81 ner
bonds by Mississippi Tbs lie defeated, and hiS
tneer nj " The crocodile lesre whicl had been tnsa
over ruined creditors excited s0rrbw 1T home aha
INDIGNATION abroad IL 1851 ho resigned his real ~
the senate 70 he nominated Governor OF MISSISSIPPI
M tho representative of tue party ia tuat SlatD
bch hell tis PRINCIPLES; but having been doftatec
by Henry s. toote, the candidate OF tue Union
PARTY he retired into private life Tor q yoar. 40
~ L.. .reA he
Pg,sdFntia candidate II the Democratic party, who
Acknowledged his services and BIS capacity by call
INK him into his Cabinet 70 Secretary VI War. LII
his ne W po.ition he showed great activity aud eli
orgy. Ho adasd to tho cCas Ge!gEse,, Improved The
manufacture Of Arms aud ammunition, aud intro
duced he French lsh; infantry tactir.-wrougly
styled Hardee into the army. Leeylng tue Cabi-
net wben Mr.. Buchanan entered the " hite House
lie returned 10 the Scnsie -canmocr, where be re-
alred until the Ordnance OF Secession was pssse
~ Nussissppi, when has to.trlnes oi STATE cover
eighty having accomplished the plrpose FOR which
hey were devised, In compEarcs with them, ne
withdrew.
Mr. Davis owes his position purely to intellectual
sbihty and TO tsBsciiy Of purpose lie Il not, ilEe
IOUmbs, n bOasier aLd bnlly 81 the hre-eaiiHg /
school but he has cool sud almost serene andaciiy
which accompanies his ouds At least rs efieetually
90 uoillrr methods, and IL d manner much better
suited 10 his taste and bs temperament. lis nature
not iIcb, bic soul not IfggrauimOus, or his mind
either siroua or subt-. IL Influences men neither
ty convincing nor by winning tnem. Ills talent u
,ha. oi clear peTceptoh bis Powef, va, 81 nervous
CnerEy and iiesc IRE directed D. IA LAe&icls WAL
While other men pause over their scful'es, and en-
dcayor " reconcile sherpurpose aud iher eonscencr,
nu sInkes directly a. success. Devoid alike OF en-
:husam ard OF son,imors, be yet knows tno ex -
Il n Of tptire counim, 20 a great purpose HE
boly ia spare: bis bnslu urge: MS lace aienuatsi
aud purely intellectual ia eXpresslun Lis manner
ulzcid nud pre,i,e, but decided. liz could nVI have
aroused Ibe storm Of iDsurveii0n naL ne Is jet lie
n an T. guide ts destructive energies.
The work is profusyly illustrated by pictorial
sketches mostly from drawings taAea on tbs spo.
by skilllul ARTISTS.