The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-14
The Life of Jefferson Davis.

the late Confederacy should procure copy O
Mr. Alfriend's work. He evidently admires tn,
man whose biography he gives to the public, bu
that does not ncapacitate him from doing full
justice to Mr. Davis opponents, and on matters
of controversy he gives both sides of the Aques
| tlon. About one-third of the volume is devoted
| to the brilliant record Mr. Davis has left in the
army and councils of the United States and
not the least interesting portion is the speeches
delivered by him in the US. Senate and his
messages to the Confederate Congress AS a
matter of course. the reader. after passing per.
force at the campaign in Mexico and THAT
movement at Buena Vista, the genius. novelty
and intrepedity of which electrified the world of
military science, and extorted the enthusiastic
admiration Of the victor of Waterloo will hurry
forward to the rise of the Confederacy, which
sprung into existence with the suddenness oi
new land upheaved by volcanic action We
have heard men who were through the Confed-
crate struggle from first to last say that if Mr.
Davis had been less troubled with Constitutional
scruples, the struggle mis- ght have had different
end Perhaps SO, who can say. But noble
minds can only noble ends by noble means ob
tain, and Mr. Davis would have been untrue to
himself had he sacrificed principle to insure
success: 49,. ..
During his journey homeward from Mexico,
there occurred most impressive illustration OF
that strict devotion to principle which. above all
other considerations, is the real solution of every
act of his life, public and private. While in
New Orleans, Colonel Davis was offered by
President Polk, commission Brigader Gen
eral of Volunteers. an honor which he unhesita-
tingly declined, Oh the ground that no such com
mission could be conferred by Federal authority
either by appointment of the President or by act
Of Congress As an advocate of States Rights.
he could not countenance, even for the gratifica-
tion OF his own ambition, plain inraction of the
rights of the States, to which respectively the
Constitution reserves the appointment of officers
If the militia. The soldiers pride in deserved
promotion for distinguished services, could not
induce the statesman to forego his convictions
Of Constitutional right. The deelination of this
high distinction was entirely consistent with his
opinions previously entertained and expressed.
Before he resigned his seat in the House of
Representatives the bill authorizing such ap-
pontments by the President was introduced and
rapidly pressed to its passage. Mr. Davis detected
the Constitutional iniraction which it involved
and opposed it, liz l.. s-e .ga-.. -s,.
As aIr Davis brief but brilliant Confederate
career from the fact that every incident con-
nected Herewith is of worldwide interest and
historic Importance, has tendency t. oversladow
the services he rendered the United States while
member of President Pierces Cabinet it is well
to extract the passage enumerating them:
"Under his control the department OF war was
greatly advanced in dignity and Importance re-
ceNing character far more distinctive and in
dependent of other branches of the Government
than it had previously claimed. He infused into
al its operations an energy till then unknown. in
Producing improvements SO extensive and com
prehensiye as to occas on apprehension of an
almost too powerful and independent system OF
military organization. 1t is fact universally
conceded that his administration of the War
Office was incomparably superior to that of any
official who has filed that p sition-contributin
more to the promotion of efficiency in the army
to the advancement of those great national estab-
lshments vital to the security of the nation
and to the systematic, practical management Of
the details o. the Office In reviewing Mr. Davis
conduct of this important department. of the
Government, the splendid improvements which
he inaugurated, his earnest and unceasing hbors
in behalf Of the efficiency o. the army, it is i'm
possible to overestimate his eminent services to
the Unien, which even at that time his traduceis
and those of the South would pretend he was
plotting to destroy. In the Cabinet as in the
Senate, there was no measure of national advan-
tage to which he did not give his cerdial snppert
no great national institution which he would not
have fOstcred with generous and timely sympathy.
nothing to which he WIS not Zealously committed.
promising to rebound to the glory prosperity
and perpetuity of that Union i'm whose service
he had been trained, whose uniform he had
proudly Worn. and beneath whose banner he had
braved a soldiers death. st .-a
Secretary Davis made many recommendations
contemplating radical alterations in the military
system OF the Union. One of the first measures
was recommendation for the thorough revision
of the army regulations. He oppcsed the placing
of officers, at an early period Of service, perma-
nently upon the staff. and advocated system
which, he. contended, would improve the disci-
pline and efficiency of officers. ''whereby the
right of command should follow rank by one Ger
tain rule" The increase of the medical corps
he introduction of camcs the introduction ot
he light infantry rifle system of tactics rlfed
nuskets and the MIME ball were all mea snr1s
.dvocated by Secretary Davis and discussed in
his official papers with force and intelligence
that make them highly valuable to the mi itary
student. He urged thorough exploration Of
the Western frontier and important changes in
the arrangement of defenees against the Indians
demonstrating the inehhciency of the system #
sIlaii iofts Ior Ihfe purposes oI war with S1Vafee
To ebyiate. in a Iseasure, the expense and almost
useless trouble, of locating military posts in ad
vance of settlement, he suggested the plan of
maintaining large garrisons at certain points
situated fasorabiy for obtaining supplies and ac-
cessible by steamboat or railway. From these
posts streng desaehmeuts could be supplied and
equipped for service In the Indian country. His
efforts were most strenuous to obtain an increase
ofpay to officers of the army, and pensions to the
widows and orphans of officers and men, upon
basis similar to that of the navy. fs1sale
During the Crimcan var, Secretary Davis sent