The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-07


yNsoIutely held It's ground until the enemy
was repuised by the Mississippians, their
lines broken and their whole army routed.
II was here ihat Col. Davis was wounded,
but he refused 90 leave the field and re-
manned in tie saddle until the battle was
over. His distinguished GOODNESS and gal
lantry al the head Of his regiment on this
day merited the highest commendaion OF
the commanding general. The term OF en-
listmcnt OF his regiment having expired In |
July, 1877. Just twelve months after the /
resignation Of his seat IN the House OF Rep |
rcsentatives, Colonel Davis returned 10 the
United states, the people everywhere ten,
dering him cOngratulatOry receptions ana
calling him the "Hero Of Buena Vista,
While in New Orleans, on his way home,
Colonel Davis was offered by President
Polk commission as Brigadier-Generai 81
Volunteers. an honor which he unhesi-
tatingly declined on the ground that no
such commission could be conferred 10y
Federal authority or by act Of Congress.
He conceived it 10 be an infraction OF the
rights Of the States 10 which respectively
the constitution reserves the appointment
Of officers Of the militia. He designed 10
address the House Of Representatives on
this subject. but was suddenly called away
from Washington, and before leaving nau
an understanding with the chairman OF ihe
Fnlnlnlffff f1nfi " MIN NV vii bRN
that IL would not be called up before the
ensuing Monday. on his return, however,
be- found that the friends OF the measure
bad forced it, passage on the previous sat
urday.
IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE
Scarcely two months had elapsed since
HE return 10 Mississippi when tolOnel
Davis was appointed, in August, lsii' ny
the Governor Of the State TO till the vacancy
i'm the United States senate occasiOned ny
the death Of General >peight. AT the en-
suing session Of the Legislature the seitc-
ton Of Dr. Davis a. Senator was, on Janu-
arv II. 1918. confirmed by his unanimous
election FOR the remainder OF the uneNpTeu
term. II was the grateful tribute OF popu,
la~ appreciation 80 the hero who had
risked his life for the glory OF the country
and the worthy recognition OF abilities
which had been proven adequate to the 70
spOusibilities of the highest civil trust. Inc
entire period Of his service in the senate
from 1877 % 1851. and from 1871 10 Iopl'
comprise- about eight years, but those were
wears of m0ment0us interest ia the Amerl-
can people and nation. In 1850 he was re-
elected nited states senator Tor the en-
suing full term, but ne resigned IN 1871, !"
accept the nomination Tor Governor oil MIS-
.i-siuui ia opposition 10 Henry :. fOOte, the
Whig candidate. While in the Senate the
first term he was also chosen chairman OF the
Committee on Military Affairs, and he took
"a prominent part i'm the debates on the
slavery question I'm defense 81 the institu-
iiOns and policy of the south, and was at
WAYS "a Jealous advocate Of states rights:
Among all the eminent associates OF Mt.
Davis I'm the senate there were Few VINO
possessed his peculiar quallncaliOhs lof lls
most distinguished honors. The printed
4 arHtlN fsLf lffIN
memorials Of parliamentary and popular
elo0uencc. but as invaluable stores Of IN
/ formation to the political and historical
/ student They epitOmize some OF the most
| jmpOrtant periods Of American history, ana
embrace the amplest discussion OF an eN-
tended range of subjects pertaining ia
almost every service. The settlement
known 10y the way Of distinction as the
"ComprOmise Of 1850" ayerting for the time
the dangers of disunion and civil war. met
! the appruVal Of the advocates OF eApedlehc!
but was opposed with hsoic pertinaciiy bN
Mr.. Davis and his associates OF the states
Rights party. They saw the hollowness
of lis pretended Justice its utter worthless
ness'as n guarantee TO the south. and sought 4
ldef.at it-frst in Congress, and afterwards
bv the popular voice. But the sentiment o
attachment TO the Union trlumphed oven
every consideration of interest, prlnclpe
IrENU security. anu the shirt ~UN't''A'H
Arain the south feceeded. again received
the stone instead Of the asked for loaf, anc
larain aid she compromise her most SACRED
RIGHTS and dearest interests, receiving IN re
turn the reluctant and insincere guarantee
Iof the recovery of her stolen slaves. Subse
lmcnt events were swift 20 vindicate th'
wisdom, patriotism, ana foresight OF Mi
DAVIS. and those who sustained him III op
position TO the much vaunted nion-saNinl
compromise. 8.
Jefferson Davis has never been a dis
unionisi. His action at all times had beer
consistent with mis- declared opinions, ano
with the earnest attachment 10 the Unlol
declared i'm his Congressional speeches ant
his uublic addresses everywhere. MI
Davis defeat for the G0ternOrship by Henry
=. FoOte bv majority Of only 1913 votes
was regarded as a personal as wen as
states Rights triumph, the preceding ma
/ iorify of the Compromise party having beel
1900. lie now remained in retirement unti
the campaign Of 1852, when he made can
vass iu Tennessee, Mississippi and Louis
& lana for General Franklin Pierce, will
whom lac held the most friendly relations
and in whose constitutional opinions he hat
entire confidence. His support Of the Bal
timore platform vas quite a. consistent "a
his suppOrt Of the nominee. General Pierce
when elected. indicated his estimate o
Davis bv prompt tender Of a Cabinet po
sition which was reluctantly declined. The
Presidept-elect then requested him 10 b'
present at his Inauguration. ana when III
reached Washington the of y OF taDinel
place was repeated. The obvious adNaW
age of representation IN the government
the states Rights party, an argument ear
nestlv urged upon him by prominent South
ern statesmen at length oyercame his per
.onal desire. aud la. accepted the position
Of Secretary Of war.
A. SECRETARY or WAR.
With the policy OF President Pierce's nd
ADMINISTRATION. Mr.. Davis was. of course. fully
Identified. In Cabinet. noted for lis ability
Iof which William L. Marcy was the IRE
imier. Caleb Cushing the Attorney-General
Secretary Davis occupied position worthy
of his abilities and peculiarly gratifying 4
his military tastes. He made many recon-
ImcndatiOns. contemplating radical altera
. lions in the military system Of the country
one of his first being a recommendation io
the thorough revision Of the army rcgula
tione. lie opposed the placing of officers 4
an early period of service permanently Oh
the stan. and advocated system whlcl
would improve the discipline OF Oilcers
"Whereby the right Of command should lOl
low rank by one certain rule The IN
crease OF the HlfNltAl ''ilnf Ah' A'fl'NN'
fiou of camcls into America, the intrOduc
lion of light infantry or rifle systems of fac
tics. rined muskcts and the mimic ball, were
all measures advocated by the new seere
tary of War. and discussed in his Oncia
paners with force and intelligence tina
make them highly valuable TO the militar,
student lie also advised the addition o
four regiments 20 the army. the augmenia
ton Of the frontier and seacoast defenses
and the system of eNplorations IN the ives
for geographical purposes, and for determn
ing the best route 10 the Pacific coast. lii
efforts were most strenuous 10 obtain an III
crease of pay TO officers OF the army, anI
pensions 10 the widows and orphans o.
officers and men upon a basis similar TO thai
Of the navy. During the Crimean wal
secretary Davis sent commission. %
which Captain Mcclellan. afterwards =
mnior-gencral, was a member, TO the Crimca
to study and report upon the science of wal
and the conditions of European armies a.
illustrated in the operations incident to thai
| struerle The Presidential term of Pierce