The sun., 1889-12-07
vontIon Of 1s4s. and no at once enrolled him.

approved the Mexican war, and he made IL
May, 1S46. n strong speech In favor OF resou
tion ofthanks to his father -in-law and the on
GERS and men OF Gen. Taylor's army. TIVE
months later he Joined that army. being elected
in July Colonel Of the First Regiment OF Mia
sissinpi Volunteers. He promptly resigned hi
seat. overlook his command at New Orleans
and was soon at the seat OF war. He led hi!
troops Rallantly in the storming Of Monterel
In the following September, being compliment
ed by Gen. Taylor with place on the commits
sion appointed to arrange the terms Of capltu
lation, and ne especially distinguished himsel
at the battle Of Buena Vista. Feb. 23, 1S47
where he was severely wounded.
The year for which his regiment had enlisted
having expired. the Hero OF Buona Vista,
as his admirers had styled Col. Davis, returned
to his Mississippi home In July. 1s47, encoun
terlng a round OF congratulntory receptions or
the way. Within two months tho death of one
OF Mississippis Senators opened the way
August appointed him TO ill the vacancy and
In tho following January the Legislature elect.
ed him for the remainder OF the term. expiring
ment OF a unanimous vote. In 1850 he was re.
elected for the full term OF six years. He soon
BECAME prominent IN debate, especially upon
main OF the Military COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Davis had not been long In the Senate
nc Of t s6 Re
Presidential election OF 1S4S he opposed his
own father in-law because, although Gen. Tay-
lor was a Southerner he did not come ont
;. fat footed" for the extreme Southern view
in 1850 Senator Davis bltterly fought Clay's
famous compromise measure in Congress- and
when it was passed he resolved to continue the
fight at the polls. lie therefore helped organize
q States RIGHTS party. pledged to resistance. in
Governor vrlined he accepted the nomination,
In Septembcr 1851, and resigned his seat In
the Senate. His opponent as the candidate OF
Mississippi Senator. Henry s. Foote. The re-
sult was defeat OF the States Rights party.
Foote receiving the odd majority of 999 votes.
nmph for, Mr.. Davis as he ran ahead ot his
ticket. and greatly REDUCED the majority OF 1900
tion held a few weeks earlier
Mr.. Davis was thus again left In retirement,
vass Of 1852 opened. At the Democratic Con-
Vice President, He took the stnmp for Pierce
in March. 1853, was appointed BY the new
President Secretary Of War IN @ a Cabinet ,n pnniIne
Vesps n GsF wboot hs5UfJ spes I C ebank lu
While still Secretary OF War Mr.. Davis was
again elected to the senate for full term. and
especially active in all sectional controversies,
and by the beginning OF the last Congress In
Buchanan's term he was reooRnized as the
He had frequently been "mentioned" In CON-
nection with the Presidential nomination, hay-
special friends in New England, and he re-
ceived the vote Of Gen. B. +. Butler OF Massa-
chusetts on every one OF the fifty seven abor-
vention at Charleston. s. c.. in April. 1sG0,
along with those of one or two other deleGates
Lane ticket in the quadrilateral contest which
eliminated in the election OF Lincoln and
Hamlin.
Mr.. Davis was one OF the speeial committee
OF thirteen Senators appointed In December.
] lst0. to make last attempt tor a peaSeable
OF vbs Inc be
but on the last day Of the year
reported their inability to agree upon any plan
seceded, on the Goth OF December. and curly in
January Mr.. Davis was made Chairman cf an
executive committee q three appointed by
other Southern States to perfect the sche me OF
rebellion; 1t was ono feature Of this scheme
TO their seats as long as decency would permit,
and accordinGly, although Mississippi seceded
on the 9th of January M Il was not until M the 2lst
speech. He returned to his plantation;
r5GmPl tb to the
Maj General. Before he could assume this
position, however O. Convention OF the siX
States which had By this time seeded met at
Government, adopted a CONSTRUCTION the Sth.
and on the 9th the Congress OF tho Confed-
,iectsd Jefferson Davis President. with Alex.
inder H. stephens OF Georgia Tor Vice-lres-
lent
monty called was to the North the living ON
lodinent Of the Rebellion. Although later in
he struggle q strong opposition developed; his
'iisionai Congress only ratified the popular
,hoice. which recognized him as the master
spirit in the great movement He was inauEu
,ated with simple ceremonies on Feb. IL. when
le deliyered tsmpernte address.
Mr. Davis constituted his Cabinet Us tolows
nfnru nj MT nj bQ If TUi.
Secretary OF War, Leroy r Walker Of Alabama:
Secretary of the Treasury Charles g. Mem
tavS. e stephen Il. Mallory Of Florida Attorney eg
ieneral. Judah p, Denjamin OF Louisiana;
oostmRstor-G eneral. John II. Reagan OF Texas.
xistence were passed in fruitless attempts at
legotiation with the Federal authorities. and
oT the as var
2, 1t came in the attack which Gen. Beaure-
,ard made upon Fort Sumter, in accordance
AS soon as war broke out Mr.. Davis advised |
he transfer OF the seat OF GoNernment from the |
apital Of. Alabama TO that of Virginia, and the
ias effected on May 20. although the President |
ID / not arrive until 2 few days later, Mean
,ere pushing into Virginia until by june
1000 men Ind been gathered In the northern
art OF thesState under Gems BeaureGard and
une "a threw the whole, section into pArox-
sm ofioy. Mr.. Davis had left Richmond on tho
on. but he did not reach the Held until the
mon army had already been put TO flight lie
'as received with unbounded enthusiasm on
Is return TO Richmond.
The Confederate victory, however. WAS not
)llowed up. and as the conviction grew that u
reat opportunity had been thrown away. Mr..
avis suffered somewhat In prestige from rep
that he had insisted upon do
,nsive policy against the wishes OF Beaure-
ard and Johnston. Years afterward Gen.
ohnston assumed the responsibility for his
allure to pursue the enemy but tho fact that
ifHerence OF opinion as the best policy of
rosecutinG the war had thus early arisen be-
Heen the President and these two Generals
undisputed At almost the same time
'oublo broke out in the Cabinet, and Toombs
1tired. being succeeded as Secretary OF State
y Hunter OF Virginia. few months later
unter in tuIn resigned. the immediate ocoa-
on being IL naughty reminder by his chief
lat his depart mont did not comprise military
1airs when he had. vontured some advice
bout the conduct OF the war. Meanwhile
'alker, the original Secretary of War. had
roved an utter failure. and the place was filled
~ time by the transfer OF benjamin from the
ttorney- Generals department
Despite these signs OF trouble. however. tho
ear closed fRyorablY for Mr.. Davis and the
sem held In November. and he had been @
losen without opposition for term OF six
ears. Mr.: Stephens also being continued In
10 Vice-Presidency. Tho Union army had
Ot fully recovered from the Bull Run defeat.
1T a few weeks put another face upon the
tuatiOn. Gen, Grants cRDture of Forts Henry |