The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1889-12-12

other hostile tribes. Resigning his
commission in 1885, at the age of Fl
years, he returned to Mississippi, and
spent 8 years in retirement on cotton
plantation.
In 1874 he was Presidential Elec-
tor, in the college which cast the vote
of Mississippi for Polk and Dallas, and
in I845 having been elected to Con-
gress, he took his seat as a representa-
tive in that body. He greatly distin-
gushed himself, and at once became
CONSPICUOUS party leader, and exercised
a controlling influence in the iegisla-
lotion of the country.
At the first blast Of the war bugle
in July, 1916, Mr., Davis promptly re-
signed his seat in Congressman hasten
ed to meet in New Orleans the First
Regiment of Mississippi Volunteers,
enrolled for service in Mexico, on their
way to reinforce the army of Gen.
Zachary Taylor, then on the Rio
Grande.
A brighter chapter in the history of
American warfare does not exist than
that which records the courageous con-
duct and mastery handling of his regi-
ment. in the memorable battle of Buena
Vista, Oh the 23rd of February, 1847.
|: was attacked by overwhelming num-
bers. and for many long hours, without
support CALAMITY maintained its ground
while Col. Davis, although severely
wounded, heroically remained in his
saddle, welding his glorious regiment
with consummate skill, until the close
of the battle. In a dispatch dated
March 9th, 1847, his Commander-in-
Chief complimented him for his cool
ness and bravery.
While on his return to Mississippi, in
New Orleans, in July 1916, after the
Mississippi regiment had been ordered
home at the expiration OF their term
of enlistment, Col. Davis received from
President Polk a commission as Briga-
dier General of Volunteers. This he
declined to accept, because he consid-
cred it violation of the reserved con-
stitutional rights of the States for the
Federal Executive to appoint the Off
| GERS of the militia. A vacancy having
occurred in that office, he was appointed
the next month, August, 1S47, by the
Governor of Mississippi, to seat in
the Senate of the United States, and in
| January, 1848, was elected by the
Legislature to fill the vacancy for the
remainder Of the term, which expired
in March, 1851.
In 1859 he was reelected for the
next regular term to the United States
Senate. During this term, his powers
as a great parliamentary leader and
debater were fully developed, and he
began to fill, in the public eye, the
measure of the man for the Presiden-
tial chair. He was chosen in the
Senate chairman of the Committee on
Military affairs, and bore SC lofty a
crest, and carried SO proud a banner
in the conflicts which ragged upon the
slavery question and State rights, and
the policy of the Southern States, as
to be universally considered fr1mus
inter bares among the tall warriors
who at that period graced the Demo
cratic array of Southern leaders.
In 1852 Col. Davis was conspicuous
as an advocate for the election of Gen.
Pierce to the Presidency. In this in
terest he was active and efficient, in
the States of Mississippi, Tennessee and
Louisiana. He was appointed by Gen.
Pierce to the position Of Secretary of
War and remained in the Cabinet
until the accession of President Buc-
hanan in 1857.
Mr.. Davis administration of the
war department was unequalled. None
had ever been SO popular with the
army. With an ability and energy
which marked him as great organ
izer of men, he carried into effect his
revision of the army regulations, in
troduced the light infantry, or rife
sytem of tactics, the manufacture of
rifed muskets and pistols, and the use
of the Minnie ball.
He added four regiments 10 the
army, augmented our sea-coast and
frontier defenses, and instituted the
system of explorations in the West for
geographical purposes, and with view
Of ascertaining the best route for a
railroad to the Pacific ocean.
Upon his retirement from the War
Department, Col. Davis had been re-
elected to the U. S. Senate for the term
ending on the Attn of March, 1S63,and
from that time until he res gned the
seat as member of the body, he was
conspicuous in the conduct of all its
leading measures and discussions, as
well as in the councils of his party as
sociates and Southern friends.
On the 21st of January, 1861, he
rose for the last time in his place in
the Senate to resign his seat there land
the speech he then made will demon
strate that he plead as never man plead
before, SO sublimely, SO eloquently, SO
lovingly, for justice, law, constitutions
al right, and the preservation of peace.
Resigning his seat, and bidding
sorrowful and affectionate farewell to
his fellow-Senators, Mr.. Davis went
back to his home in Mississippi, and