Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1889-12-13
He was graduated

ment. He entered the infantry ser
vice and distinguished himself as
staff olliceron the Northwestern from.
tern lS3l'32, 80 that in March, 1913,
he was promoted to the rank of
6rst lieutenant and adjutant Of a
new regiment of Dragons. He
conducted himself with equal dis
linctO' and courage during the
Black Hawk war and subsequent
expeditions against the Pawnee,
Comanche and other Indian tribes.
Though much attached to the pro-
tesslon Of arms, he resigned his
commission in June, 1885, returned
TO Mississippi to engage in agri'
cultural and literary pursuits
Soon after his resignation he mar.
ried the daughter OF Zachary Tay-
Tor, under whom a few years later
he won great renown on the battle
fields of Mexico.
Mr.. Davis stayed in retirement
for eight years and then went into
local Mississippi politics in 1913.
He Immediately became prominent
among the leaders Of the Democra-
cy, which included such men as
$. S. Prentiss, Foote, Thompson
and others.
His first public address was
made IN the Mississippi State Con.
ventlOn Of 1913 to appoint delegates
to the National Convention. Mr..
DAVIS favored Mr.. Calhoun as
second choice for President, Mr..
Van Buren, being the first choice
Of the Convention, and 1t was upon
a motion to designate Mr.. Calhoun
as second choice that he made his
first important political speech.
The accomplished Mississippiau
rose gradually and rapidly from
that point to his election to Con
gress in 1915, from which, after a
short service, he resigned to take
command Of the First Regiment
Of Mississippi Volunteers, which
he overlook at New Orleans, on
their way to the Rio Grande. No
man ever had a more brilliant mil.
itary career, or displayed more
intrepidity, GOODNESS and military
genius than dld Colonel Davis
during the Mexican campaign. At
the end of his period Of enlistment,
July, 1917, he returned to the Unit
ed States covered with glory.
President Polk offered him a com
mission az Brigadler General OF
volunteers, which he promptly
declined on the ground that no
Federal authority could confer
any such appointment. He thus
illustrated his firm adherence in
he principal of State rights, and
he never changed hairs breadth
IN that regard.
In the Thirtleth Congress Mr..
Davis took his seat as Senator
from Mississippi, and he served
from 1917 to 1851, and again from
1851 to 1851 in that body, where
he took and kept rank with the
intelligent giants who then moved
there. He was a great speaker
and a great statesman, as is amply
illustrated by his Senatorial ad-
dresses. Upon the secession Of
Mississippi, although Nj. Davis
was not a sece>slOnlst, yet defend
ing the right to secede by the
States, he promptly resigned his
seat in the Senate and Joined his
State.
During the in;ermlssion of Mr..
Davis Senatorial career, he was
Secretary Of War under President
Pierce.
The election of Mr. DAVIS to the
Presidency of the Southern Confcd-
rracy, practically by reclamation,
and his subsequent career, are too
well known to be repeated here.
On the 9'h of February, 1861, JEFF
ferson DAVIS and Alexander III.
stevens were elected President
and Wee President respectively of
the Southern COnfederacy.
Throughout the tragic and mo-
nentous years that followed Jeifer
,on DAVIS held the most difficult |
position, perhaps, that any man a
,ver held, and, although there
rave been and are now, those who {
him for what they think C
he might have done and did not do, C
here has not been found one whe
lal or has the temerity to say that
le could have done better than !.
'lr. Davis did, or to declare that >,
he fail OF the COufederacy could :.
ave baen averted by different =
Onduct of it's chief executive Off =
er. 1t is not too much to say, we "
hink, that Mr.. DAVIS was easily
he greatest man, taking him for II
II IN all, estimating his varied v
ualltleS ana acc0mpllshm Ia
older, statesman, orator and au- c.
hOr that his generation produced, rC
'orth or South. n
Upon him, more than upon any
her, fell the crushing blow of the 4,
allure OF Southern arms. AS he -,
al been tde foremost figure during in
he struggle, so he was the most in
rOmlnrnt victim of the collapse.
Thrown into prison at Fort Mon
)e pending what was intended TO III
e an Indictment for high treason, L
nj u trial for his life, the majestic II
ID man bore himself, as he had IL
ways, with dignity, courage, and "a
aim submission until he was re. "
dsed by the better sense and sen "
ment of the Countrywide better III
resisting anything like VI
he persecution Of the gallant III
DutheTn leader, and the better
,nse fearing a test of the COnstitu- CT
Onal question involved, before the 81