Wichita eagle., 1889-12-08
WAR SECRETARY DAVIS.
His Able Administration of the War De-
partment.

His Able Administration of the War De-
partment.
March 4, 1853, President Franklin Pierce
named Col jefferson Davis as secretary Of
war That Of Pierce was strong cabinet,
and secretary Davis was certainly among the
strongest men in it. Men of all parties agree
that his administration Of the war depart
ment was marked by ability and energy, and
many old officers testify that of all secre-
taries in their time Col. Davis was save for
his quarrel with Gen. Scott most popular
with the army. He reorganized almost the
entire service drafted a new code Of army
regulations, introduced the light infantry
rifle system Of tactics, tried the experiment
Of canels for transportation on the south
western deserts, added four regiments to the
regular army, and improved the entire sys-
tenn Of sea coast defenses. He also had the
boundaries between Mexico and the United
States fixed accurately, and secured the COM
plete survey and almost the adoption of the
southern route for a Pacific railroad He
sent Capt. George B. Mcclellan and two
other officers to the Crimea to study the mill
tary tactics of the armies there Gn 1870,
and was so pleased with their report that he
retained warm personal feelings for them
even through the civil war.
With the events of President Pierces ad-
ministration congress and the country may
be said to have entered in full course upon
the proceedings which led to the civil war.
1t is not to be expected that any American
could at this time take dispassionate and
philosophical view Of that part Of history.
All that remains then is to recite the princi-
pal events and quote briefly the matured
Indignant Of friends and foes.
AT his retirement from the cabinet In
March. 1857, the legislature Of Mississippi had
elected Mr.. Davis as United States senator
for the term to close March 4, 1868. He
plunged at once into the heated debates Of the
time maintaining the rather extreme southern
view, and with an ability and courtesy which
elected warm praise even from his foes. The
editor of Harper's Weekly as this sketch Of
him in 1858:
"In the north, Col Davis is regarded
somewhat unjustly, perhaps-asa type of the
southern fire eater. Many persons who have
never seen him fancy him quarrelsonae, petu-
liant, hot headed, turbulent His appearance In
the senate does not justify these views Aprim,
smooth looking man, with a precise manner,
stiff soldierly carriage, and cold expression;
bis head fuller, seemingly, Of statistics and
nara, Dry pTlnCiptes tuau my tulLiS oAS0s ~
voice cool and firm, without tremor or *
element; he Is the last person . spectator
would pick out as the fire eater In his OWE
country ne is intensely beloved, chiefly from
his kind and gentle disposition. He is q man
Of whom Mississippi may well be proud"
He also took an active part IN opposing the
French spoliation bill and advocating the
southern route for the Pacific railroad He
led the so-called "Lecompton party" in con-
gress in opposition to Senator Douglas, and
in debate with the latter propounded the once
celebrated queries and propositions which
drew from the Illinois senator his famous
theory as to the right Of . territorial legisla-
ture to adopt 'unfriendly legislation against
slavery, and his article IN Harpers Magazine,
which set forth the creed Of the Douglas
Democrats" The breach was now complete.
Meantime, in the summer Of 1858, he made
a tour for health and pleasure through the
eastern states, delivering several addresses,
In which the warmest attachment to the
union Was avowed-aiwsys. however. with Q
proviso, expressed or implied. that aggres-
sions upon the south would certainly be met
with resistance Some Of these addresses
have . strange sound now. In letter &C
mowledGine an invitation to ioin in Boston