The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1889-12-11
WAR SECRETARY DAVIS.
His Able Administration of the War De-
partment.

His Able Administration of the War De-
partment.
March 4, 1858, 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
nent 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 camels for transportation on the south
western deserts, added four regiments 20 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 Criulea to study the mill
tary tactics of the armies there (in 1S54-'5,
and was so pleased with their report that be
retained warm personal feelings for them
even tb rough the civil war.
With the events of President Pierceis adj
ministration congress and the country may
be said TO have entered in full course upon
the proceedings which led TO the civil war.
It Is not to be expected that any American
could at this time take a 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
Judgment Of friends and foes
At his retirement from the cabinet in
March. 1851, 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 has this sketch OF
him in 1855:
''In the north, Col Davis is regarded
somewhat unjustly, perhaps-asa type Of the
southern fire cater. Many persons who have
never seen him fancy him quarrelsome, petu-
liant, hot beaded, turbulent. His appearance in
the senate does not justify these views. A prinl,
smooth looking man, with a precise manner,
stiff soldierly carriage, and cold expression;
his head fuller, seemingly, Of statistics aud
hard, dry principles than anything else; his
voice cool and firm, without tremor or ex-
element; be is the last person a spectator
would pick out as tine tire eater In MS own
country be is intensely beloved, chiefly from
his kind and gentle disposition He is man
Of whom Mississippi may well be proud.
He also took an active part in opposing the
French spoliation bin and advocating the
southern route for the Pacific railroad He
led the so-called "Iecompton 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 tho right Of a territorial legisla-
ture 70 adopt "unfriendly legislation" against
slavery, and his article in Harper's Magazine
which set forth the creed Of the douglas
Democrats The breach was now complete
Meantime, in the summer Of 1858, he made
q tour for health and pleasure through tb'
eastern states, delivering several Address
IN which the warmest attachment 70 th'
union was avoWed-always, however, with 9
proviso, expressed or implied, that aggres
sions upon the south would certainly be nie
with resistance. Some Of thess addresse