The Springdale news., 1889-12-13


 contest he w;ts defeated.
 The retirement from public life which Davis resignation from the Senate caused was of short duration Presi- dent Pierce, in 1853, appointed him Secretary of War, and he held that post during the whole Administration. During the four years of hls service in the office he introduced many reforms in the army, among them being the light infantry system of tactics, and rihed muskets and pistols in place of the antiquated arms Ill use up to ttat day He was also, while holding the War portfolio, put III charge f the or ganization and equipment of the sur yeyiug parties sent out to examine va- rious routes proposed for railway to the Pacific Ocean.
 On htS retirem ent from the Cabinet in 1857 Davis re-entered the Senate and i'll the discussion of the slavery secession and other questions which came before that body in the next four wears he bore d conspicuous part. Al though pronounced believer in State rights, lie also expressed strong devo- ton to the Union. This was his reply, in 1859, to all invitation to him to be present at festival to be held in Bos- ton to celebrate the birthday of Dan iel Webster:
 send you my cordial greetings to the friends of the Constitution, and ask to be enrolled among those Whose mi sit n is, by fraternity and good faith to every constitutional obligation, to insure that. from the AroOstook to San Diego. from Key West to Puget Sound the grand arch of our political temple shall stand unshaken.
 Davis early became one of he lead CTS in banning the secession of the slave States after the election of Presl- dent Lincoln. When secession became fact he was chosen President of the Southern ConfederacY by the l'royisi- onal Congress of the seeded States. This was on Fe' raary 9. 1s6l, and lie was regularly chosen later on fo the full term ofssiX years.
 l D to May, 1865, after the surrender of the armies of the Confederacy, Da- intending to collect ome of the frag- ments of Johns0n's forces and move 10 the west side of the Mississippi and con- tinHe the war. It was on May 10, while in camp near Irwinsvllle. Ga., after abanding Richmond, that he was captured by body or Union cavarly commanded by Gen. ]. II. Wilson. Whan taken he had on cloak belong ing to his wife. who was accompany- ing'him in his iii Int. He had an empty 1 bucket in his hand, and pretended to be q woman going to obtain water from a neiehboring spring. His boots, how ever revealed the deception and led to ] his capture He was taken to Fortress l Monroe, where he remained in capitivi- ty two years.
 Davis was brought to trial in May i 1867, before the United States Circuit l Court at Richmond. and was admitted to bail, the charge of eomplicity in the assassination of Lincoln, which had been preferred against him, having i beeen abandoned for lack of evidence. The bail was Sl0o,000, and the first name on the bond was that of Horace l Greeley. Pending trial on the charge of treason, he went to New York thence to Canada, and subsequently, to Europe, passing part of 1868 in Eng land and France. Returning to the 1 United States ill that year, nolle pros equi was entered in hls case, and he was discharged, Iu the latter part ot the year the general amnesty was de. clared, which included him. He then dropped out of the public grze.
 Soon after Davis discharge by the Court ne was made President of a lirt insurance company, whose headquar :ers are in Memphis. In 1879 Mrs Dorsey bequeathed to hiGl her escate al Beauyoir, Miss, where he quietly resid occasionally attending the unyeilinl of monuments, Confederate soldiers reunions and affairs of that class Eight years ago he published, in tw, volumes, work entitled The Rist and Fall of the Confederate Govern ment He has also contributed to tht magazines and written letters to tn, newspapers, retaining his strong intel lectual grasp on public affairs and hi' vigorous, trenchant style of expression to the end.
 Such is the eheckercd career 0 one of the greatest men the l9tt century ever produced.
 \ Negroes Narrow Escape.