The sun., 1891-03-15
SOME NEW BOOKG
Hrs. SsRsrse. Dsvis's l1s.sir sf Hsr
Aasbaaa.


Rsfors following Mr.. Davis to the Mexican
war. We should not omit to record an Interest,"
ing Incident which occurred during his first
term In the House Of Representatives. 1t Is
certainly an unex pected and noteworthy thing
that tho man who was to incarnato the doc
trine Of secession should have stood forth to
defend tho reputation OF the great expounder
OF the theory that the Union OF these States ID
indestructible. In tho session OF 1845-46 Mr..
Charles Jared Tngcrsoll moved an inquiry into
the conduct OF Mr.. Webster. while Secretary
OF State. accusing him OF using the con-
tingent fund OF tho department to corrupt
the public press. and Of being . default
or to the Government Tho Democratic
party sought to make political capital
out Of this inquiry. The committee to
which the resolution was referred. after much
debate. adopted q report written By Mr.. Davis
entirely exonerating Mr.. Webster. Mrs. Davis
tells us that "there were some unpleasant re-
marks about Democrat whitewashing Ia con-
spicuous Whi9 candidate Tor tho Prssidenoyl
and Northern tarifi Democrat came to Mr..
Davis at our lodging the night before the re-
suit Of the committees deliberations was
announced to argue against the opportunity
being lost OF 'sootchinR the snake Mr.
Davis told him with much heat that II Mr..
Webster was to be entailsd upon the country
for life. and no one could deprecate his policy
moro than do would not make . false and
partisan report or parley with my sense OF
Justice and honor. nor would the gentlemen
associated with mo-" Mrs. Davis goes ON to
say that Mr.. Webster called upon Mr. Davis
aud expressed In warm terms his sense o: the
manly manner In which he had defended him.
Mr.. and Mrs. Webster came to call upon me.
and invited me most kindly 10 accompany
thsm to Marshneld"
d l.
No sooner was war between the United
States and Mexico formally declared than Mr..
Davis was elected Colonel Of the a ct Miasis-
aippi regiment which had been organized at
vicksburR He accepted. The President had
been authorized to appoint two Major-Gen-
erals and four Brigadier- Generals In addition
30 the existing military establishment, and he
indicated . wish to make Mr.. Davis one of
them. We learn from the memoir that Mr..
Davis expressed . preference for an elective
once: when pressed he said that he thought
volunteer troops raised In . State should te
omcered BY men OF their own selection. and
that after the elective right OF the volunteers
ceased the appointing power should be tho
Governor OF the State whose troops were to be
commanded This was his first sacrifice to
State rights. and It WAS great effort to him.
We are also told that Mr.. Davis WAS at much
pslns to get the regiment armed with the rnes
' mississippi Rifles" He foresaw that "these
would be mora effective In the hands Of our
men than any other arms. as they were all
used to hunting and were good marksmsn."
There could be. seemingly. no better material
for soldiers than that which made up Col
Davis's regiment. It was composed Of
young men whose names were we'll known
through the regulations their fathers had
achieved. Most Of the privatss took their
~
camp. 1t was fact well worth recording In
this memoir that this regiment. from the
Colonel down to tho last private. returned homo
without single article belonging to citizen
Of Mexico. Tho sacred silver and gold ves-
sells and the church vestments studded over
With precious stones were In An open room at
Monterey and also at Saltilo. The image Of the
Virgin Of Guadalupe. large doll dressed In
satin. was admired and examined but loft un-
touched. thouah the frock In which she was ar
rnyed was worked In arabssuues adorned with
diamonds. rubiea and smsrslds Of great price.
and she wore necklace Of immense pearls
which were of several eolors. Col Davis saw
one Of the soldierA In friendly oonversation
with an old priest. holding admirinaly . gold
Ieliauary, the top Of which was rayed with dis-
monds. several hundred. hs thought Alto
gethsr. The Mexioans felt and had perfect
security for their property"
Col. Davis took distinguished part in the
0torming OF Mont Grey. and tho dssp impression
which his eallsntry made upon 10 soldiers is
described In O letter written from camp by Mrs-
Davis's brother. Joseph Davis Howell. If tho
time OF our regiment expires. and our Colonel
even then thinks that We could still be useful.
there 10 not man in his regiment who would
not sacrifice his life 10 obey him. SO much has
his gallant conduct raised him In their estima-
tlon The degree OF power his GOODNESS. oour.
age. sad discretion have acquired for him in
the army generally would hardly be believed
at home. Everything difficult Of decision is
left to him. and verify believe that II he should
tell his men to jump into cannon's mouth
they would think it all right. and would all say.
Colonel Jef1.' as they call him. knows best 30
hurrsh! boys. let's so ahead He is always IN
front Of his mon and ready to be the first to
expose himself: and. moreover. he has taken
them into 80 many tight places and got them
out safely that they begin to think that II they
follow him they will be sure to succeed"
The services Of Col. Davis In tho subsequent
battle Of Buena Vista. whore 1900 Americans
defeated 20.O0O Mexicans. were depicted by
Gen. Zachary Taylor in the following gjrsport:
" The Mississippi Rifiemen under Col Davis
were highly conspicuous for Rallantry and
stesdiness. and sustained throughout the en-
Gagement the reputation OF veteran troops.
Brought into action against an immensely
superior force. they maintained themselves
for Q long time unsupported and with heavy
loss. and held an important part OF the
flsld until reinforced. Col. Davis. though So
verely wounded. remained In tho saddle until
the close OF tho action His distinguished
soolness and gallantry. and the heavy loss OF
his regiment on this day. entitle him to the
particular notice OF the Government" In
recognition Of tho valor and efficiency attssted
by this report President Polk offered Col.
Davis the appointment OF Brigadier- General
OF Volunteers. The offer was declined ON tho
ground that tho Constitution provided for such
appointment by the States and not By the
Federal Government.
II.
Two months after Mr.. Davtss return from
The fleld OF Buena Vista. and while hs was still
suffering from his wound and obliged to sup
port himself on orutches. he WAS appointed By
the Governor Of Mississippi to All . vacant