The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-07-05

ooi6' anu JeHerSOn Davis was elected
It's colonel. He accordingly resigned
ms seat in Congress-. fastened to ioin
ais regiment, which he overlook at
we" dreams, and reported for duty to
Iehefal Taylor on the Mexican Dor
oer. Al Monterey and Buena Vista,
rluaai positions of the war. his com
fnand rendered conspicuously heroic
service. Our American kn~ighthood
was IN faireSt flower that day. espe-
clally on the plains of Buena Vista,
"hen Colonel Davis, against over
Wheiming numbers, snatched victory
from almost certain defeat, and won
immortal fame for himself and his
gallant Mississippi Rifles. By a bril-
llant tactical movement, he broke the
strength Of the Mexican army and
sent General Santa Anna southwark
with only half the force of the day
before. Though severely wounded, he
remained In his saddle, refusing to
quit the field, until the day Of glorious
triumph was complete. General Zach
airy Iaylor, commander-in chief OF
n American forces, paid this elo-
quent tribute to the soldierly courage
and genius of the distinguished Mis-
Slsslpplan: "Napoleon never had a
marshal who behaved more superbly
than did Colonel Davis today
Returning from Mexico, having won
the highest hOnOrs of war, Colonel
Davis and the brave emnan of his
magnificent regiment were every
where welcomed with boundless en-
thusiasm. He was rendered the posi-
ton Of Broader General of Notun-
teers by President Polk, but declined
on constitutional grounds, holding
that such appointment inhered only in
the State.
Within two months after his re-
turn from Mexico, MI. Davis was ap-
pointed by the governor to represent
Mississippi in the United States Sen
! - 10 -.
the death of Senator Spaight. When
the Legislature met he was elected
unanimously for the remainder of the
uHeXpired term. all party lines having
disappeared in a universal desire to
honor the brilliant young colonel of
the Mississippi Rifles. That was a
position most c~ongenial to his tastes
and ambitions, and there his superb
abilities shone with a splendor rarely
equaled in the parliamentary history
of America. He was an ideal Senator,
~dignified, self-maStered, serious, dis
passionate, always bent on the great
things that concerned the welfare Of
the nation. He was never flippant-
never toyed with %trifles, and never
trifled with the destiny of his people.
His was the skill and strength to
bend the mighty bow of Ulysses.
When jefferson Davis entered the
United States Senate, the glory of that
upper chamber was at its height
Possibly never at one time had so
many illustrious men sat in the high
est council of the nation. There were
Giants in those days. There sat John
G. Calhoun of South Carolina; Daniel
Webster, of Massachusetts; Henry
Clay. Of Kentucky; Thoma H. Benton,
Of Missouri; Lewis Cass, of Michl-
gan; Salmon p. Chase, of Ohio; Ste
phen A.. Douglas, Of Illinois and other
men of lesser fame. In that company
of giants Jefferson Davis, Of Missis>
sippi at once took rank among the
greatest, eloquent among the most
eloquent in debate and worthy to be
the board, native ability, readiness as a
the premier at any council table OF
American statesmen. The historian
Prescott pronounced him the most
accomplished" member Of the body.
One who spoke by the authority Of
large experience with the upper
chamber thus correctly characterized
orr brilliant and accomplished young
Senator:
1T is but simple justice to say that
in ripe scholarship, wide and accurate M
formation on all subjects coming before
debater. true honor and stainless charac-
ter. Jefferson Davis stood in the very Ilrst
rank. and did as much to 1nfine'ce ,efo
~isIation and leave his mark on the SenaIe
and the country as any other VINO se'Ved
in his day.
senator Henry Wilson, of Massachu-
sets. afterward spoke of him as the
practical, dominating
Davis
That which pr~e-erninently ~signalized
the public character and parliament
ary career of Jefferson Davis was ms
sincere. u~nwavering devotion to the
doctrine of State Sovereignty, and all
the practical questions that flowed
therefrom. He held with u~nreiaxlng
grasp to the fundamental fact that
the Union was composed of separate;
ndeDendent SOVEREIGN States, and
that all Federal power was delegated
specifically limited. and clearly De
fined. N Titanic struggles OF MS
entire public life were over this one
vital issue, with all that it log1calV
involved for veal or woe OF ms De-
1oyod co,ntrv The Articles Of Cor
federation declared in express terms
that .seach State retains its sovereign
tv. freedom. and independence, n